This newsletter is sent electronically via email or fax 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 and archived at www.treelink.org

Submissions to this newsletter are welcome and requested. Items suitable for inclusion are state and national urban forestry information, products or innovations, 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: May 20, 2002

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) 557-4133

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

State Coordinators News

Words for thought

-- Charles A. Lewis, author
Green Nature/Human Nature: The Meaning of Plants in Our Lives

Questions of the Month: . . . What's on your mind regarding urban forestry and where it stands now? Good, bad, indifferent, respected, accepted? Send your views to Pam.   [back to top]

Responses to last month's question:

Idaho  - We push planters to remove as much of the wire basket as they can. Very careful planters can remove the entire basket before they set the tree in the hole. Less careful planters should put the tree in the hole, then cut at least three quarters of the basket away. A small bolt cutter is invaluable for cutting the basket wires. The burlap must be removed but we think the best thing to do is to spread it at the bottom of the planting hole. So much of the "burlap" these days is treated with a preservative or is a synthetic material that it does not rot as quickly as untreated burlap. We do recommend to communities that they dig into the top of B&B root balls to find the root crown. There may not be a swelling there but the rooting area is very visible. We recommend planting at or slightly above grade. It is better to have the tree a little high than a little low. We have also been taught to be careful not to break up the root ball. Several years ago, I was planting some trees that came from a nursery with heavy clay soil. We were planting a gravelly loam soil that had excellent drainage. Several of the planting crews were a little rough with the trees and badly cracked the root balls on the trees they planted. Later we began to notice stress in the trees that a more careful crew had planted. We used a soil probe to discover that the cracked root balls were moist but the solid root balls were dry. We had to take a bar and break up the solid root balls so we could get water into them. Del Jaquish, acting Community Forestry Coordinator: djaquish@cda.idl.state.id.us

Indiana- My husband and I personally transplanted a large tree into our yard a couple of years ago. It was a major effort to even lift the tree into the hole he dug. It would have been impossible to lay it back down to make the hole shallower, so the tree was planted too deep. The following year, the other two trees we transplanted at the same time were thriving, but this one looked sick. Upon the advice of a local tree service, I dug a small well around the base of the tree, and simply put bark chips in it to let the tree "breathe." This year, the tree looks healthy. Annette Perez of Whiting: AnetP@aol.com

Nebraska-We recommend total removal of the wire basket and the burlap if at all possible. We have found plantings that were over 10 years old where burlap was still there and wire had girdled roots. At the very least we require it to be rolled back or cut to a depth of 18 inches in the planting hole. We have noticed some "piling" of soil in B&B situations but it is not widespread. We have concerns that nursery practice and cultivating is the culprit and soil is being thrown over the root crown, not unlike corn rows. We need to be watchful of this and attempt to educate nursery professionals. When you teach folks to "plant at grade" you have to define "grade" very specifically. David Mooter, UNL-Nebraska Forest Service, DMOOTER2@unl.edu, http://www.nfs.unl.edu/

Tree Guy - Removing the bottom of the wire basket is not necessary. Finding the root flare is. The majority of newly planted trees I see are buried, because the flare was buried in the nursery and buried further by over mulching. Roots grow up and in and across the trunk, twisted early and seldom set straight. The ISA brochures on buying and planting trees are easy to follow. Buyers who don't find the flare are buying trash. Planters who don't locate the flare, even if that means cutting roots to reach it, are planting future problems for the tree owner. There's nothing sadder than a maturing tree that's strangling itself. Fixing it is difficult, destructive, expensive, and sometimes impossible. Guy Meilleur, treeguy@bellsouth.net

STATE OF THE STATES  [back to top]

