The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Learn about Wisconsin EAB survey work in the latest issue of the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Program Newsletter.
Photo by DATCP
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January 23, 2009
This issue's contents:
In The News
Specifically Wisconsin
- Prune Oaks In Winter to Reduce Oak Wilt Disease
- Coalition Urges Green Economic Plan - Wisconsin State Journal
Emerald Ash Borer
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
- Planning Green Infrastructure
- Community-Owned Forest Management
- Job Opportunity - Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development Educator-Milwaukee
- Job Opportunity - Arborist, Waukesha
- Environmental Education List serve
Conferences & Seminars
- Tree Climbing & Pruning Course
- Heat Treatment of Firewood
- Project Learning Tree Distance Learning Workshop
Invasive Species Increase Threats to Forests - Grand Traverse Herald
An invasive species can change the way a forest works. Typically, these changes are regarded as harmful. Tree regeneration fails. Habitat for certain wildlife species diminishes. Ecological functions become disabled. A native species within a forest disappears.
Invasive Species & Forests [Exit DNR]
Prune Oaks In Winter to Reduce Oak Wilt Disease
Winter is a good time for tree pruning, according to Wisconsin DNR-Forestry Division tree health experts. The reason? Winter pruning greatly reduces the likelihood of spreading oak wilt and other tree diseases. Winter pruning can also minimize pruning stress on trees.
“The best time to prune trees in Wisconsin isn’t in April – it’s during Winter when a tree is dormant,” according to DNR Urban Forester Don Kissinger. “Insects and diseases that could attack the open wound aren’t present in Winter. And without leaves, broken, cracked or hanging limbs and branch structure are easy to see and prune.”
Coalition Urges Green Economic Plan - Wisconsin State Journal
The Coalition for Wisconsin's Green Economy recently released a plan for targeting at least $2 billion of the anticipated federal recovery money to tackle projects that improve the state's energy independence, boost public transportation, repair crumbling water and sewer systems and redevelop impoverished urban areas.
Green Economic Plan [Exit DNR]
Wisconsin EAB Newsletter
The January 2009 issue of the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Program Newsletter is available.
Illinois EAB Monitoring
A memo from Illinois Department of Agriculture addresses observations on EAB infestation and detection which has impacted monitoring strategies in Illinois . The memo fully explains the observations and resulting changes but the gist of it is that EAB infestations are not starting in the upper canopy as previously understood. Heavy infestations are being found on large branches and the main trunk.
Wisconsin EAB Situation Report #7
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is known to exist in Ozaukee and Washington counties. A quarantine is currently in those counties and in Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties. The quarantine prohibits the movement of any ash product – including all hardwood firewood – that could transport a life stage of EAB. Exceptions to the quarantine may be granted with approval by either WI DATCP or USDA APHIS PPQ. 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 Situation Report #7, 1-9-09
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
The latest update by Linda Williams
Topics include:
Insects:
- Asian Long horned Beetle in IL
- Emerald Ash Borer Surveys
- EAB Compliance Agreements
- EAB Cost Calculators for Urban Forests
- EAB Quarantine in the UP
Diseases:
- Butternut Canker
- Phomopsis Canker
Planning Green Infrastructure
The American Planning Association (APA) in collaboration with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and American Forests (AF), and supported by the U.S. Forest Service, has recently published, Planning the Urban Forest; Ecology, Economy, and Community Development which addresses the need for planners to adopt a green infrastructure approach and presents the technical means to incorporate trees into planning.
Trees, especially as part of a regional or urban green ecosystem, help create a better quality of life. Urban forests act as green infrastructure that conserves natural ecosystems and sustains clean air and water. They reduce storm water runoff, cool the urban heat island, reduce air pollution, and provide wildlife habitat. Communities can offset the ecological impact of land development by utilizing the urban forest's natural capacity to mitigate environmental impacts. Urban forests also provide social and health benefits for individuals, as well as economic benefits for communities.
