Foresters

Last Chance! Urban Forestry Award Nominations Due Oct. 31

Posted on by janness

We want to hear from you!

The online Urban Forestry Award application is easy to complete, so why not recognize a person or group for the work they are doing?

Some examples of past award winners have been…

  • Teachers inspiring the next generation
  • Planting events completed by nonprofit organizations partnering with businesses
  • Urban forestry-related research projects
  • Parks and Recreation departments that have implemented tree walks or other community events
  • Volunteers who have dedicated a significant amount of time to improving the canopy
  • Retiring municipal foresters who have had a substantial impact on the communities they serve

    Gov Tony Evers with past award winners. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

The Urban Forestry Council presents annual awards to outstanding individuals, organizations, communities and tribes that further urban forestry in Wisconsin. Awards are presented in the categories of Next Gen, Project Partnerships, Lifetime Achievement, Innovations in Urban Forestry, Leadership and Species Diversity. The awards are announced each year at the annual Wisconsin Arborist Association/Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Annual Conference and presented to winners in their community.

Learn more about the awards and complete the nomination form.

Community Spotlight: Manitowoc’s Multifaceted Replanting Strategy

Posted on by janness

By Patricia Lindquist, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Patricia.Lindquist@wisconsin.gov or 715-574-1314

Parks staff Dave Blohowiak and Dawson Boettcher plant a quaking aspen at Fleetwood Park. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

As a long-time Tree City USA (43 years) and frequent Growth Award recipient (14 years in a row!), Manitowoc has a deep-rooted tradition of supporting urban forestry. After the emerald ash borer was detected in Manitowoc County in 2016, the city redoubled its efforts. Hundreds of dead and declining ash trees have been removed, and thousands of diverse, pest- and disease-resistant trees have been planted to replace the lost canopy.

Manitowoc utilizes a variety of programs, methods and funding sources to plant trees. Read on to learn more about their creative, multifaceted replanting strategy. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Manitowoc’s Multifaceted Replanting Strategy” →

Students Graduate From The Community Tree Management Institute

Posted on by janness

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

a group of people examining tree leavesCongratulations to the latest class of Wisconsin Community Tree Management Institute (CTMI) graduates! The CTMI wrapped up its sixth cohort mid-June.

CTMI is an advanced training course designed specifically for people responsible for urban forest management who do not have a degree and/or experience in urban forestry. Conversely, they may have technical skills but lack leadership and management experience.

Over six days of intensive training, students acquired the knowledge and skills needed to manage municipal trees and green space. Their exposure to various teaching perspectives gave them a well-rounded 38-hour training experience. The retreat-like setting created by the small class size and interactive learning curriculum reinforced the focus on support-network development with other students, staff and instructors. The capstone of the institute required each student to complete an applied project that benefited their community by utilizing their new skills and knowledge. Continue reading “Students Graduate From The Community Tree Management Institute” →

The Urban Forestry Staff Springs Into Action For Arbor Day

Posted on by janness

Laura Buntrock hosted an urban forestry booth at Rhinelander’s Earth Day Sustainability Fair, where she educated the public on the benefits of urban trees, provided resources and answered questions.

April and May might just be the busiest months of the year for the Urban Forestry staff. This small but mighty team participates in as many Arbor Day, Earth Day and Forest Appreciation Week events as they can fit into their schedules. Municipalities, schools and nonprofits tend to spread out their events over a couple months rather than scheduling them all on Arbor Day, which allows the staff to get to more events.

The Urban Forestry team’s involvement in these events varies and can include tree planting, seedling distribution, education and tree-related activities, such as competing for the loudest Arbor Day cheer. If you have an event you would like an Urban Forestry staff member to attend at any time of the year, get your request in early!

Here are just a few of the events that Urban Forestry staff attended. Continue reading “The Urban Forestry Staff Springs Into Action For Arbor Day” →

Urban Forestry Welcomes Summer Interns

Posted on by janness

The Urban Forestry team is excited to have two interns this summer through the State of Wisconsin Student Development Internship Program (SWSDIP). They will be working out of the Milwaukee DNR office but will also have opportunities to get involved in projects in other parts of the state. The Urban Forestry interns always hit the ground running, squeezing an impressive number of activities into their time with the program. Watch for an article later in the year summarizing their experience with the Urban Forestry program. Continue reading “Urban Forestry Welcomes Summer Interns” →

Upcoming Training & Events

Posted on by janness

* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute endorsement by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

group of adult learning to identify treesSee below for information on training topics and events, including the WAA Summer Conference, leadership, pollinator habitats, safety, tree ID and the ISA Annual Conference. Continue reading “Upcoming Training & Events” →

Oregon Adopts Local-Use Lumber Grading

Posted on by akabelowsky
Two men in front of a PowerPoint main slide

Scott Lyon, left, Wisconsin DNR Forest Products Services team leader, and Scott Leavengood, director of Oregon Wood Innovation Center. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Brian Cole, Wisconsin DNR Forest Product Specialist

On Wednesday, April 1, at the Fitchburg Service Center, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Product Services team held its first Wisconsin Local Use Dimension Lumber Grading (WLUDLG) class for 2026.

Along with 10 Wisconsin students, we had the pleasure of hosting Scott Leavengood. Scott is the director of the Oregon Wood Innovation Center (OWIC) and has worked in Wood Products Extension with Oregon State University (OSU) since 1994.

Continue reading “Oregon Adopts Local-Use Lumber Grading” →

Log Into Safety: The Free Digital ANSI Z133 Updates Are Almost Here!

Posted on by janness

By Brian Wahl, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Brian.Wahl@wisconsin.gov or 608-225-7943

What is the ANSI Z133, and why should you care?

man cutting a branch with a chainsawThe American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z133, more affectionately known at “The Z”, is the standard that contains arboriculture safety requirements for pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing trees, cutting brush and using equipment in such operations. If you’re reading this newsletter, you, your staff or your contactors likely participate in work that falls under the purview of this standard. Continue reading “Log Into Safety: The Free Digital ANSI Z133 Updates Are Almost Here!” →

Call For Urban Forestry Presentations: Due July 1, 2026

Posted on by janness

Wisconsin Arborist Association LogoThe Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA) is accepting presentations for the 2027 Annual Conference to be held in Green Bay, WI on Feb. 14-16, 2027. This three-day event attracts approximately 950 attendees including professional arborists, community foresters, nursery professionals, utility workers, park/recreation staff, other green industry professionals, educators and students.

If you are interested in speaking at this conference, please complete the online form. Please make sure that the form is filled out completely to be considered. Continue reading “Call For Urban Forestry Presentations: Due July 1, 2026” →

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” →