Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Council 2025 Biennial Report Published

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By Jenn Janness, Urban Forestry Council Liaison
Jennipher.Janness@wisconsin.gov or 920-809-9330

2025 report coverThe purpose of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council is to advise the state forester and the Wisconsin DNR on the best ways to preserve, protect, expand and improve Wisconsin’s urban and community forest resources. Members are appointed by the DNR Secretary and represent a wide array of stakeholders, including municipal and utility foresters, medical and higher education professionals, nursery and green industry staff, environmental groups, public works and parks staff, organizations such as the Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA), the Urban Wood Network Wisconsin, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and government agencies such as WisDOT and DATCP. Continue reading “Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Council 2025 Biennial Report Published” →

LEAF Lessons

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Leaf websiteArbor Day is right around the corner, but why wait to start celebrating and learning about trees? The LEAF K-12 Forestry Education Program provides resources to incorporate into the classroom for Arbor Day or any day! The downloadable Urban Forest Lesson Guide provides a pathway for teachers to engage students and teach them about the trees in their neighborhood. Forestry Education Kits on a variety of different themes are also available for checkout for both formal and non-formal educators. Check out the LEAF website and consider utilizing the resources they have to offer this spring. Continue reading “LEAF Lessons” →

Tree Fund Scholarships And Grant Deadline March 15, 2025

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Tree FundTREE Fund offers scholarships for undergraduate students who aspire to careers in arboriculture, urban forestry and related fields. Before applying for any scholarship, carefully read the guidelines for each scholarship provided on the website. Contact a staff member at TREE Fund directly should you have questions or require additional information about these programs.

Apply online by March 15, 2026. Continue reading “Tree Fund Scholarships And Grant Deadline March 15, 2025” →

Upcoming Training

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group of people listening to a speaker in the woods* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

See below for information on training topics and events, including shade trees, fruit trees, chainsaw certification, tree diseases and pests, pruning and public perspectives on trees. Continue reading “Upcoming Training” →

USDA Forest Service Requests Proposals for Wood Innovations Grants

Posted on by akabelowsky
A stack of logs

A stack of logs guards an old conifer seed orchard near Lake Tomahawk in the Town of Hazelhurst in 2024. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service today announced up to $95 million in competitive grant funding through its Wood Innovations program for projects that advance innovative wood uses, expand wood-based construction, and grow U.S. wood energy markets and forest product processing capacity.

Continue reading “USDA Forest Service Requests Proposals for Wood Innovations Grants” →

2026 Wisconsin Forest Products Market Update

Posted on by akabelowsky
photo of lumber at a mill.

Lumber is produced at a mill. / Photo Credit: Twin Oaks Lumber

By Elle Soderberg, DNR Forest Products Specialist

​The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products Services team ​would like to share some perspectives based on our conversations with forest products industry contacts and information sources. Our goal in sharing these informational updates is to provide material to help you understand how the state’s forest products industry is being impacted, not only by market/seasonal trends, but also by major announcements (e.g., mill closures, expansions, economic factors, etc.).

Continue reading “2026 Wisconsin Forest Products Market Update” →

Wisconsin DNR’s Forest Regeneration Monitoring Program

Posted on by akabelowsky
Workers learn about FRM data collection.

New hires familiarize themselves with FRM data collection. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Gabe Spangler, DNR Forest Regeneration Monitoring Coordinator

The Forest Regeneration Monitoring (FRM) program was initiated to better assess the status of naturally regenerating forests across the state and to provide data on forest regeneration success or failure in relation to deer herd population density across Wisconsin. Previous forest monitoring methods were not intensive enough to tell a precise, county-level story of the impacts of deer browse (herbivory) on forest regeneration or the quality of the forest habitat available to deer.

Continue reading “Wisconsin DNR’s Forest Regeneration Monitoring Program” →

EUDR Update: Changes In 2025 And The Hardwood Industry’s Path To Compliance

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By Brian Zweifel, DNR Forest Products Specialist

logo

American Hardwood Assured (AHA) is a free, AI-based digital platform developed by the American Hardwood Export Council to verify that U.S. hardwood products are legally harvested and deforestation-free.

Understanding The EUDR And Impacts On The U.S. Forest Products Sector

For those who haven’t been keeping up with international policy, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is an environmental policy proposed to ensure that products sold within the EU do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation. The regulation targets seven key commodities—cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood—that are major drivers of deforestation for agricultural expansion. While the goals of the EUDR are widely supported by environmental and industry groups, its original compliance requirements created significant, and potentially insurmountable, challenges for the U.S. hardwood industry. This article explains the critical updates and delays announced in late 2025, details the proactive solutions being developed by industry groups like the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and American Hardwood Assured (AHA), and outlines a clear path forward for forest products companies. These recent developments have shifted the compliance conversation from crisis to a more manageable, strategic response. Continue reading “EUDR Update: Changes In 2025 And The Hardwood Industry’s Path To Compliance” →

New Publication Highlights Technology, Training Needs in Northeastern Lumber Drying Operations

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Cover of Forest Products JournalBy Scott Lyon, DNR Forest Products Team Leader

A new study published in the Forest Products Journal by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, the United States Forest Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources examined dry kiln operations across the northeastern and north-central United States.

The research explored current technology use, production practices, and workforce training needs in the hardwood lumber drying industry, with the goal of helping training providers and industry leaders better tailor education and support to real-world operating conditions.

The survey found that most firms dry a wide range of hardwood species, reflecting the region’s diverse forest resources. Eastern white pine was the only softwood species dried by a majority of respondents. While species diversity was common across operations, the study revealed a clear divide between small and large kiln facilities in technology use, investment plans, and quality-control practices.

Continue reading “New Publication Highlights Technology, Training Needs in Northeastern Lumber Drying Operations” →