Georgia - "TREES - The Big Hidden Payoff"
One of our biggest marketing communications challenges in packaging our messages about trees, parks, and greenspace is the actual process, skill and time to get it done. The Georgia Forestry Commission has a new PowerPoint presentation available called, "TREES - The Big Hidden Payoff." This presentation is designed to allow partners to fully customize it with their logo and contact information, or cut and paste the sections they like with their own material. For example: partners might choose to use it in a fundraising or consumer-awareness effort and tag the end with their contact information. This presentation is complete with "things to do" suggestions for citizens, communities, and elected officials. It includes messages specifically for key audiences. Partners can combine this media tool with their own print materials for a winning combination with the audiences they want to influence most. www.gfc.state.ga.us/Publications/UrbanCommunityForestry/index.cfm

Idaho - New State Coordinator
Dave Stephenson, Regional Coordinator in Wisconsin, is Idaho's new State Coordinator. Dave began his new position on May 6. His email address is dstephenson@idl.state.id.us and phone number is 208/666-8621.

Louisiana - Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful, a non-profit organization in the New Orleans metropolitan area, is building on the success of its first offering last year, by sponsoring its Second Annual Tree School, a workshop to help communities manage trees. This one-day workshop on the care and preservation of mature trees in the urban landscape is free and open to the public. This workshop is funded by local foundation funds and other local sponsors. Last year approximately 300 persons from across the state attended the tree school. Distinguished tree experts this year include Dr. Kim Coder, University of Georgia, Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington, Dr. Ed Gilman, University of Florida, Mr. Steve Shurtz, Baton Rouge Director of Landscape and Forestry, and Dr. Neil Odenwald, Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University. For more information contact Bonnie Stine, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: bonnie_s@ldaf.state.la.us

Massachusetts - Livable Communities Act
The Livable Communities Act will provide $5.5 million for regional planning commissions to develop regional sustainable development plans, $26.7 million for sustainable development planning grants to municipalities, and $17.8 million for grants to municipalities to be used to implement their plans (e.g., conform zoning to plans or initiate affordable housing or open space projects consistent with the plan). The bill also establishes state policies related to open space, natural resource protection, affordable housing, revitalization of urban areas, transportation, and directing development to areas where infrastructure already exists. For more details about the the Livable Communities Act, please contact Nancy Goodman at ngoodman@environmentalleague.org.

New York City - Funds Not Renewed for GreenStreets Program - Henry Stern's popular GreenStreets program, which had converted 2001 barren traffic triangles into refreshing green spaces by 2001, will not be enlarged in 2002. With a planned 50% cut in Park's capital spending, money to build more GreenStreets will just not be allocated, although the existing spaces will be maintained and watered, in many cases with well water. The small green areas relax drivers, and slow them down. The result is streets safer for pedestrians, as well as easier streets to look at for all city residents.

Tennessee - The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council is pursuing the inclusion of tree-related questions on the State's licensing exam for General Contractors. Any General Contractor that works for builders and developers is required to have a valid license to work in the state. By including tree-related questions on their exam, it is hoped that the council can increase tree knowledge among this group, and thereby provide better tree protection in construction sites. For more information contact Bruce Webster, Tennessee Division of Forestry: bruce.webster@state.tn.us

Virginia - The Governor has signed a bill (SB 301) that will restrict any person from using the title "forester" unless they possess a degree from a college or university accredited by the Society of American Foresters or if they have proof of at least ten years of experience. http://legis.state.va.us/

Organization Report - Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) was established in 1964 and has about 700 members from as far away as Canada and Australia. It has 4 major objectives to benefit urban tree professionals:

1. Promote and improve the ethical practice of professional municipal arboriculture.
2. Stimulate interest in the planting and preservation of shade trees and landscape plants.
3. Promote public awareness of the beautification of urban areas through proper arboriculture practices.
4. Initiate and support scientific investigation of problems associated with municipal arboriculture.

