Greenwood students plant class tree

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Every spring, the nursery receives an order for Arbor Day seedlings from Greenwood Elementary.

Greenwood Elementary students planting tree

Greenwood Elementary students plant a class tree.

Nothing unusual there since the reforestation program provides more than 35,000 free seedlings to 4th-grade classrooms throughout Wisconsin every spring. What caught our attention about this order is that each year it included an additional request: a single hardwood seedling.  We caught up with the local DNR Forester, Chris Schmitz stationed in Neillsville, to ask about this unique outreach project in Clark County.

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Team looking at natural regeneration issues

Posted on by Kirsten Held

The Division of Forestry created a Natural Regeneration Ad Hoc Team to review and recommend natural regeneration monitoring protocols in an effort to provide a more cohesive statewide strategy for achieving successful natural regeneration. Forest regeneration was identified as an implementation issue in the Division’s Strategic Direction. Forest regeneration monitoring was also identified as an opportunity for improvement in forest certification audits on state lands.

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Words of inspiration from reforestation staff

Posted on by Kirsten Held

During the seedling lifting season each spring, it has been a tradition at the Griffith Nursery to offer inspirational words and thoughts to the staff on a dry erase board in the employee break room. Drawing on witticisms from famous athletes, authors, political figures, and comedians seems to provide a bit of levity during an often stressful time.

This past spring, one of the quotations struck a chord with me, as it put a much-maligned tree species into a different perspective:

 “The jack pine grows to any shape that suits the light, suits the winds, suits itself.”

~ Milton Acorn

Find the light. Lean into the wind. Survive. Thrive. Be the jack pine!

By Jeremiah Auer, jeremiah.auer@wisconsin.gov, (715) 424-3700

Wildfire risk reduction applications due Oct 15

Posted on by Kirsten Held
2015 curbside chipping project in Germantown, WI

High fire risk communities are eligible to receive grant funds for projects to reduce ‘fuels,’ such as this brush chipping project in Juneau County.

Between July 15 and October 15, WDNR staff and our partners in fire management are able to submit Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) project applications. A packet of application materials, which includes guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions and the application, were emailed to WDNR Area Forestry Leaders, Wildland Urban Interface Specialists and State Forest Supervisors July 1 for wider distribution through their local networks. Continue reading “Wildfire risk reduction applications due Oct 15” →

Harvesting trees offers many benefits

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Keeping an ecosystem healthy includes management for wildlife habitat, aesthetics, soil and water quality, native biological diversity, recreational opportunities and forest products. One important component of sustainable forestry is the periodic harvesting of trees. In addition to providing forest products, supporting the local economy, and enhancing wildlife habitat, a benefit of timber harvests can also provide protection from wildfire. The spread of wildfire can be minimized by the removal of lower limbs of conifers and small trees near larger conifers reducing chances of a fire climbing into the crowns or tops of existing trees. In addition, the creation of logging roads or “fuel breaks” can slow or stop a fire and allow fire suppression crews easy access for suppression crews easy access for suppression and mop-up.  Learn about many other benefits of harvesting trees here.