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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October 23, 2009
This issue's contents:
In the News
- Philadelphia Includes Trees in $1.6 billion Stormwater Plan - ACT
- Cornell Inventories Campus Trees - American Forests
- Fall Color Extravaganza - American Forests
Specifically Wisconsin
- Fall is a Good Time to Control Garlic Mustard
- UWSP Students & Invasives - The Pointer Online
- Still Time to Enjoy Fall Color
Emerald Ash Borer
- Homeowner Ash Wood Processing Options
- EAB Still Pesters Officials - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Aldo Leopold Center Art Discovery Day
- Scientists Race to Prevent Ash Tree's Extinction - MSNBC
- EAB National News Coverage
Tools For Your Job
- South Central and Southeast Regions Forest Health Update
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
- National Tree Carbon Calculator
- 4th Grade Forest Appreciation Writing Contest
- NUCFAC Call for Proposals
Conferences & Seminars
Philadelphia Includes Trees in $1.6 billion Stormwater Plan - ACT
Philadelphia has announced a $1.6 billion plan to transform the city over the next 20 years by embracing its stormwater- instead of hustling it down sewers and into rivers as fast as possible. The proposal, which several experts called the nation's most ambitious, reimagines the city as an oasis of rain gardens, green roofs, thousands of additional trees, porous pavement, and more.
Cornell Inventories Campus Trees - American Forests
This summer, Cornell University (New York) conducted its first comprehensive inventory of the main campus’ 7,000+ trees, and found that they provide huge benefits in terms of carbon storage and other ecosystem services.
The nearly 300 species of trees on Cornell’s main campus store nearly 15 million pounds of carbon, sequester 740,000 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly and provide more than half a million dollars of annual benefits in ecosystem services.
The trees would cost an estimated $19 million to replace. These findings are important for the university’s recently unveiled Climate Action Plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, part of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment that Cornell President David Skorton signed in 2007. The information will also be useful to Cornell planners in quantifying the benefits of adding new trees
Cornell Tree Inventory [Exit DNR]
Fall Color Extravaganza - American Forests
Impressive fall displays are seen as early as mid-September in the northern regions of the United States and eastern Canada, and last well into November in the southern regions. As you may know, these awesome autumn colors come from the decrease in green chlorophyll in the leaves that allows other pigments, namely carotenoids and anthocyanins, to become visible. Carotenoids contribute to the range of yellow and orange hues also found in carrots, egg yolks, daffodils and canaries, while the anthocyanins produced in late summer add brilliant reds and purples.
Steve Nix from About.com has put together his list of “10 Best Places to See Fall Color in North American Forests”, chosen for their fabulous, accessible foliage displays, giant reputations, and locations near National Forests and Parks.
Fall is a Good Time to Control Garlic Mustard
Landowners in the southern part Wisconsin have been battling garlic mustard for many years, and as this highly invasive plant is starting to spread to parts of the Northwoods, state environmental officials are looking to the public to help slow the spread.
“Garlic mustard is to woodlands as Eurasian water-milfoil is to lakes,” says Ted Ritter, who is coordinating the Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership, a new multi-partner organization with the mission of pooling resources to minimize damage to public and private lands from terrestrial invasive species in Vilas and Oneida counties.
Fall Control of Garlic Mustard
UWSP Students & Invasives - The Pointer Online
The Wisconsin Council on Forestry released a set of voluntary guidelines for preventing the spread of invasive species.The 100-page document has a fittingly long name: “Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Best Management Practices for Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Invasive Species.” Although the guidelines contain a wealth of important and applicable information for laymen and foresters alike, the sheer size of the document may be enough to scare away the average Joe.
Troy Schreiner, Head Pruning Coordinator of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Student Society of Arboriculture, outlined five easy steps that even John Doe non-forester can do to keep invasives out of our backyard.
UWSP Students and EAB [Exit DNR]
Still Time to Enjoy Fall Color
Weather conditions are signaling fall in the Badger State. But there is still plenty of time to enjoy colorama here.
“Everyone walking in any wooded area needs to do their part to protect the valuable resource that is Wisconsin’s forests,” according to Virginia M. Mayo Black, a DNR Forestry Division communication specialist. “Until snow is on the ground, there is always some level of wildfire danger. There is also a danger of carrying out seeds of invasive plants on shoes and clothing. The publication of Wisconsin’s forestry, recreational forest user, and urban forestry Best Management Practices are a timely reminder of the role we all play in preventing the spread of invasive plants and insects.”
Homeowner Ash Wood Processing Options
The Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Program was released a guide for homeowners providing options for processing ash wood.
A key aspect of reducing the spread of emerald ash borer is properly managing the wood, brush and stump grindings generated by removal of infested trees. This requires an understanding of the processes that will destroy the insect, but also the federal, state and local regulations that apply to those processes. The preferred method of managing this wood is to have it processed in a manner that utilizes the wood and eliminates the risk of spreading EAB to new areas. If you suspect you have EAB, please contact the EAB Hotline at 1-800-462-2803 for confirmation. For additional information on EAB visit emeraldashborer.wi.gov.
