Urban Forestry News

2026 Urban Forestry Grants Announced

Posted on by janness

By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2026 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.

The Urban Forestry Grant Program is distributing almost $550,000 in grant funds. A dollar-for-dollar match puts the total estimated cost of these projects over $1.2 million. In total, 38 applications were selected to receive funding, with awards ranging from $2,128 to $25,000. Continue reading “2026 Urban Forestry Grants Announced” →

Community Spotlight: Outreach Examples From Western Wisconsin

Posted on by janness

By Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov or 608-556-5690

Trees are good. For those who hold trees in high esteem, this simple statement feels as much a universal truth as the sky being blue or the sun rising in the east. It can feel unfathomable that anyone might hold a contrasting opinion.

Luckily, if you are of the trees are good persuasion, there’s plenty of research out there to support your stance. Oxygen production, air pollutant removal, stormwater reduction and filtration, lower energy bills, increased property values, food sources, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and calming aesthetics are just a few oft-touted benefits provided by trees. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Outreach Examples From Western Wisconsin” →

DNR Announces Catastrophic Storm Grant Recipients

Posted on by janness

By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the recipients of the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants to assist with damage sustained during severe storms that took place Aug. 9, 2025. Catastrophic storm grants range from $4,000 to $50,000 and do not require a dollar-for-dollar match. Grant funding was distributed among the following three communities: Continue reading “DNR Announces Catastrophic Storm Grant Recipients” →

Governor Tony Evers Digs Into Planting Trees With Volunteers In Oshkosh

Posted on by janness

By Travis Derks, City of Oshkosh Landscape Operations Manager
TDerks@oshkoshwi.gov or 920-236-5080.

Photo Credit: City of Oshkosh

When presented with an offer in October of donated trees to be planted by volunteers with just over a month to plan, the City of Oshkosh didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge. Cummins Inc. (in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers) was looking to plant around 40 trees with 30 volunteers somewhere in Oshkosh by the end of this year. Continue reading “Governor Tony Evers Digs Into Planting Trees With Volunteers In Oshkosh” →

Community Spotlight: Rhinelander — How One Small Community Is Making Urban Forestry A Priority

Posted on by janness

By Tom Jerow, Rhinelander City Forester

View of the same street before and after urban forestry efforts.

The City of Rhinelander, like many communities with populations under 10,000, has struggled to maintain a vibrant urban forestry program. Funding and staffing are its main challenges. The city also faces a variety of urban forestry issues, including pests and diseases, species diversity, community engagement, catastrophic ice storms and aging sewer and water infrastructure. The latter is one of the most significant challenges. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Rhinelander — How One Small Community Is Making Urban Forestry A Priority” →

Repurpose Your Holiday Tree!

Posted on by janness

By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578

To say that working on a Christmas tree farm in high school led me into forestry would be a case of significant historical revisionism. Still, that experience swam in the same waters as reading Lord of the Rings, going on family vacations to the mountains, having a nearby municipal forest and other things that showed me that trees were the way.

Since then, I have increasingly appreciated holiday trees and other green things brought into households, not (just) in the harbinger-of-gifts way, but as reminders of life against a cold, seemingly bleak background. “Things will get better,” these green things announce. “Just wait!” Continue reading “Repurpose Your Holiday Tree!” →

Upcoming Trainings

Posted on by janness

*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 ISA certification exam preparation, plant propagation, winter tree identification, urban forest restoration, research trends and electrical hazards. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings” →

Impacts Of Winter Weather On Trees

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov

A stand of pines shows heavy damage from an ice storm in April 2025.

A stand of pines shows heavy damage from an ice storm in April 2025. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Winter damage can significantly impact the health of trees. Keeping trees healthy through the fall is important for reducing winter stress. Provide water as needed to trees until the leaves start falling (for deciduous trees) or until the ground starts freezing (for conifers).

Continue reading “Impacts Of Winter Weather On Trees” →

Watch For Woodpecker Damage On Ash Trees

Posted on by akabelowsky
Woodpecker flecking on the bark of a dying ash tree is visible at Winnebago County Community Park in Oshkosh.

Woodpecker flecking on the bark of a dying ash tree is visible at Winnebago County Community Park in Oshkosh. Flecking occurs when the birds peck away at the trees to feed on emerald ash borer larvae beneath the bark. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to watch for woodpecker damage to their ash trees this winter.

Woodpecker damage, often called “flecking,” happens when birds peck away some of a tree’s bark to access the larvae underneath. Flecking is a common early sign that an ash tree might be infested with emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect. EAB is the most damaging threat to Wisconsin trees, killing more than 99% of the untreated ash trees it infests.

Continue reading “Watch For Woodpecker Damage On Ash Trees” →