Urban Forestry News

SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard Comment Period

Posted on by patricialindquist

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) is pleased to announce the first public comment period of a new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. SFI  collaborated with more than 25 urban forestry leaders, including representatives from American Forests, Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Society of Municipal Arborists and Tree Canada to create this first draft.

This first draft focuses primarily on the elements that would broadly define professional urban forestry programs and practices in the U.S and Canada. Elements in the standard will be aspirational to many communities. Some will follow standard SFI certification protocols common to all standards, and some are to be determined. SFI is interested in receiving all related comments, questions and suggestions that can help guide subsequent revisions and further development of the standard, so your review comments can be broader than just the technical elements of an urban and community forestry program or practice.   

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Tree City USA Bulletins & Resources

Posted on by patricialindquist

The Arbor Day Foundation publishes more than 100 Tree City USA Bulletins on a wide range of topics. They’re now available to download for FREE!

Here’s a sampling of the topics:

  • How to Prune Young Shade Trees
  • Resolving Tree-Sidewalk Conflicts
  • The Right Tree for the Right Place
  • How to Write a Municipal Tree Ordinance
  • Tree City USA: Foundation for Better Tree Management
  • Understanding Landscaping Cultivars
  • 10 Tree Myths to Think About

Download the bulletins here.

Got Buckthorn?

Posted on by brenna.denamur

Article By: Jaqi Christopher, DNR Forest Invasive Plant Specialist, Rhinelander, Jacquelyn.Christopher@wisconsin.gov

Common buckthorn with green leaves and dark purple/black berries.

Common Buckthorn leaves with berries. Notice the prominent leaf veins and small thorns at the end of the branches.
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

You can find buckthorn just about anywhere these days. It can sneak into the tidiest of gardens, as well as woodlots and forests. It aggressively outcompetes native plants and even tricks wildlife into spreading it to new areas. For example, birds are enticed to eat the berries, but buckthorn berries have a laxative effect, robbing birds of nutrition and ensuring the seeds are spread quickly across the landscape. 

There are two species of buckthorn in the state: common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn. The plants are similar in appearance and equally harmful to native ecosystems. Common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn grow to be 20-25 feet tall. Glossy buckthorn has round, glossy leaves with prominent leaf veins and a smooth margin, while common buckthorn has dull green leaves with small teeth on the margin. The branches of common buckthorn will have a small thorn at the tip of the twig. The bark is similar in both species, being rough and flakey. Native cherry and plum trees have similar bark, but buckthorn can be identified by leaf appearance andby cutting into the bark to expose the bright yellow and orange wood underneath.

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Arbor Day Foundation Now Accepting Tree City USA Applications

Posted on by patricialindquist

Did you know that Wisconsin had 201 Tree City USAs this year? It’s the first time we’ve crossed the 200 threshold!

We hope you join us again this year in continuing our strong commitment to growing and maintaining a healthy tree canopy across Wisconsin. The application portal for Tree City USA is now open and available here. Applications are due Dec. 31.

Communities that have received Tree City designations for at least one year may be eligible for Growth Awards.

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Necedah Hosts Urban Forestry Seminar For Neighboring Communities

Posted on by patricialindquist

By Patricia Lindquist, DNR Urban Forestry Communications Specialist, patricia.lindquist@wisconsin.gov, 608-843-6248

Part of our mission at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is to bring community foresters together to learn from one another and to provide training opportunities. Recently, one village administrator took it upon himself to do just that within his county.

We were thrilled when Roger Herried of Necedah approached us with his plans to hold a Juneau County Area Urban Forestry Seminar this fall. Roger’s intent was to provide much-needed training for his public works department and other small communities that don’t have a lot of resources. With some help from the DNR and other partners, Roger hosted a well-rounded, day-long program to help strengthen urban forestry programs in his area.

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A New Way To Measure Tree Equity

Posted on by patricialindquist

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

One needs only to look outside their window or at an aerial image to see that trees are not distributed evenly in their community. Of course, this is often expected and not indicative of any significant problem. One would expect, for example, for many parks to have more trees than densely developed parts of town.

However, sometimes uneven canopy distribution reveals something more harmful – that some neighborhoods and communities, often more wealthy ones, enjoy more canopy cover and thus more of the benefits trees provide. To help identify and mitigate this issue, American Forests recently released Tree Equity Score.

Figure 1 – an example of Tree Equity Score used in Oshkosh, WI. See the score along with demographic and environmental information on the left column.

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ISA International Virtual Conference

Posted on by patricialindquist

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is holding its 2021 International Virtual Conference from Dec. 13 – 16 bringing together practicing arborists, urban foresters, top researchers and educators.

Industry leaders from around the globe will teach more than 40 educational sessions on current research, practice and technology. This year’s keynote speaker is Valerie Trouet, author of “Tree Story,” and professor in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona. Attendees can earn more than 20 CEUS while networking with fellow industry experts. View the full agenda here.

Sessions will be available to watch during the conference and up to 30 days on demand after the event.

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National Urban Wood Academy 2021

Posted on by patricialindquist

The Urban Wood Network (UWN) will host its second annual Urban Wood Academy on Nov. 19 in Louisville, Kentucky in conjunction with the Partners in Community Forestry Conference.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network, share and discuss the newest strategies to overcome challenges and build successful local urban wood economies. Cities, entrepreneurs and advocates are leading initiatives to ensure that when urban trees are removed, there are opportunities for the material to be put to its highest and best use. To view the full agenda, click here.

Who Should Attend: Property owners, municipalities, arborists, sawyers, wood workers, manufacturers, retailers, educators, researchers and advocates are invited to participate in this year’s interactive sessions by bringing information about their own efforts to support peer learning and insights into lessons learned.

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SAWW Training In The Driftless Area

Posted on by patricialindquist

Driftless Area Land Conservancy will host Safety and Woods Worker (SAWW)-certified chainsaw safety and efficiency training near Muscoda, Wisconsin. Luke Saunders of Adaptive Restoration LLC will be the trainer.

Levels 1 and 2 are currently at full capacity. Level 3 will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11. Please note that participants should have completed Level 2 before registering for Level 3.

Participants in Level 3 training will spend most of the day in the field practicing techniques to operate chainsaws safely, comfortably and productively. Topics covered include reviewing information from Levels 1 and 2, focusing on planning and executing difficult tree felling, introduction to segments, precision at the stump and planning and executing limbing and bucking.

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Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement And Control Grants

Posted on by patricialindquist

Photo credit: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Bugwood.org

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting applications for Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control (UWDAC) grants. UWDAC grants are available to any town, city, village, county or tribal government located within an urban area. For a complete list of eligible urban areas, click here.

Applications must be received on or before Dec. 1, 2021.

UWDAC grants help urban areas develop wildlife plans, implement specific damage abatement and/or control measures for white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese. Eligible projects include:

  • Developing an urban wildlife population control plan
  • Monitoring wildlife populations and establishing population estimates
  • Removing deer using sharpshooters as part of a DNR-approved project

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