The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Ash tree insecticide injection
Photo by WDNR
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October 3, 2008
This issue's contents:
Special Feature
In the News
- California Adopts Urban Forestry Greenhouse Gas Protocol
- Norway Pledges 1 Billion to Amazon Rainforest
- Hemlocks Fall Victim to Insect Pest
Emerald Ash Borer
- Wisconsin EAB Situation Weekly Reports
- Wisconsin EAB Newsletter
- Illinois DOT Stops Planting Ash -PFStar.com
Specifically Wisconsin
Tools For Your Job
- Forest Service Urban Grants Change
- Recognizing Volunteers
- Honoring Tree Planters Worldwide
- Municipal Pollution Prevention
- Tree ID Guide Available for Smartphones
- Job Opportunity - Arborist, Waukesha
Conferences & Seminars
- “The tree care industry’s biggest show is in Milwaukee Nov. 13-15, 2008”
- More Conferences & Seminars
EAB Stories Shared. . . Lessons Learned - Treatment
This is the seventh entry in a ten part series compiled by DNR urban forestry staff who visited Michigan and Ohio communities dealing firsthand with EAB infestations. These entries bring to you stories shared by these communities, and offer supplemental information such as specific examples, documents, web sites and ideas you can implement to play a proactive role in facing the threat of EAB.
"The cost to remove and replant all the city’s public ash trees was calculated at $750,000. They opted to treat their ash at a cost of $40,000 per year."
EAB Treatment [PDF, 91KB] - EAB Stories Shared... Lessons Learned
California Adopts Urban Forestry Greenhouse Gas Protocol
The California Air Resources Board has adopted three separate greenhouse gas emission accounting protocols to quantify emissions from local government operations, and urban forest and manure digester projects. "Today's board adoption marks yet another important step forward in California's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2020," said ARB acting chairman Barbara Riordan. "These protocols will give municipalities, as well as farmers and others, the guidance they need in moving ahead in their voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
The urban forest protocol provide cities, counties, agencies, utilities and educational campuses specific guidance on how their tree planting and maintenance efforts, if properly conducted, can maximize carbon storage.
California Adopts Protocol [Exit DNR]
For more information on the Urban Forest Protocol and urban trees and global climate change in general:
Urban Forest Protocol [Exit DNR]
Norway Pledges 1 Billion to Amazon Rainforest
In the years before 2015, Norway will contribute up to 1 billion US dollar to reduce deforestation in the Amazon. The size of Norway’s contribution will depend on how successful Brazil will be in reducing deforestation. This makes Norway the first contributor to the Amazon Fund. The agreement will be signed during Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia.
Norway & Rainforests [Exit DNR]
Hemlocks Fall Victim to Insect Pest
Millions of hemlocks across the Southern Appalachians are dying, victims of an Asian insect that has moved faster than efforts to stop it. The trees' collapse will change these forests, from warbler nesting habits to the temperature of trout streams, unlike anything since the 1930s. That's when a foreign fungus finished off another keystone tree, the American chestnut.
Hemlocks Threatened [Exit DNR]
Wisconsin EAB Situation Weekly Reports
Emerald ash borer has been discovered in two southeast Wisconsin counties: Ozaukee and Washington. A quarantine is currently in effect that covers those two counties and Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties. The quarantine prohibits the movement of any ash product that could transport a life stage of the emerald ash borer. This also includes all hardwood firewood. An ICS (Incident Command System) has been designated to oversee and guide multi-agency activities in the quarantine area. Each week a situation report is compiled regarding activities.
EAB Weekly Situation Report 1, 9-12-08 [PDF, 14KB]
EAB Weekly Situation Report 2, 9-19-08 [PDF, 68KB]
EAB Weekly Situation Report 3, 9-26-08 [PDF, 12KB]
Wisconsin EAB Newsletter
Third edition of the newly launched Wisconsin EAB Newsletter.
WI EAB Newsletter [PDF, 560KB]
Illinois DOT Stops Planting Ash -PFStar.com
In an effort to stop the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer beetle, the Illinois Department of Transportation says it won't plant ash trees in any more of its landscaping projects. Craig Mitckes, maintenance manager for the department, says IDOT would like to be proactive in stopping the beetle's spread across Illinois. He also says department crews will remove any ash trees that are infested.
Wood Lab Seeks Black Locust Donation
Can black locust be used for decking as a substitute for tropical woods? Is there a high value market for what is considered a weed tree? The University of Minnesota Duluth Northern Resource & Research Institute (NRRI) , University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and the Division of Forestry forest product marketing staff would like to investigate this opportunity with the ultimate goal of getting black locust used for decking as a substitute for tropical woods. To get things started the Wood Lab at UW Stevens Point is seeking a donation of 10 to 20 black locust logs 10 inches and up and 8 foot 6" to saw into decking material. The larger diameters are preferred as sapwood would not be durable. The logs will need to be delivered to the lab. There is no budget for buying the logs or for transportation so the lab is hoping both can be donated.
