Month: December 2021

Deadlines Approaching For Tree City, Bird City And Bee City Applications

Act fast to keep your Tree City, Bird City and Bee City status! Due dates are as follows:

  • Tree City USA (TCUSA) applications are due Dec. 31
  • Bird City Wisconsin renewal applications are due Jan. 31 (new applications can be submitted anytime)
  • Bee City USA renewal applications are due Feb. 28 (new applications can be submitted anytime)

These three programs are each managed by a different nonprofit, but they have a lot in common. In fact, a single project could be used to help meet all three programs’ requirements!

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Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program Grant Proposals Now Accepted

Proposals for the 2022 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program are now being accepted through Jan. 25, 2022 by 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

The Five Star and Urban Waters Grant Program will award approximately $2.6 million in grants nationwide. An additional $1,000,000 in grants is available from a private funder to support urban green infrastructure that focuses on urban forests and tree planting, especially in underserved communities.

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. 

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2022 SFI Community Grants

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is now accepting proposals for SFI Community Grants. Grants are awarded in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 dollars per project. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 1, 2022. The Lead Organization on the project must be one of the following: SFI Implementation Committee (SIC), non-profit, college/university or indigenous community/organization. Local governments would need to partner with a SFI Implementation Committee member in order to apply. 

SFI Community Grants will support projects that address one or more of the following priorities:

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Tree And Shrub Pruning Workshop

This pruning workshop for ages 18+ is designed to elevate tree and shrub care for professionals and beginners.

During the workshop, attendees will learn about the following topics:

  • Basics of plant biology and structure
  • Responses to the basic types of pruning cuts
  • Pruning standards and timing
  • How to successfully restore previously mal-pruned trees and common mistakes
  • Disease issues, proper tools and safety procedures to use 

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Watch Us Grow! 16 Big Trees Planted in New Urban Forest Demonstration Area at the Forest Exploration Center

In collaboration with Wudeward Urban Forest Products, the Forest Exploration Center officially broke ground to launch the first of many educational plans for the open spaces of the property.

The new Urban Forest interpretive area will include exhibits and guided demonstrations. Visitors will explore the beauty, form and structure of this diverse selection of trees fit for the urban environment and discover that urban forests, like their rural forest counterpart, are also dynamic ecosystems that provide critical benefits to people and wildlife.

Our fine partners at the Wisconsin DNR’s division of Urban Forestry selected the tree species and designed the planting space. Species were chosen as those best to thrive in urban environments and represent the wide range of possibilities available to visitors interested in learning more about identifying, planting, and caring for trees in their own neighborhood.

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Forest Growth, Removal And Mortality

Forest growth, removal and mortality are indicators of forest productivity. Each forest type in Wisconsin differs in productivity based on many factors such as silvics, demand for products and overall management. Recent data from the U.S. Forest Service shows that aspen, being a short-lived species, currently has the highest mortality rate of the top ten species while eastern white pine is increasing in growth and volume.

White pine regeneration under a managed old-growth white pine at Uhrenholdt Demonstration Forest. Credit: Wisconsin DNR