The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
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January 11, 2008
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Society of Municipal Arborists Announces Tree of the Year
- Climate Change Predicted to Drive Trees Northward
Specifically Wisconsin
- WAA/DNR Annual Conference
- COMMENT REQUESTED - Invasive Species
- Wisconsin Plans for Ash Borer Attack - Wisconsin State Journal
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
- EAB Infestation Map
- Illinois EAB Newsletter
- Durbin EAB Bill Included In Farm Bill
- USDA Expands EAB Quarantine to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
- IL Urges EAB Compliance with Debris Removal
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - 12/17/07
- West Central Region Forest Pest Update - 12/13/07
- Affordable Housing and Trees Webcast
- Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) Grants
Conferences & Seminars
- Project Learning Tree Training - Milwaukee
- The Landscape Below Ground-Call for Papers
- More Conferences & Seminars
Society of Municipal Arborists Announces Tree of the Year
The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) has chosen black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) as its Urban Tree of the Year. The contest has been running for thirteen years, and past winners include baldcypress (2007), Kentucky coffeetree (2006), 'Chanticleer' flowering pear (2005), and 'Autumn Blaze' red maple (2004).
The SMA has 1600-plus members who practice urban forestry all over North America and beyond. Members are asked to offer nominations for the Tree of the Year, followed by an on-line vote. In the 2008 contest for Urban Tree of the Year, black tupelo emerged victorious. Seattle, Washington City Forester Nolan Rundquist says, “The incredible [red to orange] fall color and pest-free nature make it a keeper in my book.”
Milwaukee's very own David Sivyer, Forestry Services Manager , wrote the feature article for the SMA's Jan/Feb 2008 issue of City Trees Magazine. Presenting the 2008 Tree of the Year: Nyssa sylvatica [PDF, 433KB]
Society of Municipal Arborists [exit DNR]
Climate Change Predicted to Drive Trees Northward
The most extensive and detailed study to date of North American tree species concludes that expected climate change this century could shift the trees’ climatic ranges northward by hundreds of kilometers and shrink the ranges by more than half. The study, by Daniel W. McKenney of the Canadian Forest Service and his colleagues, is reported in the December issue of BioScience.
Climate Change & Trees [exit DNR]
WAA/DNR Annual Conference
The Wisconsin Arborist Association Annual Conference and Trade Show & Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Annual Urban Forestry Conference will be held in Middleton, WI February 3-5, 2008. The program brochure is now available. You can also register for the conference using a secure on-line registration form.
WAA/DNR Annual Conference [exit DNR]
COMMENT REQUESTED - Invasive Species
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species (Council) have been working over the last three years to develop administrative rules to identify, classify and control invasive species. They want you to comment on the draft rule. The deadline for receiving comments is January 25, 2008. In addition to the website, they are conducting 6 informal public listening sessions across the state. Each listening session will have the doors open at 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. there will be a general overview of the intent of the draft rule and the process and criteria used to assess each species, as well as the proposed restrictions that apply to each classification.
Invasive Species Draft Rule Comment
Wisconsin Plans for Ash Borer Attack - Wisconsin State Journal
This is the second-straight winter the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is felling the trees, cutting them into 4- or 5-foot sections and stripping them down to the hardwood to see if they can find any of the tell-tale S-shaped burrows left by developing ash borer larvae. So far — knock on wood — none of the ash trees they've meticulously stripped have shown evidence of infestation by the emerald ash borer.
WI Plan for Ash Attack [exit DNR]
EAB Infestation Map
Map of confirmed EAB infestation . Seven states have reported EAB finds. An additional find in Canada, east of Ontario.
EAB Infestation Map [exit DNR]
Illinois EAB Newsletter
Current information on Illinois EAB efforts are reported in the December issue of the EAB newsletter.
