Where one chapter ends another begins. Su DaWalt, Urban Forestry Financial Specialist, is retiring from her work at Wisconsin DNR. In this role her primary responsibility was to coordinate the policy and implementation of our Urban Forestry grant and financing programs. She has implemented many process improvements to streamline and document the grant process for staff and potential applicants. She helped document and share other potential funding sources. Additionally, she worked with numerous partners, grant applicants and staff to improve, implement and train them in the various processes and materials. Su will be missed, but we know she will do amazing things in her retirement. Continue reading “Financial Specialist retires after 35 years”
Urban Forestry News
Conifers provide urban forests many benefits
Trees dressed in tinsel, ornaments and lights are common in households around the world over the holiday season. While conifers are known for decorating homes over holidays there are many other benefits they provide as urban trees in yards and along streets. ISA released an article regarding these benefits. Continue reading “Conifers provide urban forests many benefits”
Consider contract growing this year
Contract growing affords opportunities and benefits for both the nursery and the municipality – species, quantity, quality and diversity – one stop shopping.
Contract growing is a practice whereby municipalities work with nurseries to create a long-term relationship for growing a desired species of tree to very exact standards. As the name implies, a contract is put in place between municipalities and individual nurseries to ensure, in advance, a certain quality, quantity and type of tree will be grown specifically for the municipality. Continue reading “Consider contract growing this year”
Urban Forestry grants have been announced
Thirty-three communities, nonprofit groups, and counties will share $487,578.97 in 2017 state grant dollars to promote and sustain urban forest resources in Wisconsin.
Continue reading “Urban Forestry grants have been announced”
Minnesota and Wisconsin share ideas
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization headquarters.
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council recently met with their Minnesota counterparts, Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (MnSTAC) to begin exploring ways to share knowledge and resources and to start building a collaborative relationship. Continue reading “Minnesota and Wisconsin share ideas”
Students help complete city tree inventory
Students in the City of Phillips have been working hard this school year. Science teacher, Bob Dural put his students to work in a real-life application that will help the city make decisions about its urban forest: which trees to take down, which trees to plant and where to plant them. Continue reading “Students help complete city tree inventory”
Successful community tree graduate workshop
All the students in a wagon headed to prune trees.
This year was the inaugural Wisconsin Community Tree Management Institute (WCTMI) graduate workshop, hosted by Wisconsin DNR’s Urban Forestry Program. It was held over two days in mid-October at the Green Lake Conference Center. The location offered beautiful scenery and an abundance of trees to evaluate, prune and discuss. Despite the slightly inclement weather, the attendees enjoyed themselves and were happy to be back and connect with others. Continue reading “Successful community tree graduate workshop”
Consider the Community Forest Program
The USDA Forest Service is accepting applications for the Community Forest Program (CFP) and Open Space Conservation Program. Local governments, qualified nonprofit organizations and Indian tribes are eligible to apply for grants to establish community forests through acquisition of private forest land from a willing seller. Eligible lands for grants funded under this program are private forests that are at least five acres in size, suitable to sustain natural vegetation, and at least 75 percent forested. The lands must also be threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. For more information view the notice put out by the U.S. Forest Service.
For more information contact Ellen Clark (EllenA.Clark@Wisconsin.gov), Urban Forestry Communication Specialist, at 608-267-2774.
Apply for 2016 Great Lakes grant
The U.S. Forest Service has announced that they are accepting proposals for potential grant funding. There are $575,000 in new funds that are available for Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMA) in the Great Lakes Basin. The deadline for approval is January 6, 2017 at grants.gov. The goal of the program is to detect, prevent, eradicate and/or control invasive plants to promote diverse benefits on Federal, State or private land. Continue reading “Apply for 2016 Great Lakes grant”
Date changed for urban landowner survey
Wisconsin DNR is collaborating with the USDA Forest Service to pilot an urban form of the National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS), to better understand the people who own and manage our urban forests. The survey is paired with the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, in which data is collected on our urban trees and forest.
The date for the mailing of the Wisconsin Urban Landowner Survey has been changed. The survey will now be mailed Monday, January 9th. This change was made to ensure a viable response rate and avoid conflict with the holiday and hunting seasons. Continue reading “Date changed for urban landowner survey”