For more information, contact: Jerri J. LaHaie, Executive Director, Society of Municipal Arborists, P.O. Box 641,Watkinsville, GA 30677, phone: 706-769-7412, fax: 706-769-7307,email: UrbanForestry@prodigy.net, webpage: www.urban-forestry.com

ON THE NATIONAL FRONT

Farm Bill Signed  [back to top]

President Bush has signed the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act. In his remarks, he noted that, "This bill offers incentives for good conservation practices on working lands. For farmers and ranchers, for people who make a living on the land, every day is Earth Day. There's no better stewards of the land than people who rely on the productivity of the land." For the full text of Pres. Bush's remarks, see http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/05/20020513-2.html at the White House web site. A new program to support stewardship and sustainability of non-industrial private forest working lands made it into the final bill. The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) is to be funded at a mandatory $100 million annually for six years, administered by the US Forest Service. The Urban and Community Forestry program continues as originally authorized, with no amendments.

Dear Colleague Letter Lands with a Yawn  [back to top]

As reported in the last issue of Coordinator News, US Representative James P. Moran of Virginia issued a letter to his colleagues in the full House of Representatives in support of a $50 million funding level for Urban and Community Forestry. This letter received only 11 signatories out of a potential 435. Not a single Republican signed the letter. This general lack of supports reflects poorly on the program. Results indicate that grassroots leaders, with the support of local and state government stakeholders, need to do more during the year to educate their membership about the federal program and its importance in sustaining their work on the ground. We know that grant recipients enjoy and effectively utilize federal funds that support tree programs in 10,000 communities across the country. The question is: Does your member of congress know? It is never too late to pick up the phone and call your district office, invite congressional staffers for a tour or to participate in a significant event. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior and Related Agencies begins its work this month to mark-up its FY 2003 appropriations bill. This is a great time to thank your Senators and make them aware of the good work you do with their continued support. Signers of the letter included Jim Moran (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mark Udall (D-CO), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), David Bonior (D-MI), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Robert Borski (D-PA). Please create an opportunity to thank these individuals.

9/11 Living Memorials  [back to top]

The USDA Forest Service has launched an online registry of living memorials that honor the memory of the thousands of innocent citizens and the heroism of the firefighting units, police force and emergency personnel who lost their lives in the horrific events of Sept. 11. In this project, a "living memorial" involves the planting of trees and creation of green space as a way to remember the heroes and the deceased of Sept. 11. "Trees, water and nature can be powerful forces for reflection and healing," said Anthony Gardner, Chairman, World Trade Center United Family Group, one of the supporting organizations of the project. Individuals and groups can submit site information, post images and share experiences, thoughts and triumphs. "What better way to honor the lives of those fallen heroes than with the planting of new life," said Richard Fox, firefighter and president of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial Foundation. Not well known to the public is the fact that more than 500 Forest Service employees provided rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for weeks and months. "The men and women of the Forest Service support memorial tree planting projects and will do everything to make them successful and to demonstrate our resiliency as a people," Joel Holtrop, Forest Service, Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry, said. For more information, visit the website at www.livingmemorialsproject.net or call Phillip Rodbell, 610-557-4133.

Veneman Appoints NUCFAC Members  [back to top]

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced the selection of five members to USDA's National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). There are two new members and three are reappointed. "Our urban forests -- the trees in our towns and cities -- improve the quality of the environment and enhance our quality of life," Veneman said. "We welcome the advice and expertise of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council in helping USDA maximize the unique values of our urban forests for all Americans." The two new members appointed to the 15-member council are Donna Yowell, education chair, outreach and education, Association of State Flood Plain Managers, Madison, Miss., and Kelli Tuttle, president, Bluestem Forestry Consulting Inc., Argonne, Wis. Three members have been reappointed to serve a second term: Teresa Trueman-Madriaga, urban forestry program coordinator, Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Kapolei, Hawaii; Ray Tretheway, executive director, Sacramento Tree Foundation, Sacramento, Calif.; and William F. Brash, Jr., director, Mercer County Soil Conservation District, Freehold, N. J. The council advises the secretary on the care and management of trees, forests, and related natural resources in urban and community settings. The council also works with federal and state agencies and other partners to share information and technical assistance. In addition, the council makes recommendations to the Forest Service on competitive cost-share grants that advance the science and practice of urban forestry.

