The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider

An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.

Tree pruning
Governor Jim Doyle signs Assembly Bill 36 as Representative Mary Williams, 87th Assembly District, looks on.

Governor Doyle Signs Bill into Law

Assembly Bill 36 which allows the DNR to expedite urban forestry grants to communities following catastrophic storm damage in an urban area for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency was signed into law by Governor Doyle on May 30, 2007. It is now 2007 Wisconsin Act 13. Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Mary Williams and Barbara Gronemus, as well as Senator Robert Wirch, for their work on the bill. The DNR will now begin the process of promulgating administrative rules to administer the grants. This includes drafting the language, taking it to public hearing for input, revising the rules considering the public input, gaining approval from the Natural Resources Board and finally gaining approval by the Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness, and the Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources.

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June 1, 2007


Update on Federal Budget for Urban & Community Forests

The Alliance for Community Trees announces great news! The US House of Representative markup of last week penciled $31.1 million for the Urban and Community Forestry Program for FY 2008. That is a $1 million budget increase over last year's enacted level. It is $13 million more than what the President had proposed in the Forest Service budget for FY 08. In a tight budget environment, this is a strong success.

The next hurdle in the budget process is the Senate. Your advocacy continues to be critical to the outcome of the FY 08 budget. Please let your Representatives and Senators know the importance of urban forests to your community's health and well being and highlight the role of the federal U&CF program. Look for future updates on this topic in ACT's e-newsletter, NeighborWoods Network Update, or visit our policy section online.

Urban & Community Forests [exit DNR]


Job Opportunity - DNR Urban Forestry Assistant

An opening for a Regional Urban Forestry Assistant (Forestry Specialist) has just been announced. This half-time position is based in Madison and assists the South Central Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator in all aspects of DNR urban forestry program delivery in the region as well as statewide team assignments. Starting pay is $14.00 per hour. Application deadline is June 18, 2007.

Consider joining our nationally recognized urban forestry team. For more information and application instructions

Urban Forestry


Job Opportunity - Friends of Troy Gardens Seeks Executive Director

Friends of Troy Gardens (FTG), a nationally respected and innovative nonprofit organization, seeks an experienced, skilled, and dedicated Executive Director. FTG, in partnership with Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT) and Urban Open Space Foundation, manages twenty-six acres of land on which is integrated community gardens, an organic farm, and restored prairie and woodlands is located. An adjacent five acres, also owned by MACLT, contains mixed-income green-built housing.

For more information visit [exit DNR]


Michigan Might Recruit Wasps to Destroy EAB - Detroit Free Press

Tiny, stingless parasitic wasps could be released in Michigan this summer as a biological control for the emerald ash borer, which has claimed more than 20 million ash trees here and in other states.

Wasp to Destroy EAB [exit DNR]


Ash Borers Kill Trees, but Wood Still Has Life - Chicago Tribune

Munching its way across Illinois, the emerald ash borer has given people fits since it began felling Illinois' ash trees last summer. Now, the bug has some people swinging back -- with baseball bats, floorboards and, potentially, kitchen cabinets, rocking chairs and even railroad ties. "We've got to figure out a way to make lemonade out of lemons," said Wilmette Village President Chris Canning, a leader in the state's fight against the beetle threatening Illinois' 130 million ash trees.

Wood Still Has Life [exit DNR]


US Forest Service Forest Health Watch

The May issue of the "Lake States Forest Health Watch" newsletter is available.

USDA Forest Health Watch [exit DNR]


Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - May

Topics include:

Insects:

  • Asian Longhorned Beetle in NY
  • Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid
  • Eastern Tent Caterpillar
  • EAB in Chicago
  • EAB Awareness Week in WI
  • EAB Radio Campaign
  • Gypsy Moth
  • Ladybugs
  • Leather Beetle
  • Pales Weevil
  • Six Spotted Green Tiger Beetle

Diseases:

  • Early Ash Leaf Drop

Other:

  • Firewood in WI State Parks
  • Firewood from IL found in WI
  • Number of Ash in WI Forests

NER Pest Update [PDF, 179KB]


How Climate is Already Affecting Jobs, Work and Life

On June 19 at Madison's Monona Terrace a national and international network called the Multi-State Working Group on Environmental Performance (MSWG) offers access to policy makers from California and the world, plus hands-on training by a recognized local government leader in climate risk planning and action: King County, Washington.

How Climate is Already Jobs, Work and Life [exit DNR]


More Conferences and Seminars

For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest Website.

More Conferences and Seminars



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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Last Revised: Monday June 16 2008