You are invited to attend open house meetings to review and comment on proposed changes to master plans for several northern forests and on a 15 year review of the Brule River State Forest master plan. The meetings are scheduled for November 2 in Woodruff and Black River Falls and November 3 in Brule and Winter. You may also review the documents, fill out surveys and submit comments online through the master planning pages for the properties. Comment deadline is November 21, 2016. Read more in this DNR news release.
Stratford holds Environmental Appreciation Day
Don Kissinger showing community members about proper pruning techniques
The Stratford FFA worked with the Stratford Village Tree Advisory Board to develop an Environmental Appreciation Day held on October 1, 2016. Stratford FFA member Tristan Wirkus said, “the goals of this event are to increase the use of Heritage Trail, inform the community about tree identification and health, provide environmental awareness opportunities, and become a Tree City USA.” To become a Tree City USA a community must host an event, such as the Stratford FFA Environmental Appreciation Day.
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Festival celebrates urban forests
The Fourth Annual Urban Forest Fest was held September 24 at Lynden Sculpture Garden in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Approximately 500 people learned the log-to-table story of urban wood and the many uses of local trees after they are cut down. Sawmill demonstrations, kid’s tree climbing, urban wood furniture and informational fair, Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, Falafel Guys food truck, and hands-on art and nature activities were all part of the event. For more information on Urban Forestry events visit the WDNR Urban Forestry events page.
For more information, contact Ellen Clark (EllenA.Clark@Wisconsin.gov), DNR Urban Forestry Communication Specialist, 608- 267-2774.
Grants help fight EAB
The Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry grant system has been a valuable tool in the fight against the emerald ash borer (EAB). The Urban Forestry grant program is a reimbursable grant; the grantee must complete the project first, and then apply for reimbursement of up to 50% for eligible items, to a maximum of $25,000.
Celebrate National Forest Products Week
Since 1960, the seven-day period beginning on the third Sunday of October has been designated by Presidential proclamation as a time to recognize the many products that come from our forests in addition to the people who manage, harvest, and manufacture these products we depend on each and every day. Most Wisconsinites recognize that forests are an essential part of our state’s history, culture, and environment, but many do not realize the economic importance of our 17.1 million acres of forest land to the state and local economies.
Wisconsin’s forest products industry:
- Leads the US in paper production;
- Provides more than 64,000 jobs; and
- Contributes $ 24.7 billion of output to the state’s economy annually.
The forest products industry continues to provide a sustainable resource in response to an ever changing market. Despite the market changes over time, the diversity of Wisconsin’s forest products companies has been and will remain an important contributor to the economy in Wisconsin. Read more in this DNR news release.
Written by Sabina Dhungana, DNR Forest Products Specialist, (608) 261-0754, Sabina.dhungana@wisconsin.gov
Municipalities celebrate Tree City USA program
Tree City USA is a program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, and implemented by DNR Forestry Division. It focuses on greening communities across the country. The Arbor Day Foundation describes Tree City USA as a great opportunity to celebrate the importance of an urban tree canopy and improve care of these vital city trees. The program gives recognition to communities committed to managing and augmenting their urban tree canopy. The beauty and abundance of trees provides the citizens of Tree City USA communities a general splendor unrivaled by anything else, as well as many other benefits.
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Sustainable forestry in Wisconsin honored
Forest certification initiatives in Wisconsin received national honors from the Forest Stewardship Council with presentation of the 2016 FSC Leadership Award to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Read more in this DNR news release. For more information, contact DNR Forest Certification Coordinator Mark Heyde, Mark.Heyde@Wisconsin.gov, 608-267-0565.
Grants to strengthen fire suppression in 196 communities
Fire departments in 196 Wisconsin communities will receive a total of $645,487 in grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Fire Protection Grant Program in 2016. The funding can be used for equipment, prevention, and training to enhance forest fire protection and suppression ability. This grant program was established in 1997 to strengthen the capacity of local fire departments and county or area fire organizations to assist the DNR forestry staff in suppression of forest fires. Here’s a complete list of 2016 FFP grant recipients [PDF]. Read more in this news release or on the DNR website, keyword grants.
For more information, contact Chris Klahn (christopher.klahn@wisconsin.gov), DNR cooperative fire control specialist, 608- 297-2214.
BMPs found to protect water quality
The Wisconsin forestland sites monitored by the 2015 BMP teams. Coniferous trees represent sites that were in the Managed Forest Law (MFL) program and deciduous trees represent sites not in the MFL program. Note: Some dots are close together making the total number of sites difficult to determine on this map.
Newly-released results from 2015 monitoring for the application and effectiveness of Wisconsin’s Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Water Quality show excellent results. The effectiveness of BMPs that were applied correctly was extremely high (99.6%) at protecting water quality, but when BMPs were applied incorrectly or not applied, BMP effectiveness rates woefully dropped (6.3% and 9.4% respectively). Even with the low water quality protection of BMPs that were applied incorrectly and not applied, no major impacts were reported on any of the monitored sites. Read more details about the results from the monitoring of 36 non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) sites (26 of the landowners are enrolled in the MFL program) in the 2015 BMP Monitoring Report.
For more information, contact Forest Hydrologist Dave Kafura, david.kafura@wisconsin.gov, (715) 416-4140
Collect seed for us; Buy seed from us
Are you looking for a fun activity for yourself or your family this fall? Why not spend a few hours crawling around picking acorns or walnuts. Need some seeds to plant?
Learn more here …