This newsletter is sent electronically (via email or fax)around the first of each month to state urban forestry program coordinators and Forest Service urban forestry staff. Please print or copy this newsletter and distribute it to volunteer coordinators, state council chairs, and other interested individuals within your state. You can always find it on-line at www.treelink.org

Submissions to this newsletter are welcomed, and in fact, requested. Items suitable for inclusion are regional and national urban forestry information, state events, products, or innovations that can be replicated by other states, personnel notes, and notices of regional and national urban forestry events. Please submit a maximum of two paragraphs to Pam Louks by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month's edition.

NEXT DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSION: November 30, 2001

Compiled and Edited by:

Pamela Louks, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
(plouks@dnr.state.in.us) phone (317) 915-9390

Phillip D. Rodbell, USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area
(prodbell@fs.fed.us) phone (610) 975-4133

Pepper Provenzano, TreeLink.org
(pepper@treelink.org)

State Coordinators News

Quote

-Mayor Anthony Williams
Sept. 5, 2001

STATE OF THE STATES

Next month's question

Last Question

The Responses

Connecticut -- West Hartford has in their zoning regulations a provision along the lines of things like: significant trees, stone walls, structures, etc. on neighboring properties must be protected during construction (e.g.: you can't cut major roots, just like you can't destabilize a stone wall). Chris Donnelly , Connecticut U&CF Coordinator - chrisdonnelly@po.state.ct.us

Georgia--Susan Reisch forwarded me your e-mail. I am the Urban Rural Forest Interface Coordinator for the state and one of my duties is to help local communities draft tree ordinances. There are probably 30 in metro areas in Georgia alone. Joe Burgess, Georgia Forestry Commission - 770/528-3195

Maine -- Talk with Elizabeth Walker in Vancouver, WA. They have a good tree ordinance that is very comprehensive. Tish Carr, Augusta City Forester, tish@ci.augusta.me.us

Maryland -- Zoning regulations are ordinances, and they can be very effective. Our Forest Conservation Act works with zoning processes and is very effective. It is written so broadly with so many ways to comply that it has been immune from legal challenge as punitive or taking of private land. Results to date have been that rather than mass grade, developers have retained about two-thirds of existing forest on all development sites, cleared about on third and planted an additional 11%. With 36,400 acres at risk, net loss was 26% statewide (about 8,000 acres) over 5 years; 74% retained or reforested. For info on how it works, go to http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/programs/urban/explained.html. Michael F. Galvin Supervisor, U&CF, 410/260-8507 - mgalvin@dnr.state.md.us

Minnesota -- I checked with some folks in the know here and came up with one good example of zoning for tree protection/preservation. The Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove has used "T-zones" for about five years or so, and just recently contracted to have an evaluation of its effectiveness. Ken Holman, U&CF Coordinator, MN DNR, 612/772-7565; ken.holman@dnr.state.mn.us

Nebraska-- When I worked for the City of Mason City, Iowa, we were working on an ordinance with planning and zoning that gave incentives to developers to leave trees if they could or bonuses if they added more green space than required. If you call the Mason City Street Department at 641/421-3675 and ask Nancy (secretary), she will give you the planning and zoning number. Also ask for Jack Leaman's number. Jack was on the planning and zoning board in Mason City in the 70's and was asked to be part of this committee because of his work and connection with other city planners. Say John Murrow told you to call him (that is how they knew me in Mason City). Chip Murrow, Nebraska Community Forester Assistant Office 402/ 472-1382, jmurrow2@unl.edu

Southern Region- I am not sure of any city using zoning standards in lieu of an ordinance, however, I seem to remember the city of Colorado Springs did work with performance standards. There are many cities in the South that now use Tree Preservation Ordinances, in fact there has been an explosion of them, including all the Metro Atlanta counties, Dekalb, Cobb, Rockdale, Gwinette, Douglas, et,al. Other cities in the south include Charlotte, Virginia Beach, Raleigh, Mobile, Savannah (Chathem County), Jacksonville, Birmingham, Charleston, Jackson, Austin, areas in an around Houston, and Fayetville, AR. We do have some of these ordinances posted on our website at www.urbanforestrysouth.usda.gov or urbanforestrysouth.org. Ed Macie, Regional Urban Forester, 404/347-1647;

A thought for us:
"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." (submitted by Chip Murrow)

Urban Forestry-on the agenda!  [back to top]

National Association of State Foresters (NASF) -- Burney Fischer, Urban Forestry chair for the Northeast Area and NASF treasurer, moderated an urban forestry session at the NASF Annual Meeting at Hot Springs, AR. The session, "Sustaining the Urban Forest: Current Perspectives for the Future" gave participants food for thought with speakers Dave Nowak, USFS, Janette Monear, Twin Cities TreeTrust, and John Rosenow, National Arbor Day Foundation.

