By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099
Beginning July 1, 2026, cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations conducting projects in Wisconsin can apply for a regular or startup 2027 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry grant. Continue reading “2027 Urban Forestry Grants Announced”
Laura Buntrock hosted an urban forestry booth at Rhinelander’s Earth Day Sustainability Fair, where she educated the public on the benefits of urban trees, provided resources and answered questions.
April and May might just be the busiest months of the year for the Urban Forestry staff. This small but mighty team participates in as many Arbor Day, Earth Day and Forest Appreciation Week events as they can fit into their schedules. Municipalities, schools and nonprofits tend to spread out their events over a couple months rather than scheduling them all on Arbor Day, which allows the staff to get to more events.
The Urban Forestry team’s involvement in these events varies and can include tree planting, seedling distribution, education and tree-related activities, such as competing for the loudest Arbor Day cheer. If you have an event you would like an Urban Forestry staff member to attend at any time of the year, get your request in early!
Here are just a few of the events that Urban Forestry staff attended. Continue reading “The Urban Forestry Staff Springs Into Action For Arbor Day”
The Urban Forestry team is excited to have two interns this summer through the State of Wisconsin Student Development Internship Program (SWSDIP). They will be working out of the Milwaukee DNR office but will also have opportunities to get involved in projects in other parts of the state. The Urban Forestry interns always hit the ground running, squeezing an impressive number of activities into their time with the program. Watch for an article later in the year summarizing their experience with the Urban Forestry program. Continue reading “Urban Forestry Welcomes Summer Interns”
By Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov or 608-556-5690
What’s in a name? That which we call a tree by any other name would stand as tall. Okay, maybe that’s not exactly how the Shakespeare quote goes, but in the urban forestry world, what we call a tree does play into our management decisions.
As communities work to recover from the devastation inflicted by invasives pests and build resilience against future challenges, species diversity rules have become the guide for planting projects. Planning out care of trees once they’re in the ground also revolves around knowing which species are present. How are we tallying our progress toward diversity goals, relaying the specific species we want to order from the nursery or narrowing down what’s ailing that tree in the park? Continue reading “What’s In A Name? An Intro To Reading Scientific Names”
By Nathaniel Walton, Michigan State University Extension
Updated from an original article written by Diane Brown and Lori Imboden
Irregularly shaped anthracnose lesions on a red maple (Acer rubrum) leaf. Photo by Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension.
Each year, Michigan State University Extension receives questions from the public regarding spots on the leaves of their favorite maple trees. Both anthracnose and maple leaf blister can be the cause of late spring and early summer damage to leaves of these popular landscape trees. Continue reading “Maple Leaf Blister And Anthracnose: Two Diseases Of Maple Leaves”
* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute endorsement by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for information on training topics and events, including the WAA Summer Conference, leadership, pollinator habitats, safety, tree ID and the ISA Annual Conference. Continue reading “Upcoming Training & Events”
A new U.S. Forest Service publication, Urban Residential Landowner Interest in Emerging Urban Wood Product Markets: Results from a Multi-City Survey, provides new insight into how homeowners across the United States engage with and perceive urban wood products and markets. The study highlights both the scale of urban wood resources and the opportunities to better utilize material that is often discarded as waste.
The research examined responses from residential landowners in six U.S. cities to better understand participation in urban wood systems and interest in urban wood products. Findings showed that approximately 15% of respondents had previously purchased or acquired urban wood products, demonstrating that a meaningful segment of urban residents is already participating in these emerging markets.
Interest was strongest for lower-value products such as mulch, wood chips, and compost, while products such as lumber and furniture generated lower—but still notable—levels of interest. The study also found that homeowners rely heavily on private-sector professionals, including landscaping and tree care companies, as well as friends and family, for trusted information related to tree care and wood utilization. Government agencies and nonprofit organizations were viewed as less influential information sources.
The publication underscores the significant opportunity to expand urban wood utilization efforts nationwide. Over the past two decades, urban tree removals have generated volumes of wood that exceed annual harvests from the U.S. National Forest System, yet much of this material continues to enter the waste stream. Strengthening local urban wood economies could support landfill diversion, create new business opportunities, encourage sustainable material use, and increase public awareness of the value of urban forests.
As one of the largest surveys of urban wood perceptions and practices conducted to date, the publication establishes an important baseline for future research, outreach, and market development efforts aimed at increasing participation in urban wood economies.
For more information on this study please visit: Urban Residential Landowner Interest in Emerging Urban Wood Product Markets: Results from a Multi-City Survey | US Forest Service Research and Development
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products Service Team recently completed its webinar series highlighting Wisconsin’s forest industry. The sessions focused on product utilization and market development for urban wood, biochar and mass timber, along with economic trends for state and county economic development.
Webinar recordings are available to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge that support sustainable growth across Wisconsin’s forest sector. Details of the sessions are as follows:
Continue reading “Forest Products Webinar Series: Recordings Available Now”
Red pine damaged by the April 2nd, 2026, ice storm in central Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Invasive Forest Pest Coordinator, Fitchburg
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov or 608-513-7690
Spring 2026 has seen a variety of tree stress events. Wisconsin trees have experienced snow and ice damage, severe storms that resulted in wind, hail and flood damage and swings in temperatures that brought leaf out and subsequent frost damage.
By Bill McNee, Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov
A spongy moth caterpillar feeds on a leaf. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Property owners are encouraged to monitor their trees for spongy moth larvae and damage this summer to determine whether control measures are needed.
Property owners who have oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow and linden (basswood) trees should be particularly watchful because the caterpillars of this invasive insect prefer these species.
However, they will feed on many other kinds of trees and shrubs.
Continue reading “Watch For Spongy Moth Caterpillars And Tree Damage This Summer”
