Consider contract growing this year

Posted on by Ellen Clark

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” →

Certification audits praise DNR land management

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Wisconsin’s forested lands are some of the state’s most valuable resources and the Department of Natural Resources is doing a good job caring for them according to audits conducted by SCS Global Services.  Independent, third-party certification means DNR management of its properties meets strict standards for ecological, social and economic sustainability. The words “exemplary” and “superb” were used in reporting 2016 audit findings on 1,551,440 acres of state-owned lands.  Department owned lands are certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  Read more in this DNR news release.

For more information, contact Mark Heyde at 608-267-0565.

Successful community tree graduate workshop

Posted on by Ellen Clark

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

Posted on by Ellen Clark

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

Posted on by Ellen Clark

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

Posted on by Ellen Clark

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” →