Grassroots Summit 2002  [back to top]

The program committee for the Grassroots Summit has settled on a democratic framework for the event to be held in Salt Lake City, Sept. 21-24. The group will announce a "citizen's congress for community trees and forests." They will invite neighborhood and nonprofit groups, and state and local government from around the country. This will be an open invitation to all interested in building a united constituency for urban and community trees and forests. The framework includes a "house of representatives" made up of fresh voices and start-up organizations who will develop campaign plans and ideas around common local and state issues identified by the leadership team over the past several years of discussion. A "senate" will be convened simultaneously made up of experienced, long-timers in urban and community forestry who will discuss State and national issues similarly identified. A conference committee will be the focus of debate on the second day, and the final product from the summit will be a prioritized set of campaign plans to be rolled out in the following two years. To be successful, the event requires your participation and support, including one-time use of your State's mailing list for the postcard invitation directing recipients to visit the Grassroots Summit link provided by TreeLink at www.treelink.org for more information. Travel scholarships will be available for those interested in contributing their ideas and energy to the summit. For further information, contact Paul Revell at revellp@dof.state.va.us or Jerri Lahaie, urbanforestry@prodigy.net

National Arbor Day Poster  [back to top]

Sooah Yoo, a fifth-grader from Gurnee, Ill., is the national winner in the 2002 Arbor Day National Poster Contest, presented by The National Arbor Day Foundation and sponsored by Toyota Motor North America Inc. Sooah's national first-place poster - along with winning posters from other state contests - will be displayed in a special art exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden through June 30, 2002. More than 64,000 fifth-grade classrooms across the country participated in the poster contest this year. The theme was "Trees are Terrific . . . Inside and Out." Sooah's poster features a large tree in the center and highlights the many uses for trees.

Planting America's Future Awards  [back to top]

The National Tree Trust, a national leader in programs supporting community tree planting and education efforts, has established an award to honor outstanding achievements in volunteerism and community forestry. Applications are now being accepted for the Planting America's Future Awards, which will be presented to three individuals or organizations that have demonstrated success in mobilizing local citizens, business, government and others in projects to improve their community through the use of volunteers and trees. Prizes will be awarded. Applicants must be postmarked by May 31, 2002 and can be obtained at www.nationaltreetrust.org or by calling 1800-846-TREE ext. 21

JOB OPPORTUNITIES  [back to top]

Urban and Community Forestry related job opportunities are plentiful on the internet at TreeLink. Go to the Tree Talk Bulletin Board

GRANTS $$$$  [back to top]

Bookmark these listings of funding opportunities!

Urban Parks Institute http://urbanparks.pps.org/topics/funding/
TECHFOUNDATION http://www.techfoundation.org
The River Network http://www.rivernetwork.org/library/libsou.cfm
USDA Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/spf/partners.html
Funding for Youth Programs www.doleta.gov/youth_services/maps-founding.asp
Department of Energy http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/

The Partnerships Affirming Community Transformation (PACT), Rockefeller Foundation
Deadline: May 17, 2002
http://www.rockfound.org
PACT is designed to recognize and enhance the critical role that arts and culture play in fostering the health of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. This highly competitive program supports projects undertaken by artists and other cultural professionals in collaboration with other community members to express identity, concerns, and aspirations through the arts and media, building cultural capacity, and contributing to social change. Past funded projects have included murals and other public arts projects that involve community members. Grant amounts range from $10,000 to $50,000 per project per year. Go to their site for more information, proposal instructions and a list of previously funded proposals.

National Tree Trust
2003 Community Tree Planting Grant
www.nationaltreetrust.org
This is a two-part application process, with the Seedling Request Form due May 31, 2002 and the Project Information Form due Oct. 1, 2002. Applications will not be considered if any forms are incomplete or submitted after their deadlines.

TECHFOUNDATION
http://www.techfoundation.org
TechFoundation, founded in 2001, provides nonprofit groups with access to the technology, expertise, and capital they need to enhance their technological capacity and amplify effectiveness in achieving their social mission. Sign-up for an e-mail alert of their monthly on-line newsletter which lists funding opportunities, free and reduced cost products and services.

