Data and analysis

Forest Summary Sheets Available For Your Community!

Posted on by janness

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

We are pleased to offer a new resource to communities to help assess, celebrate and share information about your community’s trees and the benefits they provide.

For the 165 communities that we have inventory data on (those communities within the Wisconsin Community Tree Map), we have created summary sheets like the sample shown below. These offer a quick snapshot of your community’s species and structural diversity, canopy cover and the i-Tree derived ecosystem services for both the publicly maintained trees as well as those of the whole community. Continue reading “Forest Summary Sheets Available For Your Community!” →

Cemetery Trees Of Southeast Wisconsin Study Now Available

Posted on by janness

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

Cemeteries are important and, to many people, sacred spaces in our communities. The landscaping of these places serves the dead, of course, but can also have a profound impact on the experiences of cemetery visitors and nearby residents. This is accomplished by vegetation and art, which encourages expressions of grief and melancholy but also celebration and hope.

Trees are a prominent part of this landscaping and this mission.

DNR Urban Forestry staff in the Milwaukee office became interested in these spaces and exploring whether we could offer ways to assist cemetery managers. Continue reading “Cemetery Trees Of Southeast Wisconsin Study Now Available” →

Community Spotlight: Tree Canopy Cover On Milwaukee School Properties

Posted on by janness

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

The thought of increasing a community’s tree canopy cover is sometimes overwhelming given how many landowners are present. Think about all the stakeholders who have to buy into the initiative, not only with enthusiasm, but likely contributing money and time as well.

Contrast that with a more actionable approach focused on areas where there’s a single landowner or manager.

This was the route taken by graduate student Michelle Hess in a recent paper for a UW-Milwaukee Geography course. Michelle investigated tree canopy on Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) properties to identify which schools should be prioritized for future greening initiatives, like those organized through ReFlo. The goal was to use canopy data provided by the DNR, identify which schools had lower canopy cover, merge those data with median household income of the local Census tract and come up with a prioritized list of schools in need of tree planting. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Tree Canopy Cover On Milwaukee School Properties” →

National Urban And Community Forestry Ten Year Action Plan Survey

Posted on by janness

people in a parkThe congressionally mandated National Urban and Community Forestry (NUCF) Ten Year Action Plan creates a guiding framework that optimizes innovations, resources and collaborations for the field of urban and community forestry. Input gathered through this voluntary form is part of the stakeholder engagement process and will help update the NUCF Ten Year Action Plan.

Perspectives from both within and beyond the urban and community forestry field are welcome. Your feedback means better data, gap assessments and goal setting, which is critical for managing extreme heat, public health and urban growth.

Learn more and submit your ideas.

Continue reading “National Urban And Community Forestry Ten Year Action Plan Survey” →

Community Spotlight: Cedarburg’s UF Program – 2025 Report

Posted on by janness
tree-lined street

Photo Credit: City of Cedarburg

By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
and
Kevin Westphal, City of Cedarburg City Forester
kwestphal@cityofcedarburg.wi.gov or 262-375-7662

Annual program reports can be a very useful tool. One example is Cedarburg’s 2025 urban forestry report. It is detailed, yet not overwhelming, and the format provides for easy comprehension at a quick glance. The annual report includes things like: a mission statement, the number and location of vacant plantable sites, removal/planting/pruning numbers, specific cultivars planted, types and reasons for pruning and a comparison to previous years.

The report is shared with Cedarburg’s Parks & Forestry Board, City Council, and other leadership and can also be found on their website. Cedarburg’s city forester attends these local meetings, goes over the main points in the report and answers any questions they may have. Additionally, some of the information is useful when filling out their Tree City USA application. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Cedarburg’s UF Program – 2025 Report” →

Does Cold Weather Bug The Bugs?

Posted on by akabelowsky
A map of Wisconsin showing cold temperatures on Jan. 25, 2026.

Cold temperatures across the state of Wisconsin on Jan. 25, 2026. / Graphic Credit: National Weather Service

By River Mathieu, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Fitchburg
River.Mathieu@wisconsin.gov or 608-772-2758

Wisconsin experienced a polar vortex in late January 2026, and temperatures got chilly throughout the state, even reaching close to -40⁰ F in some places! Although it has warmed up, the cold weather is still fresh in everyone’s minds, leaving insect and forest lovers alike wondering how insects survive temperatures that cold.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Health staff has received several questions over the past month about how insects survive cold weather in winter and whether the January temperatures were cold enough to kill insect pests.

Continue reading “Does Cold Weather Bug The Bugs?” →

Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Council 2025 Biennial Report Published

Posted on by janness

By Jenn Janness, Urban Forestry Council Liaison
Jennipher.Janness@wisconsin.gov or 920-809-9330

2025 report coverThe purpose of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council is to advise the state forester and the Wisconsin DNR on the best ways to preserve, protect, expand and improve Wisconsin’s urban and community forest resources. Members are appointed by the DNR Secretary and represent a wide array of stakeholders, including municipal and utility foresters, medical and higher education professionals, nursery and green industry staff, environmental groups, public works and parks staff, organizations such as the Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA), the Urban Wood Network Wisconsin, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and government agencies such as WisDOT and DATCP. Continue reading “Wisconsin’s Urban Forestry Council 2025 Biennial Report Published” →

2026 Wisconsin Forest Products Market Update

Posted on by akabelowsky
photo of lumber at a mill.

Lumber is produced at a mill. / Photo Credit: Twin Oaks Lumber

By Elle Soderberg, DNR Forest Products Specialist

​The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products Services team ​would like to share some perspectives based on our conversations with forest products industry contacts and information sources. Our goal in sharing these informational updates is to provide material to help you understand how the state’s forest products industry is being impacted, not only by market/seasonal trends, but also by major announcements (e.g., mill closures, expansions, economic factors, etc.).

Continue reading “2026 Wisconsin Forest Products Market Update” →

A New, Intuitive Way To Measure Species Diversity

Posted on by janness

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

Especially in the wake of emerald ash borer, urban foresters have stressed species diversity as an important goal in the management of local trees. Now there is a new, intuitive way of tracking species diversity by simply counting how many species it takes to make up half of your community’s trees.

This metric is called the top diversity index, or TD-50 index, and was proposed in a 2022 article in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening by Natalie Love and others. The index is deceptively simple — by counting the minimum number of species it takes to comprise 50% of your trees, you have an easy benchmark to improve upon to reduce your reliance on a few species. Continue reading “A New, Intuitive Way To Measure Species Diversity” →