Month: March 2021

2021 Arbor Day Foundation Recognition Program Standards

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Tree City, Tree Campus and Tree Line USA program participants: please review the Arbor Day Foundation’s following expectations regarding the 2021 program recognition standards.

Tree City USA Standard 4 – Proclamation and Arbor Day Observance: We will require a signed Arbor Day proclamation on all 2021 applications. Arbor Day observances and celebrations will not be required, but cities will be highly encouraged to publicize their community’s recognition as a Tree City or celebration of Arbor Day.

Examples of things communities could do to observe while socially distancing: Facebook live tree planting, social media post encouraging citizens to celebrate Arbor Day, newspaper article, radio ad, etc.

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Six Applicants Receive DNR Urban Forestry Grants In Second Round Of Funding

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry Grant program awarded $104,920 to six Wisconsin communities for urban forestry projects during the second round of our 2021 funding. These funds were originally reserved for the Catastrophic Storm Grant program but were not needed through the winter months.

The communities receiving funds are the City of Cedarburg, the City of Delafield, the Village of Grafton, the City of Menasha, the Village of Shorewood and the City of Sun Prairie. Each grantee will receive an equal part of the available funding for $17,486.50. These urban forestry grants must be matched dollar for dollar.

The Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Grant program funds projects consistent with state and national goals to increase the urban forest canopy and its benefits. The urban forest encompasses trees on both public and private property.

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Wisconsin Tree Champions Lauded for Outstanding Community Service

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By Sara Minkoff, DNR Urban Forestry Council liaison, Madison, sara.minkoff@wisconsin.gov, 608-669-5447

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council has announced awards honoring those dedicated to protecting, preserving and increasing the number of trees that line city streets, fill community parks and beautify neighborhoods throughout Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council advises the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Forestry on the management of urban and community forest resources.

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Madison College Now Enrolling Fall 2021 Arboriculture Students

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By Jeremy Kane, Urban Tree Alliance and Urban Tree Management

Madison College student Kate Kendziora in the Aerial Tree Work Practicum course

The Madison College Department of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry began offering classes in the fall of 2019 and has since been evolving with the last turbulent year.

The program is currently delivering tree identification courses, climbing and practical tree care skills and tree biology in a safe “hybrid” format that combines online and regulated in-person instruction.

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Wausau’s New Partners In Urban Wood Utilization

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By Andrew Sims, City Forester, Wausau/Marathon County Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department

Urban Evolutions

Urban wood utilization has become a popular topic of conversation within the arboriculture community. Not only is it a ‘feel good’ opportunity for communities to dispose of urban forest products, but a much-needed source of revenue as well. 

Historically, Wausau contracted with a local logger to haul material to mills. This contract was primarily for the pulp market, as many sawmills won’t accept urban wood due to unknown foreign objects.  As a result, much of the oversized material did not have the best end-use. Some were sold on auction by the truckload, and the rest was left to decompose. Finding those key partnerships, and being able to capitalize on them, was the key for Wausau to become successful at utilizing urban wood. A short description of two of the City of Wausau’s new partnerships follows.

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New Oak Wilt Vectors Emergence User Interface Available Online

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By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.govor 608-235-7532 and Elly Voigt, DNR Forest Health Communications Specialist and Lab Technician, Eleanor.Voigt@wisconsin.gov or 608-273-6276

Oak wilt is a serious disease that occurs when insects carrying oak wilt fungal spores land on a healthy oak tree’s fresh wound. To prevent oak wilt infections, it is important to avoid pruning, wounding and harvesting oaks when these insects are abundant, generally April through July.

Predicting exactly when these insects start to emerge in the spring can be difficult as their emergence is highly weather-dependent, and spring weather varies significantly from year to year.

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Look For Gypsy Moth Egg Masses And Prepare For Hatch; Slow-The-Spread Treatments Announced

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By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh, bill.mcnee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942

Gypsy moth egg masses on the underside of a maple branch.

Gypsy moth egg masses are expected to start hatching in April as temperatures warm. Now is a great time to do an egg mass inspection to look for unknown infestations and treat or remove any masses within reach. Each mass that never hatches can result in 500 to 1,000 fewer leaf-eating caterpillars.

Egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter. They can be found on many outdoor surfaces, including tree trunks, undersides of branches, buildings, rocks, fences, retaining walls, firewood piles and other outdoor objects.

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Tips For Holding Tree Planting And Distribution Events During COVID-19

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The Arbor Day Foundation has created a short guide for holding safer tree planting and distribution events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guide includes tips for planning the event, communicating with volunteers and suggesting processes for tree distribution and planting. The guide also features additional tips for dealing with water, snacks and tools and more.

As emphasized in the guide, be sure to comply with local guidelines from your community health authorities.

To download the guide, visit the webpage here.

You can also view a short video summarizing information from the guide here.

Funding Opportunities Available Through the DNR

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Local units of government (LUGs) are eligible to apply for four Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grants and two related federal programs administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The annual application deadline is May 1, 2021, for the grant programs listed below.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship local assistance grant programs:

  • Aids for the Acquisition and Development of Local Parks (ADLP)
  • Urban Green Space (UGS) grants
  • Urban Rivers (UR) grants
  • Acquisition of Development Rights (ADR)

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1000 Friends Of Wisconsin’s Leafing Out Webinar Series

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Leafing Out, Episode 4: Selecting Your Tree, Fruit Trees with Paul Schwabe

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 12:00-1:00 PM

This webinar has been produced in collaboration with the Dane County Tree Board

Join 1000 Friends and Paul Schwabe from Johnson’s Nursery in Menomonee Falls to hear the secrets to a bountiful fruit tree. Paul is a sales rep at Johnson’s Nursery and has many years of wisdom to share with us.

Paul will cover the optimal site conditions for fruit trees and then grow your knowledge of apple and peach trees during his presentation. When his talk is finished, Paul will be available for any of your fruit tree questions.

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