The Northeast Area NASF Summer meeting will be held in July in Indianapolis and will include an urban forestry tour hosted by Pam Louks and Burney Fischer.

Coordinators Say "Share More"  [back to top]

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the input sheet at the September Coordinators 50 State meeting. Some people requested more information each month through this Coordinators News. Specifically, folks want to hear about new publications, products, new ideas, and programs that States have developed or are developing. Others requested more urban forestry information from U.S. territories; more success stories; tips on city and town assistance; group information from each region; successful grant projects and the contact; links to research and grant activities; updates on the three committees that were formed at the national meeting; occasional theme issues; model programs; more information on inventories and GIS; updates from the NASF Urban Forestry Committee, and shorter articles.

Overall, the group likes the format, but wants expanded information. The newsletter is read and the information is used in various ways. Some forward it to others, some clip items of interest and forward the news to councils. The coordinators want to keep informed about their counterpart projects, ideas, and program delivery. You have to help . . . We are willing to bring you more and honor your request for more information, but that information comes from YOU. Please share, and we will include your items in the Coordinators News. E-mail Pam at plouks@dnr.state.in.us.

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

Interior Appropriations Bill Cleared for President's Signature  [back to top]

On Oct. 10, the House-Senate Conference Committee approved the FY 2002 Appropriation's bill on Interior and Related Agencies. These marks were ratified by the full House and Senate on Oct. 17, and now await the president's signature. In the bill (HR 2217, H. Rpt. 107-234) the Conference Committee approved the House language and included earmarks established by the Senate as follows:

Urban and Community Forestry: $36 million, $358,000 above last year's level.

Earmarks are as follows:

• NE Pennsylvania community forestry program: $250,000
• National Tree Trust Champion Tree Project: $200,000
• West Virginia Partnership Coordinator: $50,000
• Chicago Wilderness: $350,000
• Cook County forest preserve: $200,000

These numbers are not final. We expect to hear news of rescissions that could go as high as 5 to 10% due to national events. The conference report included language encouraging the Forest Service to support Los Angeles TreePeople's proposed Center for Community Forestry, and "to participate in developing living memorials using trees, that will recognize the tragic losses that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City, the Pentagon area, and southwest Pennsylvania.""

Lugar Offers Farm Bill Plan, Stressing Conservation  [back to top]

The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee proposed sweeping changes in U.S. agriculture policy, calling for a doubling of conservation spending. The plan was described at a news conference by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., as the committee headed for markup of a new farm bill. Lugar's new farming blueprint, to be introduced in the Senate could cost up to $25 billion over five years, compared to more than $70 billion over 10 years proposed in a House-passed farm bill (HR 2646).

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman welcomed Lugar's "thoughtful piece of legislation," and said it was consistent with the principles outlined last month in a department report looking toward future agriculture policy. But Veneman said, "The administration believes it is unnecessary and unwise to undertake action on a farm bill in this wartime, national emergency environment." Environmentalists praised the Lugar plan. Currently the Lugar bill has no reference to Urban and Community Forestry.

NASF Announces New Executive Director  [back to top]

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has announced the selection of Anne E. Heissenbuttel as the new executive director. President Conrad M. Motyka said "all of the State Foresters are looking forward to working with Heissenbuttel in the management of national resource policies on state and private lands."

Heissenbuttel has been on the legislative staff of the House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health and was responsible for developing and implementing the chairman's agenda on oversight and legislation pertaining to National Forest lands. Prior to that position she was the director of Federal Forest Planning and Policy at American Forest & Paper Association. Anne is a licensed professional forester.

PMAS Update  [back to top]

The U.S. Forest Service is in the process of updating its Performance Measurement and Accountability System (PMAS) that it uses to track accomplishments of federal dollars to the States . The overall objective of the project is to simplify reporting and make the data more useful. In August a core group was established to help develop and validate the system. The group broadly represents the headquarters, the regions and Northeastern Area, the Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Supervisors and State Foresters. Burney Fischer (chair of the NASF Urban Committee) serves on the group. The purpose of the validation is to ensure that the new PMAS meets the expectations of those that input data and use the information.