Ash Wood Processing [Exit DNR]
EAB Still Pesters Officials - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Seven years after the discovery of the emerald ash borer in the United States, officials face bleak prospects for trying to control its spread. In fact, it might be a lost cause. Authorities have yet to find a magic bullet to attack the invasive beetle.
Aldo Leopold Center Art Discovery Day
Wisconsin wood artist, Dwayne Sperber, will have several examples of urban wood furniture on display at the Aldo Leopold Center Art Discovery Day, Saturday, November 7, 2009 in Baraboo. Celebrate regional artists whose work reflects a connection with the land.
Scientists Race to Prevent Ash Tree's Extinction - MSNBC
The native ash tree, which provides $25 billion worth of timber and decorates backyards across North America, could be doomed by the emerald ash borer — unless scientists are successful in freezing millions of ash seed, reserved for the day when researchers figure out how to kill or control the devastating bug.
EAB National News Coverage
Robin Usborne, Communications Manager with Michigan State University shares links to recent news coverage regarding EAB.
South Central and Southeast Regions Forest Health Update
The latest area forest health update by Kyoko Scanlon.
Topics in this update:
- Gypsy moth update
- Oiling gypsy moth egg masses
- DNR state land gypsy moth survey results
- Suppression application deadline and information
- DATCP gypsy moth trapping update
- Emerald Ash Borer update
- Dogwood sawfly
- Oak leafminers
- Oak mortality In Sauk Co.
- Columbian timber beetle
- Scarlet oak sawfly
- Ash yellows and ash dieback/mortality
- NR40 rule- Invasive species identification, classification, and control
- Alien Forest Pest Explorer mapping resource
- UWEX Flood factsheet available on line
- Forest health and gypsy moth assistance staffing changes
SCR & SER Forest Health Update
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
The latest pest update by DNR Forest Health Specialist Linda Williams. Topics include:
Insects:
- Beech Blight Aphid
- Boxelder Bugs
- EAB
- Gypsy Moth
- Oak Slug Sawfly
- Orange Striped Oakworm
Diseases:
- Beech Bark Disease in Door County
- Mossy Top Fungus and Eutypella Canker
- Powdery Mildew
Other:
- Ash Bark Splitting
National Tree Carbon Calculator
The Center for Urban Forest Research's popular CUFR Tree Carbon Calculator has gone national! The new version of the CTCC works just like the old, but now covers 16 US climate zones. This version includes new features: palm species, emissions factors, and energy information (heating and cooling degree days). Now users from coast to coast can enter species, tree size (diameter-at-breast height) or tree age and receive information on the amount of biomass and carbon stored in the tree, as well as benefits associated with energy conservation projects.
All results are based on tree growth data from each of the 16 climate zones.
4th Grade Forest Appreciation Writing Contest
Twenty-one years ago the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division asked fourth grade students across Wisconsin to think and write about our tree and forest resources, and to enter the annual Forest Appreciation Week Writing Contest.
Today, once again DNR invites teachers and young scholars to participate. This year’s theme, "Why Plant Trees?" encourages 4th grade students to write about the importance of tree planting and to become an active steward of the environment.
NUCFAC Call for Proposals
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, (NUCFAC) announces the posting of the U.S. Forest Service 2010 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share grant program.
Pre-proposals due December 15, 2009.
For additional information contact: Nancy Stremple, Phone: 202-205-1054, or 202-205-7829, or nstremple@fs.fed.us
NUCFAC Call for Proposals [Exit DNR]
Tales from Planet Earth
Tales from Planet Earth (TfPE) showcases environmental films from around the world in a three-day festival and several other community outreach events across Wisconsin. The festival, held in Madison, Wisconsin -- November 6-8, 2009 -- thematically journeys across the globe to explore how stories told through film shape our understanding of nature and inspire action on behalf of environmental justice and the diversity of life. All festival events are free and open to the public. Presented by the Center for Culture, History, and Environment Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW-Madison in partnership with Working Films
Tales from Planet Earth [Exit DNR]
Climate Change and Our Sense of Place
The UW-Madison Nelson Institute Community Environmental Forum will host a presentation addressing Climate Change and Our Sense of Place on Tuesday, October 27th from 5:45 pm until 7:00 pm in 1106 Mechanical Engineering Building at 1513 University Avenue in Madison.
New projections of climate change show that Wisconsin could become a very different place over the next few decades. Winters will be warmer and shorter. The northern forests could lose economically and ecologically vital tree species. Native wildlife and fish could disappear, replaced by non-native invaders. How will these changes affect the cultures, economies and identities of communities across the state? Please join us for presentations and discussion. Presentations are free and open to the public.
Climate Change and Our Sense of Place [Exit DNR]
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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