Reserve your spot for an intensive online training with the Urban Ecology Center focusing on neighborhood transformation. The five-part training will help participants make connections between kids, parks, cities and the wider world. Save your space by submitting an application for the March 2023 session. Continue reading “Urban Ecology Center’s Neighborhood Transformation Training Available”
UW-Madison’s Extension Horticulture Program is offering an online non-credit certificate course called “Plant Diagnostics: The Step-by-Step Approach to Identifying Plant Problems.” The class runs from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2023.
As a student, you will move at your own pace through 13 modules with online videos, reading and interactive exercises. You will learn the steps of the plant diagnostic process in an easy-to-understand way. You will become familiar with appropriate unbiased, research-based resources to use in the diagnostic process. Continue reading “UW Extension Plant Diagnostic Class”
The 2023 Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Annual Conference will be held on Feb. 19-21 in Green Bay, WI. Early Bird Registration cost is $275 until Jan. 27. You can find conference details here.
This conference is intended for professional arborists, community foresters, nursery professionals, park and recreation directors and staff, tree care workers, landscape architects and green industry professionals.
It will be followed by the Exhibitor Social with the famous Blue Light Special with proceeds supporting the WAA’s Student Scholarship Fund. Continue reading “WAA Conference Registration Available”
New funding will be available to states for urban and community forestry activities via the Federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry program is conducting a survey to better understand the funding needs of our partners.
Your participation in this survey is very important. It will help us guide Wisconsin’s request for Inflation Reduction Act funding to supplement our program.
Please allow for less than ten minutes of your time and go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QSJTRJY to complete the survey.
The survey will close at the end of the day on Friday, Jan. 20. We value your input; this is incredibly important information for us. Thank you for setting aside a few minutes of your busy schedule.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2023 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.
The Urban Forestry Grant Program had almost $700,000 in grant funds, with $419,860 in state funding and an additional $273,512 in federal funding. A dollar-for-dollar match puts the estimated total cost of these projects at $1.5 million. In all, 58 applications were selected to receive funding, with awards ranging from $2,106 to $25,000. Continue reading “DNR Urban Forestry Program Announces 2023 Grant Recipients”
As the year wraps up, we at the DNR Urban Forestry Program have found it full of innovative projects and new and wonderful partnerships, and we have grown closer as a team. We thank everyone for your interest and look forward to another great year in 2023!
For now, we wanted to share some of our favorite highlights from this year!
Back row: Dan Buckler, Olivia Wittun, Jeff Roe, Laura Buntrock, Brian Wahl, Nicolle Spafford
Front row: Kirsten Biefeld, Kim Sebastian, Odell Kimble, Kolin Bilbrew, Patricia Lindquist, Tracy Salisbury, Abby Krause
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist, Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov, 608-445-4578
Father and daughter bringing a tree home to decorate for Christmas. Source: WI DNR
At probably the same stage of life when I thought bread was just a medium to consume peanut butter, I thought the purpose of Christmas trees was to be a home for presents. However, like many people over the years, my appreciation for these incredible evergreen plants has grown. I love bringing green things into the home when the world can otherwise look bleak.
Unlike urban trees, which were planted and maintained for all sorts of benefits to humans and the wider environment, Christmas trees and other holiday plants are predominantly planted to be harvested at a young age. But like urban trees, their fate following their life’s work is unknown.
We wonder what you do with your Christmas trees or other holiday plants. We encourage you to fill out the short survey linked below. We are particularly interested in any novel ways you may utilize the plants. Next month, we will share results and, hopefully, a few stories.
SURVEY LINK Continue reading “What Do You Do With Your Old Christmas Trees?”
Micah Davis (left) and Steve Betchkal (right) hold their Midwest Emmy, awarded for their short film “Champion Trees”. Photo Credit: Story Time with Steve & Micah Facebook page
To see a heartwarming story about the power of trees, check out “BRANCHING OUT: Local Filmmakers Score Big by Making Stars Out of Local Trees” by Eric Rasmussen. Micah Davis and Steve Betchkal (Story time with Steve and Micah) spotlight the city of Eau Claire and explore its connection with its trees in a video called Champion Trees. Continue reading “Local Filmmakers Make Stars Out of Local Trees”
While 2022 isn’t over yet, it’s never too early to make your New Year’s resolutions and sign up for new training opportunities! Continue reading “Chainsaw Training Opportunities”
Applications for the Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control Grant are open. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1.
Municipalities in an eligible urban area can apply. The grant provides a 50% cost share with a maximum award of $5,000.
Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control (UWDAC) Grants help urban areas develop wildlife plans and implement specific damage abatement and/or control measures for white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese. Continue reading “Urban Wildlife Management Grants Available”