Durbin EAB Bill Included In Farm Bill
United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his bill, the Invasive Species Revolving Loan Fund, has been included in the 2007 Farm Bill, which the full Senate approved on December 14, 2007. The House of Representatives passed their version of the Farm Bill in July. A conference committee will soon be appointed to develop a compromise bill. Individuals interested in the Invasive Species Revolving Loan Fund should forward comment to their elected officials in Washington.
Durbin and EAB Loan Fund [exit DNR]
USDA Expands EAB Quarantine to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has expanded the emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to include the entire states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, more than doubling the previously quarantined area which includes the entire lower peninsula of Michigan. The new quarantine becomes effective on Dec. 1, 2007 following the issuance of a federal order.
IL Urges EAB Compliance with Debris Removal
In an effort to minimize the spread of the invasive pest Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the Illinois Department of Agriculture is reminding public works officials and tree trimming contractors to be conscientious when disposing of debris from recent ice storms. The department requires any entity providing tree and branch removal within the EAB quarantine area in northeastern Illinois to enter into an EAB compliance agreement.
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update - 12/17/07
Topics Include:
Insects:- Christmas and bugs
- Emerald Ash Borer update
- Fall Cankerworm moths
- Gypsy moth
- Longhorned beetle
- Hickory dieback
- County firewood restrictions
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update [PDF, 246KB]
West Central Region Forest Pest Update - 12/13/07
Topics covered:
Insects:- Jack Pine Budworm (recap)
- Sirex Woodwasp
- Annosum Root Rot
- Ash Yellows
- White Pine Decline
- Hickory Mortality
West Central Region Forest Pest Update [PDF, 295KB]
Affordable Housing and Trees - National Webcast
Alliance for CommunityTrees is hosting a webcast on affordable housing and trees as part of their Brown Bag Lunch Series on Thursday, February 21 from 12 noon to 1:00 PM CST.
The Brown Bag Series is a monthly webcast held at the lunch hour and made possible through support from The Home Depot Foundation. The overall goal is to create informal training opportunities for local urban and community forestry organizations.
Affordable Housing & Trees [exit DNR]
Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) Grants
The Environmental Education Grant Program is a project of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB). Initiated in 1990, WEEB will administer a total of about $525,000 in grant funding in 2008.
The WEEB’s mission is to provide leadership in the development of learning opportunities that empower Wisconsin citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to make wise environmental decisions and to take responsible actions in their personal lives, workplaces and communities. Wisconsin corporations (nonstock, nonprofit), all units of government, public and nonpublic education institutions (with some restrictions) seeking to enhance EE programs within their institutions are eligible to apply. Individuals, private foundations, and pervasively sectarian nonprofit colleges are not eligible. Deadline for applications is February 15.
Project Learning Tree Training - Milwaukee
March 8 - Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee. Can’t see the forest for the trees? Project Learning Tree uses the forest as a “window on the world” to increase student understanding of our complex natural and built world. Over 95 learner-centered activities are compatible with instruction in science, social studies, language arts, environmental science, and mathematics. Workshop participants will learn about and receive a collection of educational resources from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that complement the activities presented in the guide. As an added bonus, this workshop includes a focus on using museums in environmental education. Project Learning Tree meets state teacher and academic standards, is eligible for inclusion in an initial educator plan, and can be used in renewal of your licensure. Cost $35. Special thanks to the Hardwood Forest Foundation for funding a portion of this training.
The Landscape Below Ground-Call for Papers
The first Landscape Below Ground conference was held in 1993. The second in 1998. Both conferences provided a forum for presentation of the latest research and management practices in all aspects of tree root development in urban soils. Their impact on arboricultural practices was significant. The Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL and the International Society of Arboriculture are proud to announce the The Landscape Below Ground III Conference, October 6-8, 2008. The program committee is now accepting presentation and poster proposals for the conference. Proposals will be evaluated based on overall quality, appropriateness and timeliness of topic, well-defined focus, and practical applications of material. Abstracts are due February 15, 2008.
Landscape Below Ground [exit DNR]
More Conferences & Seminars
For more conferences and seminars, check out the WDNR's Urban Forestry webpage.
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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