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 by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month's edition.

NEXT DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSION: May 20, 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)

"Trees in cities and towns provide billions of dollars in clean air and water. Recent studies show urban tree cover declining, and urban areas expanding far faster than trees are being planted. The average American metropolitan area has lost 30 percent of its tree cover in the last 25 years. This lost tree cover represents billions of dollars of lost benefits and presents an ideal opportunity for a federal program to help local communities reverse this trend."

From "Dear Colleague" letter by U.S. Representative James P. Moran, Virginia

State Coordinators News

STATE OF THE STATES

NEBRASKA ADDS STAFF  [back to top]

The Nebraska Forest Service welcomes Chip Murrow as the new community forester assistant in Nebraska. Chip joins the community forestry staff, including Dave Mooter (coordinator) and Rachel Allison (partnership coordinator). Chip is an Iowa State graduate and has experience in utility and municipal forestry. His duties will keep him primarily in eastern Nebraska. Chip's email is jmurrow2@unl.edu.

IDAHO CHANGES LEADERSHIP  [back to top]

The Idaho Department of Lands, Urban Community Forestry program has recently made staffing changes. Currently the program is staffed by: Del Jaquish, acting Community Forestry coordinator, and Joyce. S. Jowdy, administrative assistant. Craig Foss is now IDL's acting chief of the Bureau of Forestry Assistance. Joyce will be primary contact for newsletters and publications.
Mail to: Urban Community Forestry Program, 3780 Industrial Avenue South, Coeur d' Alene, Idaho 83815
Phone: (208) 666-8622 / Fax: (208) 769-1524
Email: jjowdy@cda.idl.state.id.us.

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

NUCFAC OFFERS FREE U&CF ADVERTISING MATERIALS  [back to top]

Free downloadable artwork, logos, bumper sticker, T-shirt designs and more are now posted on the internet through the NUCFAC-funded tree awareness campaign at http://www.communitytrees.org.

The advertisements continue to run throughout May on National Public Radio, and the site is pulling traffic. Check to confirm that your organization has been listed as a local resource for folks that want to get involved. If you're not there, a form has been provided to add your information.

NATIONAL STATE COORDINATOR MEETING ESTABLISHED  [back to top]

Paul Revell has shared the agenda for Sept. 4 in Washington DC. The day starts with three concurrent sessions with facilitators shaping the following discussion topics: Strategies to increase state level funding; Defining urban forestry for rural communities; and Engaging inner city residents in community forestry programs. After lunch, there will be a series of panel discussions including state representatives from the three regions of the country (North, South, and West); a Forest Service panel on national and emerging issues; and presentations from partners (SAF, NASF, NUCFAC, and American Forests). For more information and volunteer opportunities, contact Paul at revellp@dof.state.va.us.

REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE OF COLOR  [back to top]

The Trees Are My Friends (TAMF) 2001 campaign is in full swing, with twenty partners from coast-to-coast building community by reaching out to engage underserved populations of color in tree care activities. The TAMF public service announcement is being broadcast on TV stations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., directing viewers to the campaign hotline (1-877-202-8833) and website where they can get connected with local tree-related organizations, events and volunteer opportunities. The TAMF website is linked with the Earthday.net and Volunteermatch.org online databases. Eagle Eye Institute encourages all community forestry organizations to post their upcoming events and volunteer opportunities on those sites. In addition, interested tree organizations may still join the campaign as partners-contact Eagle Eye Institute at 617-666-5222 or eeaglei@aol.com. And of course, visit www.treesaremyfriends.org.

BUSH BUDGET CUTS UNVEILED  [back to top]

"The Bush Administration released its FY02 budget proposal on April 9, 2001. The overall shape of the budget is still very much in play on Capitol Hill. One of the areas that most reflect changed priorities from the past administration is the budget for conservation programs. The Bush proposal for Interior Department spending is not dramatically reduced from prior levels but the budget proposal significantly shifts that spending. A greater focus, and increased spending, is placed on developing and extracting energy resources and reducing the maintenance backlog in national parks. The Bush plan would fund the state Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million but would build into that funding unprecedented flexibility for states and would permit a far wider range of state uses. The Interior budget also falls well short of the spending levels established in last year's Land Conservation Preservation and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (Title VIII). This trust fund was set up as a compromise to the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. Major losers in this area of the president's budget are the Urban Parks program and Historic Preservation Fund, and Forest Legacy and Urban and Community Forestry.