Black locust Research [PDF, 14KB]
Xcel to Use Wood Chips at Power Plant - JS Online
Xcel Energy Inc. announced that its power plant in northern Wisconsin will be the largest in the Midwest to make electricity by burning wood chips. The utility will invest $55 million to $70 million to convert a coal-fired boiler to one that would convert chipped waste wood from northern Wisconsin’s forests into a gas for power production
Forest Service Urban Grants Change
After more than a decade of successful grant-making, the National Urban and Community Advisory Council will overhaul their criteria for the U. S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry challenge cost share grant program for 2009.
“The world of urban and community forestry grows and changes everyday, and our grant program must adapt too,” said Joe Wilson, chair of NUCFAC (Joe is Executive Director of Greening Milwaukee). “Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a trend toward increasing cooperation and partnerships among our stakeholders.”
The new Urban and Community Forestry challenge cost share grant program is designed to reflect this change, and implement new procedures that reduce the paperwork burden on potential grantees.
Recognizing Volunteers
The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) is accepting nominations for Volunteer of the Year. This is an opportunity for ACT members to share inspirational accounts of volunteers in action and have them gain national recognition for their local contributions! This award is open to any individual (board member, community organizer, pro bono consultant, etc.) whose volunteer efforts have made a contribution to urban forestry by improving community trees and the neighborhoods which they are in. Deadline is November 5.
Volunteer Recognition [Exit DNR]
Honoring Tree Planters Worldwide
Recognize the tree champions in your community by submitting your nominations for the 2009 National Arbor Day Foundation Awards. Since 1972, the National Arbor Day Awards program has honored individuals, communities, and groups of all sizes for their exemplary work in promoting community forestry, tree planting, and tree care. The deadline for nominations is November 15, 2008.
Municipal Pollution Prevention
The Center for Watershed Protection has released the final installment of the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series, Manual 9: Municipal Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Practices. The manual provides "how to" guidance, and outlines the Center's most recent ideas on how municipal pollution prevention/good housekeeping practices can be used to address local water quality issues and watershed restoration goals. Key topics covered include:
-The basics of municipal pollution prevention/good housekeeping and the reasons for developing comprehensive programs for it in the first place.
-How to investigate and improve ten major municipal operations, including park and landscape maintenance, street repair/maintenance and hotspot facility management.
-How to identify which major municipal operations have the greatest impact on water quality and how to craft a pollution prevention/good housekeeping strategy addressing those greatest threats.
-How to set measurable goals and scope the level of effort needed to develop an effective pollution prevention/good housekeeping program.
Municipal Pollution Prevention Manual [Exit DNR] scroll down through "featured resources."
Tree ID Guide Available for Smartphones
Smartphone users can identify trees anywhere in the United States in just minutes thanks to the Arbor Day Foundation’s new "What Tree Is That?" mobile. This special version of the Foundation’s popular tree identification guidebook loads quickly on virtually any smartphone.
Tree ID on Smartphones [Exit DNR]
Job Opportunity - Arborist, Waukesha
Performs arborist duties to plant, prune, maintain, and repair trees. Identify pest/disease conditions. Climb trees with gear. Operate aerial tower, chipper, stumper, loaders and trucks. May assist in snow removal operations. High school or equivalent, two years of professional tree experience, ability to secure and maintain a Wisconsin Pesticide Certification Category 3, must be able to obtain (within 6 months of hire) and maintain a CDL with ABC endorsements and have an excellent driving record. Must pass a physical including drug screen. Waukesha County residency within 1 year of hire. Written exam. MUST complete an application form. Mail form to Human Resources, Room 205, Waukesha City Hall, 201 Delafield Street, Waukesha, WI 53188 or fax (262) 650-2572 by 4:00 P.M., October 31, 2008.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
“The tree care industry’s biggest show is in Milwaukee Nov. 13-15, 2008”
The world’s largest tree care industry trade show and conference is coming to Milwaukee, WI Nov. 13-15, 2008 (pre-conference workshops Nov. 12)! Bring your team to EXPO for the best deals on the newest tools, heavy equipment and gear, over 60 hours of education and CEUs, and to meet and mingle with over 3,000 industry professionals. Featuring three educational tracks, demonstrations, raffles, free receptions, and the most displays of any show in the industry, TCI EXPO is not to be missed!
More Conferences & 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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