The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
SPECIAL NOTICE!
2009 – WDNR Urban Forestry Grant Funding
In December 2008, the DNR notified grant applicants that the Urban Forestry grant funding for calendar year 2009 is on hold until additional information is learned about the upcoming state budget. The DNR plans to notify applicants in February 2009 regarding the availability of funding. The urban forestry grant website will also be updated at dnr.wi.gov/forestry/UF/grants/ Please monitor this website for further updates as they become available.
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December 19, 2008
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Smart Green Infrastructure - Los Angeles Times
- National Guidelines for Sustainable Landscapes
- Urban Tree Canopy Plans Come with Multiple Benefits
- Tree City USA Partnerships Renewed
Emerald Ash Borer
Specifically Wisconsin
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
- Winter Issue of LEAFlet Available
- Municipal Specialist Scholarships AVAILABLE!
- WEEB Grants
- Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine
- Allstate Foundation Funds National and Local Programs
- Job Opportunity - Landscape Arborist/Urban Forestry Specialist -Bismarck, ND
Conferences & Seminars
Smart Green Infrastructure - Los Angeles Times
Economic stimulus doesn't have to mean ecological disaster. Jump-starting old construction projects to create jobs would harm more than help us. We need to focus on 'smart green' infrastructure. Bill Boyarsky outlines some good reasons to support President-elect Barack Obama's plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on infrastructure projects. It's true that the "New New Deal" offers a fantastic opportunity to rebuild for the future, but this opportunity also contains real dangers. If we don't make careful choices about what kind of infrastructure we build, we will be hardening in concrete the ecological mistakes of our past.
Smart Green Infrastructure [Exit DNR] - scroll down page
National Guidelines for Sustainable Landscapes
The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices. The Sustainable Sites Initiative Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks – Draft 2008 is now available! Public comments are accepted until January 20, 2009.
Sustainable Landscapes [Exit DNR]
Urban Tree Canopy Plans Come with Multiple Benefits
Maintaining the extent and condition of the urban forest through programs and policy is important, but canopy cover goals are useful in and of themselves. They set a target for a community that is measurable, observable and appealing. Whether it is 30 percent or 50 percent, setting a community tree canopy goal is a worthwhile course of action for any urban area.
Tree City USA Partnerships Renewed
The National Association of State Foresters' long-standing partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation has been renewed with a Memorandum of Understanding in support of the Tree City USA® program. Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with NASF and the USDA Forest Service, Tree City USA provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities. The MoU is renewed every five years.
Tree City USA Memorandum [Exit DNR]
Don't Move Firewood Resources
View these terrific public service announcements discouraging the movement of firewood. You can request a DVD or use the videos for public outreach. They are produced by Continental Dialogue. Edith Makra, Community Trees Advocate at Morton Arboretum comments, "If you don't have time to watch all, do watch "Introducing the Emerald Ash Borer" featuring Woody portrayed as a washed up rock start. Hilarious."
Continental Dialogue [Exit DNR]
New Federal Regulations Regarding Imported Firewood
New federal requirements mandating that firewood imported from Canada be treated to kill pests and diseases will help protect New York trees from invasive insects and deadly infections, state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials said.
Federal Firewood Regulations [Exit DNR]
Exotic Insect Invaders in Wisconsin
Reports regarding status of exotic insect invaders including emerald ash borer, Sirex woodwasp and gypsy moth are available. These reports reflect the combined efforts of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Wisconsin Volunteer Naturalist Program
Many Wisconsin natural resource educators have expressed interest in exploring the possibility of having a state master naturalist program. Although there is currently no state-wide program, there has been an effort by a core group of people to develop the Wisconsin master naturalist program. Since 10/05, they have:
- Held an in-person meeting of interested parties
- Established a WI Master Naturalist listserv and development web page
- Collected information on other state master naturalist programs
- Attended the annual ANROSP Conference (ANROSP, Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs, is the association of state master naturalist programs)
More recently Sherry Klosiewski, WDNR, Vicki Medland, UWGB, and Kate Reilly, UW-Madison have been working to generate interest among funders and to draft documents to get the planning process started. Visit the development website, for an overview of the WI Volunteer Naturalist Program, a draft logic model and information from past meetings and from other state master naturalist programs. Join the listserv to keep up to date on new developments.
Development Website [Exit DNR]
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
The latest pest update by Linda Williams
Topics include:
Insects:
- Allegheny Mount Ants
- Asian Long horned Beetle
- EAB Biocontrol
- EAB Surveys Continue in WI
- EAB Reporting in WI
- Gypsy Moth
Diseases:
- Hypoxylon Canker
- Powdery Mildew on Maple
Other:
- J-rooting
Winter Issue of LEAFlet Available
The winter 2008 issue of the LEAFlet is available. This issue is packed full of forestry education information for teachers, non-formal educators and landowners . . .
Special features include:
- 2008 School Forest Awards
- Tips for a Successful School Forest Education Plan
- LEAF’s Tree of the Year
- WEEB Grant Program
- Online Resources
- and a lot more
LEAF (Learning, Experiences & Activities in Forestry) is Wisconsin's k-12 forestry education program which connects formal and non-formal educators in Wisconsin with quality forestry education materials.
LEAF is a partnership program between: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education in the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry
Municipal Specialist Scholarships AVAILABLE!
International Society for Arboriculture, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Program and Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), has made Municipal Specialist scholarships available to eligible candidates. This scholarship is available to all Certified Arborists that meet the Municipal Specialist requirements. The eligible candidates will receive the first exam fee paid, an ISA Municipal Study Guide, and a one year membership to ISA and ISA chapter/ or SMA membership if they do not already have one.
Municipal Specialist Scholarships [Exit DNR]
WEEB Grants
Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) has announced their '09-10 grant cycle. Eligible parties include nonprofit organizations, state & local governments, tribes, schools & school districts. Application deadline is Feb. 14, 2009.
Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine
Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine is the bi-monthly magazine of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a great way to share your passion for the outdoors with friends and family. Give an affordable holiday gift that delivers all year long for just $8.97.
Natural Resources Magazine - For subscription information and to send your subscription recipient a gift card
Allstate Foundation Funds National and Local Programs
The Allstate Foundation provides support to national programs as well as local programs in company communities throughout the United States. Proposals must address needs within one of three focus areas including Safe and Vital Communities, including youth anti-violence, neighborhood revitalization, and teen driving safety.
Allstate Foundation [Exit DNR]
Job Opportunity - Landscape Arborist/Urban Forestry Specialist -Bismarck, ND
The City of Bismarck will be advertising for a Landscape Arborist/Urban Forestry Specialist position.
General Statement of Duties: Work involves frequent contact with the general public for providing technical assistance to individuals, groups and other City departments on tree insects and diseases, tree risks and landscaping. Inspect work performed by contractors for tree health, tree safety, and compliance with contract specifications. Issues permits as they relate to forestry standards and specifications on public rights-of-way. Performs skilled and highly technical work associated with the design review, implementation assistance, and final inspection of landscaping site plans along city streets, parks and related areas. Assists with the administration of the Landscaping Ordinance as it relates to new landscape designs.
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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