Conservation programs also took a major hit in the Agriculture Department budget which slashed funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service by $53 million. Eliminated from the budget were programs that provide incentives for farmers to convert cropland to protected wetlands, help prevent sprawl and support improved water quality. Spending levels in the Bush budget will likely be adjusted as Congress begins the appropriations process. In the Senate's debate on the budget resolution, spending levels were increased for specific areas and even Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) has stated that the 4% increase in spending was insufficient to fund congressional priorities.

BIPARTISAN GROUP CALLS FOR FEDERAL SMART GROWTH WORKING GROUP  [back to top]

"On April 5, 14 senators wrote to President Bush encouraging the Administration to act on a set of smart-growth proposals. The letter calls on the president to make "[smart growth] a top priority of the Administration." Seven specific recommendations were made, including establishing an interagency, sub-cabinet level Smart Growth Working Group to improve federal coordination on growth-management issues. Other recommendations call for the president to support legislation and incentives to help communities plan for and manage growth; require federal road and highway projects to be linked with local land-use plans; preserve open space through full funding for UPARR (Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program) and LWCF (Land and Water Conservation Fund); continue support for the Community/Federal Information Partnership; locate federal facilities in downtown areas; and identify the effects of federal programs on the conversion of farmlands to nonagricultural use.

HUD Secretary Martinez stated that part of HUD's mission should be working to prevent sprawl. He announced that he has asked EPA Administrator Whitman and Transportation Secretary Mineta to join him in establishing a interagency committee to examine interagency cooperation, ways federal programs contribute to sprawl and come up with a group strategy to promote smart growth. Secretary Martinez noted that he had directed HUD staff to conduct an inventory of HUD programs to determine how the agency can use existing programs to target growth and rebuild inner cities. He stated, "Developers ought to pay the true cost of development, and we in government then should do what we can to make urban centers attractive to redevelopment."

COMMUNITY CHARACTER TAKES CENTER STAGE  [back to top]

CONSERVATION DISTRICTS FLEX THEIR MUSCLE  [back to top]

Through the effort of a number of Senate offices an additional $1.3 billion was added to the USDA budget for the promotion of voluntary agriculture and forestry conservation programs that enhance and protect natural resources on private lands. Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Harkin (D-IA), Snowe (R-ME), Leahy (D-VT), Crapo (R-ID) and Boxer (D-CA) sponsored the amendment. The National Association of Conservation Districts and its members were credited with the achievement: a very good example of what grassroots are capable of. The organization credited a Spring Legislative Conference, and the fact that Conservation seems to have a lot of momentum on Capitol Hill. Efforts will now be focused on the appropriations process, where the rubber hits the road.

BILL TO REVITALIZE CITIES  [back to top]

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced HR 994, Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act. The bill is to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit community organizations for the development of open space on municipally owned vacant lots in urban areas. Proposed funding is $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003. The aggregate amount of any grants made under this Act to any single qualified community organization in any single fiscal year may not exceed $250,000. For Complete text: http://thomas.loc.gov, type in HR 994

BLOCK GRANT STUDY REPORT RELEASED  [back to top]

The Pinchot Institute met with Forest Service State and Private Forestry executives on March 20 to present their final report and recommendations regarding the feasibility and potential efficiencies to be gained from using a system of block grants to carryout the programs currently administered through Cooperative Forestry. The FY 2000 Consolidated Appropriations Act directed the Forest Service to commission the study in consultation with the state foresters, the Society of American Foresters and other interested professional groups. Recommendations from the report:

