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Wisconsin Tree Leaders Recognized For Exceptional Community Service

Posted on by janness

By Jenn Janness, DNR Urban Forestry Outreach Specialist
Jennipher.Janness@wisconsin.gov or 715-815-7173

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council presents annual awards for furthering urban forestry in the state.

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council recently announced its annual awards honoring those dedicated to protecting, preserving and increasing the number of trees that line city streets, fill community parks and beautify neighborhoods throughout the state.

The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council advises the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on managing urban and community forest resources.

“Each year, these awards remind me of how special the people are in our industry and the numerous accomplishments they fulfill,” said Lee Fredericks, Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council Award Committee Chair. “Whether they are taking on projects to expand their leadership, involving the next generation of arborists or advancing species diversity in the urban forest canopy, the state as a whole truly benefits.”

This year’s recipients were announced at the 2025 Wisconsin Arborist Association/DNR Urban Forestry Conference in Green Bay. The categories and winners are: Continue reading “Wisconsin Tree Leaders Recognized For Exceptional Community Service” →

Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis Release

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

Much of what we know about our urban forests is limited to publicly maintained spaces such as in parks or along streets. However, the curtain covering other urban lands is rising, starting in Milwaukee and Madison.

The Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis (UFIA) program, a partnership between the USDA Forest Service and the DNR, has established 1,300 permanent plots in urban areas across Wisconsin. Project foresters captured loads of information on each plot, such as tree species and sizes, land ownership, tree damages, and wood volume. The data were extrapolated from those plots and made into estimates for each city. The data were also incorporated into i-Tree to calculate ecosystem services. Continue reading “Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis Release” →

Right Tree, Right Place

Posted on by janness

By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744

Earth Day, Arbor Day and spring are all quickly approaching, and now is the time to start thinking about your tree plantings! Choosing the proper tree for a specific location will help ensure your tree’s long-term health and survival.

Think: “Right tree, right place.” It’s an old phrase, but the message is powerful and remains true today.

When selecting the right tree for your spot, many factors must be considered. Check out Choosing the Right Landscape Plants: Factors to Consider for a list of important considerations, such as landscape function, size and form, ornamental factors and pest issues. It even includes information on how to select high-quality trees in the nursery. Continue reading “Right Tree, Right Place” →

A Hopefully Not-Too-Deep Look Into i-Tree Benefits

Posted on by janness

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

Trees work in mysterious ways, and, for some users, so does i-Tree. The suite of software, developed by the USDA Forest Service and Davey Tree Expert Company, can, among other things, calculate the societal benefits of trees. Below, I try to summarize and demystify some of these estimates of ecosystem services, a somewhat sterile term for some of the cool things trees do for society and the wider environment.

Because the benefits identified in i-Tree only scratch the surface of trees’ importance to one’s community, it could be problematic and limiting if estimates from i-Tree are solely relied on to justify the investment in tree preservation, maintenance or planting. Nonetheless, these estimates help tell the story of the good work trees do in our communities. Continue reading “A Hopefully Not-Too-Deep Look Into i-Tree Benefits” →

Cambridge Tree Trials

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By Jay Weiss, Cambridge Tree Project Executive Director

When the Cambridge Tree Project launched nearly 20 years ago, urban tree growth and survival data were nearly impossible to find. In response, I began tracking the trees my nonprofit donated to the Village of Cambridge to assess their performance.

To date, I have records for 1,375 trees planted throughout Cambridge and have taken nearly 9,000 annual tree growth measurements. This dataset, known as the Cambridge Tree Trials, is openly shared for educational purposes in the form of annual updates emailed to over 450 forestry professionals across America. To be added to the distribution list, email jay@cambridgetreeproject.org. Continue reading “Cambridge Tree Trials” →

Spring Brings Opportunities To Protect Oak Trees

Posted on by akabelowsky
A photo of an oak tree with a branch that has been pruned, but not treated with protective paint to prevent infection with oak wilt.

Pruning, cutting, or wounding oaks during April through July leaves them vulnerable to oak wilt. / Photo Credit: Paul Cigan, Wisconsin DNR

By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920

With warmer spring weather fast approaching, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends protecting oaks from the often-fatal disease, oak wilt, by refraining from pruning, cutting or injuring oak trees from April through July.

Oak wilt is a serious disease that kills trees in the red oak group (including pin oak, northern red oak and black oak) and weakens those in the white oak group (bur oak, swamp white oak, white oak and English oak).

Continue reading “Spring Brings Opportunities To Protect Oak Trees” →

Squirrels Can Damage Trees During Late Winter

Posted on by akabelowsky
Photo showing that squirrels have removed significant amounts of bark from a maple tree's trunk to get at the tasty cambium layer underneath.

Squirrels have removed significant amounts of bark from this maple to get at the tasty cambium layer underneath. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Squirrels can be fun to feed and fun to watch, but when they start damaging or killing your trees, well, that’s not so cute.

It’s the time of year when we start to have some warm days that allow sap to start moving in trees. If there are broken branches or damaged bark, the tree can drip sap. And that can attract squirrels.

Continue reading “Squirrels Can Damage Trees During Late Winter” →

Squirrel Or Porcupine Damage: How Do You Know?

Posted on by akabelowsky
Photo showing squirrel tooth marks on a tree. Squirrel tooth marks are small and look like narrow scratches where the animals have removed the tree’s bark.

Squirrel tooth marks are small and look like narrow scratches where the animals have removed the tree’s bark. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, Forest Health Specialist

Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

If something chewed the bark off your tree, how would you go about determining the culprit?

Quite a few animals can damage bark on trees, from deer and bears to rabbits and mice. But the damage from squirrels and porcupines can look very similar, especially from a distance. So, how can you tell the difference?

Continue reading “Squirrel Or Porcupine Damage: How Do You Know?” →

Is That A Crack In My Tree?

Posted on by janness

By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744

tree with frost crackWisconsin winters with subzero weather can create problems for our trees. Frost cracks are one of those problems we’re seeing an uptick of lately. These longitudinal openings can run the entire length of the trunk, often extend deep into the wood, and permanently damage a tree. In wintertime, the tree may even look like it’s splitting in half! Then warmer weather comes, and the crack seems to close, repeating this process annually. Over time, frost cracks may even develop a raised area where callus tissue develops in an attempt to close over the wound, only to reopen again next winter. Continue reading “Is That A Crack In My Tree?” →

Post Your Forestry Jobs For Free

Posted on by janness

Have a job opening you need to get the word out about before the busy field season ramps up?

The UW-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Forestry Center welcomes employers to send in their job openings using this email: wfc@uwsp.edu. Web links are preferred, but PDFs are also acceptable. Be sure to include job title, type of employment (full-time, part-time, temporary, internship, etc.), location and application due date. There is no cost for posting openings. Continue reading “Post Your Forestry Jobs For Free” →