The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Speak Up: Share your Experience
The National Urban and Community Forest Advisory Council (NUCFAC) is collecting input from across America on catastrophic storms and urban forests. The Council will use this information to develop a recommendation to the USDA Secretary of Agriculture. Their hope is that this will result in a national strategy to mitigate the effects of this national issue. It is important that NUCFAC hears from all corners of the country. If you haven't already done so, take a few moments to record your comments. Your input will be included as part of NUCFAC's 2007 report to the Secretary of Agriculture! You can play an important part in developing a national plan, policy to mitigate the long-term impact of catastrophic storms on urban forests. The time is NOW! Make your voice heard today!
Devastating winds and tornadoes left a barren landscape in south central Wisconsin during the summer of 2005.
WDNR Photo
Share your comments by August 1, 2007
Email: Neil.Letson@forestry.alabama.gov
Mail: U.S. Forest Service
U&CF - Mail Stop 115, attn. NUCFAC
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-1151
Trigger Questions:
- What storm event did you experience related to the urban forest?
Ice Storm - Hurricane - Tornado - Other - If other, what kind?
- What specific experience would you like to share related to catastrophic events and urban trees?
- What have you, your constituency or your community learned from a catastrophic disaster in terms of: planning, recovery, response, mitigation.
- What would improve planning, response and recovery in the future?
- What solutions, suggestions, or recommendations would you make to the Secretary of Agriculture?
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July 13, 2007
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Bank Branch Bandit Wears Tree Disguise - CNN.com
- Balmy Weather May Bench a Baseball Staple - New York Times
- USDA Announces Additional EAB Funding
Specifically Wisconsin
Emerald Ash Borer
- Legislation to Help Communities Manage Cost of EAB Introduced
- EAB Infestation Map
- EAB Found Near Peru, IL - The Times
- Ash Utilization Options
- Wood Utilization Grants Awarded - Lawn & Landscape Magazine
Tools For Your Job
- USFS Urban Forest News Brief
- Green Partnerships with Businesses Webcast
- USFS Urban Projects Newsletter
Conferences & Seminars
Bank Branch Bandit Wears Tree Disguise - CNN.com
Leaf it to New Hampshire, where a bank branch was held up by a man disguised as a tree. Just as the Citizen Bank branch opened Saturday morning, a man walked in with leafy boughs duct-taped to his head and torso, and robbed the place. "He really went out on a limb," police Sgt. Ernie Goodno said Sunday. Police said the leafy man didn't saying anything about having a weapon, just demanded cash, and was given an undisclosed amount.
See the leafy robber on surveillance camera [exit DNR]
Balmy Weather May Bench a Baseball Staple - New York Times
Careers at stake with each swing, baseball players leave little to sport when it comes to their bats. They weigh them. They count their grains. They talk to them. But in towns like Russell, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the mountain forests that supply the nation's finest baseball bats, the future of the ash tree is in doubt because of a killer beetle and a warming climate, and with it, the complicated relationship of the baseball player to his bat.
EAB Threatens Baseball [exit DNR]
USDA Announces Additional EAB Funding
USDA Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced the availability of an additional $11.3 million in emergency funding for the emerald ash borer (EAB) program. USDA will provide this emergency funding to states with established EAB programs and quarantines to support pest detection, control, regulation of host material that will mitigate the risk of further spread of the pest, as well as outreach and education to the general public. A portion of the funding will also be provided to targeted uninfested states at risk for EAB for additional survey and response if a detection of the pest should occur. Early detection of new infestations is critical to enhancing USDA's ability to eradicate such incursions and contain the pest within quarantine areas.
USDA Funding for EAB [exit DNR]
State is Testing Purple EAB Traps
If you happen to see a purple contraption hanging in a tree in one of 11 state parks or near any of a handful or so of rest stops, county parks, or communities in southern Wisconsin this summer, don't worry that some heartbroken child is missing a kite. The purple, triangular objects hanging in those trees are the latest tools to help researchers determine if the emerald ash borer has shown up in the state.
EAB Insecticide Options and Their Effectiveness
Although, to date, the emerald ash borer (EAB) has not been discovered in Wisconsin, many questions have been asked by homeowners and industry professionals regarding the capability and need of insecticides for protecting ash trees from EAB. Research and experience has shown that insecticides can protect ash trees from being killed by EAB. However, success is not guaranteed!
Insecticide Options for EAB [exit DNR]
Legislation to Help Communities Manage EAB Introduced
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has introduced legislation to help municipalities defray the costs of performing Emerald Ash Borer management activities normally performed by the federal government. Management activities include managing the EAB population by surveying trees, removing infested trees and replacing removed trees.
EAB Funding Legislation [exit DNR]
EAB Infestation Map
The newest EAB multi-state locations map can be found at www.emeraldashborer.info [exit DNR]
EAB Infestation Map [exit DNR]
EAB Found Near Peru, IL - The Times
Ken Alleman's livelihood may suffer a serious blow due to the spread of a small metallic-green beetle -- a beetle that has been found in La Salle County. Alleman, owner of Tonica Nurseries, said he has thousands of ash trees in his stock."They're our native tree," he said. "They're strong. You can make axe handles from them. They have a nice color. They are fast-growing. They are the perfect tree." But the future of these trees in the county is in question, as the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday it found the tree-killing emerald ash borer just north of Peru at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 251.
EAB Found Near Peru, IL [exit DNR]
Ash Utilization Options
A series of wood utilization research publications related to EAB are now available online. These studies were sponsored through the Southeast Michigan RC&D Council's Ash Utilization Options Project and funded by the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area.
Wood Utilization Grants Awarded - Lawn & Landscape Magazine
The Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Wood Utilization Committee - which seeks ways to utilize the ash wood from trees felled by the borers - received a major boost with a $100,000 grant from United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service.
http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/news/news.asp?ID=5535 [exit DNR]
USFS Urban Forest News Brief
The summer 2007 issue of the USFA Center for Urban Forest Research electronic newsletter is available on-line and features current research findings and other events at the center. Their research demonstrates new ways that trees add value to communities, converting results into financial terms to stimulate more investment in trees.
USFS Urban Forest Research [exit DNR]
Green Partnerships with Businesses Webcast
The Alliance for Community Trees (ACT) is sponsoring a monthly webcast held on the third Thursday of each money, during the lunch hour, as part of their "Brown Bag Lunch Series." The overall goal is to create informal training opportunities for local urban and community forestry organizations.The series is geared to serve the needs of volunteer organizations and community groups. While the webcasts are open to all, the content is most likely to be of interest to practitioners who work directly with the public, volunteers, or youth.
The July Brown Bag Lunch webcast will be held on Thursday, July 19 from 1:00 to 2:00 PM Eastern time and will feature Green Partnerships with Businesses, presented by Greg Levin, Trees Atlanta and Prescott Gaylord of Baltimore Landmarks Homes.
USFS Urban Projects Newsletter
The USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, State & Private Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry program, is pleased to present the Spring 2007 issue of the Urban Projects Newsletter. The newsletter would not be possible without support of the Morgantown Field Office and all who provide materials.
Urban Projects Newsletter [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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