1. Fully exercise the flexibility that already exists to allocate Cooperative Forestry funds.
2. Develop new program and funding initiatives in the Cooperative Forestry area to address emerging and innovative action needs.
3. Direct a significant allocation (20-40%) of the Cooperative Forestry funds in each of the three major regions to (a) truly regional and multi-state projects, and (b) truly innovative programs.
4. Organize administration of S&PF at the regional level into three major regions (East, West, and South), each with a regional administrator for S&PF that is located separately from NFS offices.
5. Establish a "clearing house" function with S&PF at the national level for other federal and state programs related to private forests to facilitate funding innovative and multi-state programs.
6. Provide information to improve assessments of the effects of current and alternative ways of allocating Cooperative Forestry funds and of addressing important issues involving private forests.

PMAS REVIEW UNDER WAY  [back to top]

RGS Associates, Inc. will be conducting a review of PMAS (Performance Measurement Accountability System) accomplishment measures for Landowner Assistance and Urban and Community Forestry programs of Cooperative Forestry. Objectives of the review are: 1) to ensure a link between the program measures and the FS Strategic Plan (2000 Revision) per the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), and 2) to validate that data requested is meaningful and useful. Interviews with key partners and FS Program Managers will be conducted by RGS with final recommendations due by April 30. For more information, contact Cheryl Emch, cemch@fs.fed.us.

EMPLOYMENT  [back to top]

For more job opportunities please visit the Tree Talk Bulletin Board.

Landscape Architect/Forester
USDA-Forest Service, Northeastern Area (GS-12, $53,000-69,000) Closing Date: April 17. This is a 4-year term position located in Chicago. The purpose of this position is to provide a liaison person for the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area's programs that are in Chicago, Illinois and vicinity. This position will be co-located with the North Central Research Station in Evanston, IL and reports to the Forest Resources Group Leader in St. Paul, MN. Provides technical assistance and coordination for such projects as Greenstreets, Chicago Wilderness restoration efforts, and De Paul University urban forestry projects. Serves as liaison for the Asian longhorned beetle activities in the Chicago Area. Provides coordination and monitoring of the State and Private Forestry grants. Represents the Forest Service on various natural resource committees, strengthening existing partnerships and fostering new ones. Shares information regarding Federal resources with a variety of clients using various technology transfer techniques. Eligible candidates have a degree in Landscape Architecture or any of the Biological Sciences. Send resume by April 17 to Ivalee Church (610-557-4245) 11 Campus Blvd., Newtown Square, PA 19073.

GRANTS $$$$  [back to top]

GRANTS FROM NASA

The Office of Earth Science of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration intends to solicit proposals from state, local, regional and tribal government organizations for the utilization of capabilities in remote sensing and related technology to meet ongoing information requirements and for use in decision-support processes. Proposals will be sought that address applications in resource management, environmental assessment, community growth and infrastructure and disaster management. Awards will be for no more than three years with a maximum funding level of approximately $400,000 in the first year and decreasing as the applications move toward implementation by the user organization. Respondents must submit an abstract for review prior to submitting a proposal. In FY2001, abstracts will be due May 15, 2001, proposals will be due July 16, 2001. For more information, contact esheffne@hq.nasa.gov. Or view the grant site: http://research.hq.nasa.gov/ under "Office of Earth Science (Code Y)".

PROGRESSIVE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Deadline: May 16, 2001

The Progressive Technology Project works to raise the scope and scale of technology resources available to grassroots organizing groups working for environmental, economic, and social justice. Through its Spring 2001 grants cycle, PTP plans on making 15-20 grants of up to $10,000 to support the use of technology by grassroots organizing groups to advance specific aspects of their community-organizing efforts. Grant pool funds can be used for training, technical support, consulting, needs assessment, planning, hardware and software, designing applications, and setting up systems. For complete guidelines and a proposal cover sheet, visit the PTP Web site: http://www.progressivetech.org/Program/GrantMaking/coverspring.htm.

