Month: February 2018

Upcoming forest products events

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Maximizing Forestry Resources in the Midwest
Date: February 21-22, 2018
Location: Forest Products Laboratory, 1 Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI
More information

Wisconsin Northern China Wood Mission
Date: March 20-30, 2018
Location: Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Guangzhou
More information

Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association’s 10th Annual Spring Celebration
Date: April 9, 2018
Location: Harris, MI
More information

Great Lakes Dry Kiln Association Spring Meeting
Date: April 12-13, 2018
Location: Grayling, MI
More information

Heating the Midwest 2018 Conference & Expo
Date: May 1-3, 2018
Location: Black Bear Casino Resort, Carlton, MN
More information

Renewable energy flooring makes debut

Posted on by Kirsten Held

This article is reprinted with written permission from the author.

One step closer to market: Renewable energy flooring makes debut in Union South
By Will Cushman, UW-Madison, Environmental Resources Center

As tens of thousands of visitors each day walk across a new flooring installation in UW-Madison’s Union South in fall 2017, they might not realize they’re participating in what could very well represent a leap into the future of renewable energy production.

A research team led by Xudong Wang, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of materials science and engineering, in collaboration with the UW-Madison Grainger Institute for Engineering, has installed a high-tech flooring prototype that harvests the energy of footsteps and converts it into electricity.

Continue reading “Renewable energy flooring makes debut” →

Wood mission scheduled for China in March

Posted on by Kirsten Held

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will lead a trade mission with Wisconsin forestry businesses to northern China from March 20-30, 2018. The mission will include one-on-one matchmaking meetings with potential buyers and trade partners in Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, and will end at Asia’s most comprehensive woodworking and machinery trade show Interzum Guangzhou. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to visit wood product manufacturing locations.

This mission will enable participating Wisconsin forestry businesses to forge relationships with potential Chinese buyers and trading partners, gain market intelligence and first-hand knowledge of the Chinese wood import business practices and environment.

Chinese wood products market is the largest in the world for U.S. wood and wood products. Since 2005, China has become the world’s largest exporter of furniture. In recent years, domestic demand for these wood products have grown and more have stayed in China instead of being exported. According to the American Hardwood Export Council, one in five hardwood lumber boards produced in the U.S. is exported to China. The economic outlook for China remains positive with an expected annual growth in 2018.

Wisconsin forestry product businesses interested in building and expanding trade in China are invited to attend. For more, information please see the trade mission flyer.

By DNR Forest Products Specialist Scott Lyon, Scott.Lyon@Wisconsin.gov, 920-662-5184

Building a Community Ecology Project

Posted on by Ellen Clark

Contents of this article are shared for informational purposes only. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does not endorse and makes no representations, expressed, inferred or implied, concerning these organizations, programs or services.

By Paul Fliss, City Forester, City of New Berlin, WI

The City of New Berlin applied for a National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF) Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant in 2017. The proposed project will cover 9.59 acres and encompass the length of Deer Creek and the wetlands to the south and east of the City Center Business District. Common to this area are several species of resident birds, migratory songbirds, owls and waterfowl. Recent history has revealed an abundance of whitetail deer and smaller animals such as muskrats, raccoon, opossum, skunks, various mice/voles and even evidence of a beaver. The habitat for these species is that of an urban to rural interface and wetland transition ecology. The current state of the defined proposal areas vary between ‘poor’ with construction debris, litter and heavily infested invasive species to ‘fair’ with few invasive species and nearly undisturbed lowland habitat, native trees and wetlands plants. Continue reading “Building a Community Ecology Project” →

Is your city a Bird, Bee or Tree City?

Posted on by Ellen Clark

Greenfield Arbor Day eventRight now, you’re probably sitting in your office, trying to stay warm and planning for the year ahead. Be sure to check out the following recognition programs and pass the information along to committee and boards who would be interested. The great part is that a single project could be used to help meet all three programs’ requirements! Also be sure to check out amazing trainings that are being offered throughout the state. Continue reading “Is your city a Bird, Bee or Tree City?” →

Update on EAB in West Bend

Posted on by Ellen Clark

Written in conjunction with Mike Jentsch, West Bend Parks and Forestry

West Bend EAB mapThe city of West Bend is in Washington County, about a 30-minute drive north of Milwaukee. More than 32,000 people call West Bend home. Emerald ash borer was first confirmed in West Bend on June 9, 2010. The DNR Urban Forestry team previously showcased West Bend’s efforts to mitigate EAB in the city. We are showcasing West Bend again to show how their EAB efforts have changed as the pest grows and effects more and more trees. Their efforts can help shed light their hard work and guide communities that are just now being affected. Continue reading “Update on EAB in West Bend” →

Showcasing Black History Month through urban wood utilization

Posted on by Ellen Clark

If you’re near Wauwatosa, stop by and check out this urban wood art exhibit – Fresh Perspective Art Collective’s 2nd Annual “Urban Heroes, Urban Wood” Black History Month Show. Notable Black Milwaukeeans have painted and drawn on salvaged wood from Milwaukee’s ash trees.  The exhibition runs from February 16 – March 16. For more information check out https://www.artsinmilwaukee.org/events/urban-heroes-urban-wood-2005.

 

For more information contact Ellen Clark, Urban Forestry Communication Specialist at (EllenA.Clark@wisconsin.gov) 608-267-2774.