City tree champions from throughout Wisconsin lauded for outstanding community service

CITY TREE CHAMPIONS FROM THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN LAUDED FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE

Contact(s): Sara Minkoff, Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council liaison, 608-264-6039, Sara.Minkoff@wisconsin.gov; Jennifer Sereno, DNR communications, 608-770-8084, Jennifer.Sereno@wisconsin.gov
March 1, 2016

MADISON, Wis. - Six individuals and organizations earned recognition from the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council for their efforts to protect, preserve and increase the number of trees that line city streets, fill community parks and beautify neighborhoods throughout the state.

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council advises the Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry on the best ways to manage urban and community forest resources. The awards are a way to recognize and thank individuals and organizations for their work and commitment to the trees, plantings, habitat and economic benefits they provide, said Kristin Gies, co-chair of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council's award committee.

Following are recipients of the awards, which were announced recently at the 2016 Wisconsin Arborist Association/DNR conference in Green Bay.

Distinguished Service: Phil Pellitteri, a UW-Madisondistinguished faculty associate emeritus, was recognized for hisoutstanding career contributions to the field of urban forest healththrough his work as the UW-Extension entomologist for 35 years. Throughouthis career, Pellitteri has shared his extensive knowledge of insectproblems threatening Wisconsin's urban forests by contributing to numerouspublications, speaking at conferences, participating in workshops, workingwith the news media and educating students, professionals and the generalpublic.

Project Partnership: The Ozaukee County Fish Passage Program ofthe Ulao Creek Restoration and Tree Planting Project earned this award for anextensive large-scale fish and wildlife habitat restoration project in theMilwaukee metropolitan area. The effort involved numerous local groupsworking together to restore this ecologically significant resource throughwetland enhancement, invasive plant removal, native flower and treeplanting, and installation of fish and wildlife habitat features.

Innovations in Urban Forestry:This category includes two winners. The city of Madison Common Council Alternative Revenue Work Groupreceived an award as the first city in Wisconsin to establish an urbanforest special charge to meet the growing needs of its urban forestryprogram including the challenges presented by emerald ash borer. The Wisconsin Urban Wood Networkreceived the second award in this category for marketing urban wood,addressing an environmental need and supporting investment in private businesses.

Lifetime Achievement: Raymond P. Guries, a UW-Madisonprofessor emeritus from the forest and wildlife ecology department of theCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Eugene B. Smalley (deceased), a UW-Madison emeritus professorof plant pathology and forestry earned the lifetime achievement award fordeveloping elm cultivars that are resistant to Dutch elm disease andproviding mentorship to numerous university students over the years.

Interested in previous winners? Have ideas for nominees? The deadline for 2017 nominees is Oct. 31, 2016. However, you can nominate your community tree champions any time. Learn more by visiting DNR.wi.gov and searching for the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council.

Last Revised: Tuesday, March 01, 2016