The project is broken into three phases. Phase I began with interviewing people broadly representing managers, customers, stakeholders, and Congressional representatives across the country. Phase I will end shortly with the completion of the draft strategic plan. Phase II, beginning in mid-October, focuses primarily on developing annual performance plans and goals and will end with identifying key value-based measurements used to measure how well those goals are achieved. Phase II is scheduled to end by January. During Phase III, beginning in January, we will determine the technologies needed to support monitoring performance measurements and identifying specific examples of success stories. If you have questions regarding this project, please contact Dean Graham at 202/401-4462 or by e-mail at dcgraham@fs.fed.us

National Arbor Day Foundation Teams Up With Davey  [back to top]

NADF has teamed up with Davey to offer a three-day general training course in urban forestry that has the following features:

• Five sessions, each three and one-half hours long.
• Primary instructors with PhDs
• Choice of managerial or technical track within each session.
• Up-to-date information on tools, techniques, and tree research.
• Hands-on laboratory.
• Integrated promotion of regional urban tree identification skills.
• Full range of resources, from print-based to web-based.

The course in collaboration with the Davey Resource Group of The Davey Tree Expert Company, Kent, Ohio is being offered on a contracted basis. The cost for the three days of instruction is $450 per person based on a minimum class of 25 people. The fee includes all course materials, honoraria and expenses for two instructors, lunches and refreshment breaks. For more information call Kathy Austin, NADF Director of Conferences and Seminars at 913/438-8633 or Jerry Bond at Davey Resource Group, 315/588-9145.

National Urban Forest Conference Wrap-up  [back to top]

More than 800 people from across the United States and around the world attended American Forests'' 2001 National Urban Forest Conference. The conference brought urban foresters, city planners, citizen activists, and others together to talk about issues relating to the green infrastructure in our nation's cities. During the conference, attendees debated legislative processes, visited innovative stormwater control projects, and listened to panelists discuss wildlife protection, among other topics. USDA Forest Service, Eddie Bauer, The Davey Tree Expert Company, O'Doul's, the Casey Trees Endowment Fund, Pictometry, and ESRI sponsored the Conference.

At a news conference, which kicked-off the four-day event, former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, and others joined American Forests' Gary Moll as he unveiled "Gray to Green: Reversing the National Urban Tree Deficit." The new study shows that more than 634 million trees are currently needed in America's urban areas. The report also includes a detailed analysis of Washington, DC's tree canopy through the use of high-resolution satellite images. The images clearly show that despite its good tree cover, the nation's capital, like many other cities across the United States, is becoming a city of sidewalks, parking lots, and buildings (gray structures) and losing trees (green infrastructure). Written proceedings of conference presentations will be available in late fall. You can purchase a copy for $35 plus $4 shipping (US) by emailing American Forests' Robby Ferguson at rferg@amfor.org. Read the National Urban Tree Deficit press release at http://www.americanforests.org/news/display.php?id=64.

EMPLOYMENT  [back to top]

For job opportunities please visit the Tree Talk Bulletin Board.

GRANTS $$$$  [back to top]

2002 U.S. EPA Environmental Education Grants
Deadline Nov. 15
Any local education agency, state education or environmental agency, college or university, not-for-profit organization, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity is eligible to apply for a grant under this program. Most grants are made at the $5,000 level by regional offices; the upper limit of award amounts is $250,000 from EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The solicitation notice is the same for both the regional and national programs. Applications must bear a postmark no later than midnight, Nov. 15, 2001. The solicitation notice with complete directions and forms needed for developing a workplan and application can be obtained by logging on to EPA's website for environmental education: www.epa.gov/enviroed/solnotice01.html

