The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Southeast Region Urban Forestry Coordinator
The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce the appointment of Al Zelaya as the Southeast Region Urban Forestry Coordinator for Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha Counties. Al succeeds John Van Els who retired in 2003.
Al Zelaya, Southeast Region Urban Forestry Coordinator
WDNR Photo
Al is a well-rounded Urban Forestry Professional. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from DePaul University and is just completing his Master of Science degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences with a specialization in Urban Forest Management from the University of Illinois. His numerous professional certifications include, but are not limited to:
- Certified Arborist in Illinois by the International Society of Arboriculture.
- Municipal Forester Institute Graduate, Society of Municipal Arborists.
- ArborMaster Training Certificate in Precision Felling and Climbing Modules.
- Wildland Firefighter and Prescription Burn Certifications from the Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Program.
- Al has utilized his academic training, professional memberships and certifications to strengthen and expand his knowledge of emerging urban forestry issues and best management practices.
Al has spent the past 8 years working as an Arborist, Urban Forestry professional. Since 2001, Al has served as the Forestry Crew Chief for Lake County Forest Preserves in Wauconda, Illinois. Highlights of his experience in Lake County include:
- Established forestry related policies, guidelines, goals and objectives to sustain a healthy urban forest.
- Instructor for Society of Municipal Arborists 2007 Municipal Forester Institute Program.
- Member of the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) team and created district's gypsy moth management program for landscaped and natural areas.
- Conducted EAB awareness and Gypsy Moth training seminars for diverse audiences within the Urban Forestry community.
- Successful cultivation of win-win partnerships with municipal foresters, researchers, community groups, state and federal agencies to develop and enhance the district's urban forestry program.
Prior to entering the Urban Forestry profession, Al spent over 14 years working as a supervisor, programmer and estimator within the Computer Numerical Control Department of an International Manufacturing Corporation.
Al will be relocating from Wauconda, Illinois to Milwaukee and will start his new position on Monday, July 9.
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June 28, 2007
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Why Cities are Uprooting Trees - Time
- DNR Closes State Park to Prevent Spread of Gypsy Moth - Gannett WI
Specifically Wisconsin
- Melinda Myers Receives National Award
- Do Your Part to Fight Invasive Species - Stevens Point Journal
Emerald Ash Borer
- Helping to Protect Wisconsin from EAB - Guest Editorial - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- State Offers Certification for Firewood Dealers - Wisconsin Radio Network
- No Ash Borer Found - Janesville Gazette
- Experts Seek Borer Relief - Chicago Tribune
- Officials Map Ash Trees with GPS - Middletown Journal (Ohio)
- EAB Found in Pennsylvania
- Ashes to Ashes? - The Star.com
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - June
- Job Opportunity - Urban Forester in Biloxi, Mississippi
- Job Opportunity - Urban Forestry Supervisor, City of Indianapolis
Conferences & Seminars
Why Cities are Uprooting Trees - Time
If trees fall in the middle of a city, does anyone make a sound? So far, not much of one--and that's a problem. To most of us, city trees are to genuine forests what gardens are to jungles or fish tanks are to the ocean--pocket-size imitations of the wild world, decorative perhaps but playing no real role in the global ecosystem. But urban trees are a lot more important than that, and at the moment, they're in decline. "Urban deforestation," says Ed Macie, an urban specialist with the U.S. Forest Service in Atlanta, "compares with what's going on in the world's rain forests."
Urban Deforestation [exit DNR]
DNR Closes State Park to Prevent Spread of Gypsy Moth - Gannett WI
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources closed Rocky Arbor State Park for more than a week to prevent the spread of the gypsy moth. The park, near Wisconsin Dells, will be closed at least through June 27 - a period when caterpillars are in the pupation stage and are seeking hiding places to change to moths.
Melinda Myers Receives National Award
Nationally known gardening expert, TV host and author (and Wisconsin's very own) Melinda Myers has been selected to receive the 2007 Perennial Plant Association Garden Media Award to be given out at the 25th Perennial Plant Symposium Banquet in Columbus, Ohio on August 7. The award recognizes an individual whose educational and promotional efforts have resulted in a heightened awareness of perennials and the perennial industry.