2001 KODAK AMERICAN GREENWAYS AWARDS PROGRAM
Applications due June 1, 2001.

These awards from The Conservation Fund provide seed money to stimulate greenway planning and design to link the nation's natural areas, historic sites, parks and open space. Eligible applicants are Community-based organizations, including local, regional and statewide nonprofits. Grants of $500 to $2500. Details at www.conservationfund.org and by contacting Leigh Anne McDonald, 703/525-6300.

COMMITTEE LAUNCHES WEB PORTAL FOR FEDERAL GRANTS

The Federal Commons Web portal will provide "one-stop shopping" for the entire federal grant application process. The site will eventually allow applicants to submit and track their grant applications online. The Inter-Agency Electronic Grants Committee is made up of members from 23 grant-making agencies that are working to streamline the grant application process. Agencies award roughly $300 billion in federal grants to 30,000 organizations each year. This is the website address for the Federal Commons at which (eventually) grant information of all kinds will be made available to the community. You may wish to visit it now, and bookmark it for frequent visits! http://www.cfda.gov/federalcommons/.

PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES  [back to top]

Free downloadable artwork, logos, bumper sticker, T-shirt designs etc. are now posted on the internet through the NUCFAC-funded tree awareness campaign. Go to http://www.communitytrees.org/downloads.html.

Park Talk, the e-letter from Urban Parks Online - http://urbanparks.pps.org
Urban Parks Online is a program of the Urban Parks Institute at Project for Public Spaces (www.pps.org. Founded in 1975, PPS is a nonprofit organization that builds communities by creating and sustaining public spaces.

If you haven't already discovered this website, check out: http://www.enn.com/
The Environmental News Network covers all the breaking news.

A new Database of Environmental Consultants is available on the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network (LGEAN) Web site at http://www.lgean.org/consultants. The database enables local government officials and other users to identify and contact consultants who perform work in the environmental and geographical area in which they are interested.

New York City Open Accessible Space Information System (OASIS NYC)
http://www.oasisnyc.net
As described in the March 19, 2001 Metro Section of the NY Times: "The United States Department of Agriculture has set up a Web site that allows users to create detailed New York City maps of wetlands, vacant lots and other open spaces, view high-resolution aerial photographs and combine them with census data. The site is called the New York City Open Accessible Space Information System, and its address is www.oasisnyc.net . The project, made possible by contributions from 30 public and private organizations, also allows users to pursue computerized "what if" situations to analyze, for example, what would happen if vacant lots were made into community gardens."

National Association of Neighborhoods http://www.ncl.org/anr/index.htm
Part of the National Civic League, NAN is a national membership association of block clubs, community councils, umbrella groups, neighborhood coalitions, and individual citizens, the National Association of Neighborhoods (NAN) is united by love for your community, concern for its future and dedication to improving quality of life.

National League of Cities http://www.nlc.org
The mission of the National League of Cities (NLC) is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance. NLC was established in 1924 by and for reform-minded state municipal leagues. NLC now represents 49 leagues, more than 1,700 member cities, and through the membership of the state municipal leagues, NLC represents more than 18,000 cities and towns of all sizes in total. Their site offers information, news, legislative and policy resources and a section of press releases.

Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) http://www.liscnet.org
LISC provides grants, loans and equity investments to CDCs for neighborhood redevelopment. LISC's mission is to assist community development corporations (CDCs) in their efforts to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy communities.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) http://www.hud.gov
Among a variety of resources, HUD's web site offers a What Works section that features successful problem solving ideas and programs implemented at the community level. They also offer an "In Your Community" page that has local resources and informational links.

The Enterprise Foundation http://www.enterprisefoundation.org
The Enterprise Foundation is a national, nonprofit housing and community development organization working with partners to provide low-income people with affordable housing, safer streets, and access to jobs and child care. The Foundation's mission is to see that all low-income people in the United States have the opportunity for fit and affordable housing and to move up and out of poverty into the mainstream of American life.

Here's a website for a 13-acre school yard design competition. The objectives talk about developing "site knowledge," a site-specific version of learning to read a landscape. http://www.13-acres.org/.

CONFERENCES CALENDAR  [back to top]

May

June

July

August

September

November