Ford Foundation Invites Applications for Leadership for a Changing World Program, Nomination
Deadline: Jan. 4, 2002
The Ford Foundation's Leadership for a Changing World program seeks to recognize, strengthen, and support leaders, and to highlight the importance of leadership in improving lives. The program seeks to confirm that resourceful leaders are bringing about positive change in American communities. Each year, the program recognizes twenty leaders and leadership groups not broadly known beyond their immediate community or field. These outstanding leaders and leadership groups work in such areas as economic and community development, human rights, the arts, media, and the environment. Awardees will receive $100,000 over two years to support their work, and $30,000 for additional learning activities that advance their efforts. The funds will be made available to the awardees' nonprofit charitable organizations or their fiscal agents. Nominees must be residents of the United States and have worked on domestic issues for at least four years in the area for which they are being nominated. Nominators may be anyone (other than the nominee or a family member) who is well acquainted with the nominated leader or leadership group and can attest to their qualifications. Complete program information and nomination guidelines are available at the Leadership for a Changing World Web site. http://www.leadershipforchange.org or by calling (202) 777-7560

Toyota Tapestry Grants for Teachers
Deadline: Jan. 17, 2002
The program offer grants to K-12 science teachers for innovative projects that enhance science education in the school or the school district. Grants range form $2,500 to $10,000 and are awarded in three categories: environmental science education, physical science education, and literacy & science education. For more information see www.nsta.org/programs/tapestry or call 1-800-807-9852.

Technology Grants Available to Nonprofit Organizations
Deadline: Ongoing
Third Sector Systems, Inc. has announced first come, first served grants of up to $10,000 for qualified nonprofit organizations for the purchase of Mission Maestro software solutions. The TechFoundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is administering the grants. Mission Maestro software is designed to support the management of programs and client services as well as development, fundraising, administration, communications, and other activities. The primary goal of the program is to help recipients implement Mission Maestro solutions to benefit and achieve their mission. Applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations or associations. For additional information and an application form, contact the TechFoundation. For more information contact: Daniel Fata at (617) 234-2145, E-mail: fata@techfoundation.org or see the website http://www.techfoundation.org/

PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES  [back to top]

Factsheets On-line
These factsheets were developed by Cornell Extension, Monroe County with funding from the Forest Service, NY State DEC and Cornell. http://www.cce.cornell.edu/monroe/cfep/factsheets/index.html#forestryfactsheets

New Book: Trees and Risk: Reclaiming an Urban Forest
A recently published title by award-winning author Evelyn Herwitz, this book is a case study of Worcester, Massachusetts' colonization/growth and examines the impact of urbanization on the (or any) city's forests throughout the previous three centuries. Money from sales of this book is being used to replant and maintain the street trees in Worcester. For more information, search: www.chandlerhousepress.com

Tips for Moderators
Here's a link to some interesting tips on speaker introductions http://www.presentations.com/deliver/speak/2001/06/30_sn_sis.html

New Remote Sensing Techniques Publication Available
Remote Sensing Techniques for Rapid Assessment of Forest Damage Caused by Catastrophic Climatic Events was just released by the Forest Service. Remote sensing is a valuable tool for assessing forest damage caused by natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, ice and windstorms). Since these events normally occur infrequently in any one region, there is often a lack of corporate memory and experience in responding to them. Also, since a number of land management agencies may be involved, an established set of standards is necessary to produce reliable data. This publication provides forest health specialists a set of guidelines and procedures for planning and coordinating damage assessments. It also outlines procedures for using aerial sketch mapping, aerial photos, and airborne video with or without supplemental ground surveys for data acquisition. To request a copy, please contact Jane McComb of the Support Services Staff at 603/868-7693 or email jmccomb@fs.fed.us.

New Curriculum in Development
Project Learning Tree invites you to help in the development of a new secondary supplemental curriculum called "Exploring Environmental Issues in the Places We Live." This new module will explore the many facets of the theme of community environmental issues, dealing with topics as varied as urban growth, energy use, water quality, transportation, health, land use, and economics. The variety of activities will help students examine the relationships between people, communities, and the environment that define our neighborhoods. The overall goal of the project is to connect students to their communities through the exploration of current and future community environmental issues, enabling them to make informed decisions about those issues. Key to achieving this goal is the ability to provide the users of the module with access to local resources that will help inform them of the state of the environment in their own community. In order to meet this challenge, we are calling on our international network of educators to join in the development process and serve as links to local resources. To contribute: Log on to the Web page: http://www.plt.org/communities/Join.htm. Read about the different sections of the module, Submit any local resources that you think would help in the development of the module and/or be useful to other educators as they teach these topics. To do so you will need the following information:
Username: homer
Password: treebark

CONFERENCE CALENDAR  [back to top]

October

November

December

February 2002

March 2002

April 2002

May 2002

July 2002

September 2002