Myers, best known for her practical, gardener-friendly approach to gardening, has more than 25 years of horticultural experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a master's degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist (member of the Wisconsin Arborist Association), and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Myers shares her expertise through a variety of media outlets.
She is the author of numerous gardening books, including Can't Miss Small Space Gardening and the Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide. She hosts "Great Lakes Gardener," seen on PBS stations throughout the United States and "Melinda's Garden Moments", which air on network television stations throughout the country. She also appears regularly as a guest expert on various national and local television and radio shows. She writes the twice monthly "Gardeners' Questions" newspaper column and is a contributing editor and columnist for Birds & Blooms and Backyard Living magazines. In addition, she hosted "The Plant Doctor" radio program for over 20 years. CONGRATULATIONS MELINDA!
Do Your Part to Fight Invasive Species - Stevens Point Journal
Invasive plants, animals and insects seem to be one of the hot issues of the day. Last week, the National Wildlife Federation and the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to pass legislation to battle aquatic invasive species. The letter was sent on behalf of more than 50 agencies and organizations, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Helping to Protect Wisconsin from EAB - Guest Editorial - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Rod Nilsestuen, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Scott Hassett, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources respond to a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial regarding emerald ash borer and state agency action.
State Offers Certification for Firewood Dealers - Wisconsin Radio Network
Wisconsin firewood dealers are getting a chance to prove they're not spreading invasive species across the state. State Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Janet Jenkins says firewood dealers now have the option of getting certified, in order to prove they're taking steps to control invasive species. The voluntary program allows them to sell their firewood to campers heading to any state-managed facility in Wisconsin.
Certification for Firewood Dealers [exit DNR]
No Ash Borer Found - Janesville Gazette
A recent state effort to find the dreaded beetle that kills ash trees has found-drum roll, please-none. But don't start celebrating just yet. "Just because we didn't find anything doesn't mean that we are-pardon the pun-out of the woods," said Mick Skwarok, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Experts Seek Borer Relief - Chicago Tribune
As the emerald ash borer lays waste to North American trees without resistance from the local ecosystem, some scientists say the best hope for fighting it is a nemesis from the borer's native China: three species of tiny, stingless wasps that kill the pest's eggs and larvae.
Wasp and EAB Control [exit DNR]
Officials Map Ash Trees with GPS - Middletown Journal (Ohio)
It took a township's parks operations manager almost six months to inventory the 3,000 ash trees in township parks and rights of way with a GPS unit. But using these coordinates, township workers and contractors now know where to go to cut down the trees as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer.
EAB Found in Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Tribune - Review
State and federal agricultural officials confirmed that emerald ash borer, a beetle responsible for killing more than 20 million ash trees in five states has surfaced in Western Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania EAB Find [exit DNR]
Ashes to Ashes? - thestar.com
A conference in upstate New York reckons with the calamity looming over an important tree that has been especially valued by native peoples
EAB threat to black ash & Native Americans [exit DNR]
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - June
Topics include:
Insects:
- Basswood defoliator
- Buffalo tree hoppers
- EAB calls
- Eastern tent caterpillar
- European pine sawfly
- Gouty oak gall
- Gypsy moth
- Larch casebearer
- Linden looper
- Maple petiole borer
- Spiny oak sawfly
- Willow sawfly
Diseases:
- Ash anthracnose
Other:
- Firewood certification
- Firewood confiscation at state parks
- Frost damage
- Roving billboard for EAB
- Tornado damage
Job Opportunity - Urban Forester Biloxi, Mississippi
Mississippi Extension Service is recruiting an urban forester in Biloxi, focusing on reforestation of hurricane damaged coastal counties.
Mississippi Urban Forester [exit DNR]
Job Opportunity - Urban Forestry Supervisor, City of Indianapolis
The City of Indianapolis announces the opening of the position of Urban Forester responsible for supervising the forestry section's field operations along with performing tree inspections within the park system and on properties owned by the City of Indianapolis - Marion County.
Indiana Urban Forester [exit DNR]
More Conferences and Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest Website
About the Insider
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is intended as a quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin.
Items that cannot wait for our quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear here.
The Insider is produced biweekly by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Past issues will be archived on the UF pages on the WDNR web site.
We are happy to accept your suggestions and contributions. Send them to the editor, at Laura.Wyatt@Wisconsin.gov. Or call her: 608/267-0568.
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