Data and analysis

Community Spotlight: Cedarburg’s UF Program – 2025 Report

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?

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

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

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

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”

Community Spotlight: West Allis’ Tree Inventory System

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

It was 2021 and the West Allis Forestry Division faced a crisis. For all intents and purposes, its tree inventory was no longer functional. The division had always been a program that kept and used a lot of data, but inefficiencies in the inventory process abounded, and now the software where the data was stored was essentially crashing. The status quo was clearly not working.

But as Winston Churchill apocryphally said, “Don’t let a crisis go to waste.”

Continue reading “Community Spotlight: West Allis’ Tree Inventory System”

Tree Inventory Subaccounts Available Within Wisconsin Community Tree Map

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

Do you have a tree inventory but have a hard time keeping it up to date? Or are you interested in inventorying trees from scratch?

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has made a handful of “subaccounts” available for communities or organizations to edit data within the Wisconsin Community Tree Map at no cost to the community or organization.

Continue reading “Tree Inventory Subaccounts Available Within Wisconsin Community Tree Map”

Trees And Insurance Survey

2 men assessing an ash treeThe Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) Industry Trends committee – charged with monitoring the issues impacting your work – is seeking information on your experiences with insurance companies and urban tree canopy. There is growing evidence that insurance companies are directing the pruning or removal of trees, and the committee wants to fully understand the issue. Your responses to the survey below will help compile stories and evidence so that UCFS can work with industry partners and draft position statements. Continue reading “Trees And Insurance Survey”