Find out how communities can develop urban forestry programs to capture the social and environmental benefits of trees. Urban forestry professionals and advocates will learn how to interface with the urban planning process to maximize green infrastructure and reduce gray infrastructure costs. Thirteen case studies illustrate best practices in planning for urban and community forestry.
Green Infrastructure [Exit DNR]
Community-Owned Forest Management
Communities Committee announces the availability of a new resources, Acquiring and Managing a Community-Owned Forest: A Manual for Communities. This manual provides a guide for communities interested in establishing a community owned forest, whether just beginning to think about a project or engaging community residents around land already in community ownership.
Learn how to download a free copy [Exit DNR]
The purpose of the Communities Committee is to focus attention on the interdependence of America's forests and the vitality of rural and urban communities.
Job Opportunity - Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development Educator-Milwaukee
As a faculty member of Cooperative Extension, employed with Milwaukee County, the Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development (CNRED) Educator provides high quality and highly effective education programs to assist Milwaukee County communities in addressing their community and economic development challenges, as well as their interests related to natural resources, organizational development, and local government education. Backed by University research, the Educator develops the capacity of citizens, civic groups, businesses and local governments to identify critical local concerns in these areas and possible solutions. The Educator strengthens communities and local government through educational programming that builds understanding and leads to improved decision-making and leadership skills.
Position description [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. Will 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. Mail to Human Resources, Room 205, Waukesha City Hall, 201 Delafield Street, Waukesha, WI 53188 or fax (262) 650-2572 by 4:00 P.M., Friday, February 13th, 2009. Application form available at www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/Human_Resources/forms.html.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Environmental Education Listserv
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources invites you to sign-up for the Environmental Education News listserv. This service will keep educators informed of upcoming DNR and DNR-related educational opportunities and resources such as grants, professional development, curricular resources and more. You can expect to receive information through the listserv two to four times a year.
Tree Climbing & Pruning Course
The Tree Maintenance Practicum classes instructed by Mike Wendt at Milwaukee Technical College will begin in late February. Designed for arborists who wish to gain or improve their climbing and pruning skills, this course presents a unique opportunity for students to learn in a safe, no-rush environment. Students will become proficient in tying knots, ascending techniques, limb-walking, assessing trees for hazards, choosing ropes, harnesses, and other climbing equipment, setting throw lines, aerial rescue, and more. Students will develop pruning strategies for specific trees based on the A-300 Standards. 90% or more of class time is spent in area parks. Experienced guest climbers assist at all classes. Space is limited so register early.
Tree Climbing & Pruning Course
Heat Treatment of Firewood
A workshop on heat treatment of firewood will be held in Madison, WI on February 25, 2009. Due to the potential risk associated with moving emerald ash borer (EAB) infested firewood, the interstate movement of all hardwood firewood is currently restricted under the federal quarantine. Firewood producers in EAB infested states (MI, IN, OH, MA, PA, IL, VW, and WI) are faced with decisions on how to treat their firewood for interstate commence. This workshop will provide basic training to both state regulatory field staff and firewood producers on implementing heat treatment process and safely treating firewood for interstate commence. The workshop is sponsored by Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Forest Service Wood Education and Resources Center.
Project Learning Tree Distance Learning Workshop
Project Learning Tree Prek-8 Distance Learning Workshop is scheduled for April 15 - 16, 2009. This distance learning workshop will be facilitated via live video conferencing from select sites in northern Wisconsin based upon demand. Project Learning Tree is an international environmental education program using trees and forests as a "window on the world." The workshop will offer exciting new teaching ideas for use in science, math, social studies, language arts, and environmental education classes. All activities are correlated to Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards. Each participant will receive a PreK-8 Activity Guide and a packet of Wisconsin-specific educational support materials. Attendance is mandatory both days to receive materials and certificate of completion. Certificates will be distributed at the end of the session on April 16.
To register, contact Dawn Koceja call 414-278-6943
When registering, please provide your name, e-mail, daytime phone, and school/organization and also select a location: Crandon, Pembine, Tomahawk, or other. Funding for this workshop is provided by the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board and offered in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Museum, Nicolet Distance Education Network, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
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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