Programs Serving At-Risk Children and Youth
Deadline: Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1, and Nov. 1, 2002
The Handspring Foundation currently focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations that help at-risk children and youth. Funding is also available for technical assistance/organizational effectiveness grants for groups that focus on issues directly related to children/youth at risk. Funds may be specifically requested for board or staff retreats, hiring staff or consultants, staff training, or strategic planning. Foundation grants range from $1,000 to $25,000 per grant. Handspring product grants are also available to qualifying nonprofit organizations. For application information and forms: www.handspring.com/company/foundation

Programs Benefiting School-Aged Children
Deadline: Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15, and Nov. 15, 2002
The Best Buy Children's Foundation (BBCF) awards grants to nonprofit organizations that take an innovative approach to building life skills in young people through education, mentoring, and leadership development. Funding is directed to multicultural programs located in Best Buy market areas for children ages 5 to 18. Funding priorities include, but are not limited to: Program development; direct project support; specific curriculum development; and scholarship aid for participants in life skills or mentoring programs. BBCF typically awards grants ranging from $2,000 -$10,000 for community- based organizations. Contact: 952-947-2650: http://www.bestbuy.com/About/CommunityRelations.

Free Seeds for Planting "Freedom Gardens"
Deadline: Ongoing
The America the Beautiful Fund is a national nonprofit organization started in 1965 to encourage volunteer citizen efforts to protect the natural and historic beauty of America. Over 50,000 projects in all 50 states have been developed and assisted with ABF help. In response to the events of Sept. 11, ABF is providing $1 million worth of flower, vegetable, and herb seeds to plant "Freedom Gardens" across America. Anyone who wants to sponsor or start a Freedom Garden in their community can receive a grant of 100 to 1,000 free seed packets. For further information and an application form, visit the program's Web site: http://www.freeseeds.org

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 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]

Public Health
Here is a publication that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed that you may find interesting - "The Impact of the Built Environment on Public Health." Linking urban forestry to public health is key to getting our message out. The publication can be found at this web site - http://www.sprawlwatch.org/health.pdf

Tree Stories
Take a walk on the woodsy side with affable tree planter and nurseryman Jeff Meyer as he wanders the country in search of amazing trees and the people, places, and legends connected to them. Part travelogue, part ecology lesson, and frequently humorous, American Forests' Tree Stories offers viewers the off-beat, joyous, and even strange ways people appreciate these integral and often unnoticed parts of everyday life. The 13-part show series, which airs on public television this spring, showcases topics ranging from national champion trees and the people who hunt for them to elegant getaways high in the treetops. Viewers will search swamps for big trees, wander the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, and visit an amusement park where the fun is in the trees. Please check your local listings or contact your local public television station program manager to air the show. More info at http://www.pbs.org/whatson/index.html.

Plant Database
This plant database serves as a single source of standardized information about plants including color illustrations and maps. Vascular plants, mosses, and lichens are included for the United States and its territories. Information on endangered species and wetland indicator status is given, plus information on erosion control, ecology, and more. You can search by common or scientific name. http://plants.usda.gov/ and TreeLink at www.treelink.org

A New World View
"The image is a panoramic view of the world from the new space station. It is a night photo with the lights clearly indicating the populated areas. You can scroll East-West and North-South. Note that Canada's population is almost exclusively along the U.S. border. Moving east to Europe, there is a high population concentration along the Mediterranean Coast. It's easy to spot London, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna. Note the density of Japan. Awesome picture of the Earth taken from the Boeing built Space Station last November on a perfect night with no obscuring atmospheric conditions." Visit: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg

Center for Watershed Protection
Check out our newly upgraded Stormwater Manager's Resource Center website at http://www.stormwatercenter.net. We've added eight new slideshows, new stream restoration factsheets, resources for financing stormwater programs, watershed education information, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling tools, and several new publications to download, all for free!

NY-NJ Highlands Study
The Highlands Study provides a comprehensive assessment of the natural resources in the 1.5 million acre NY-NJ region stretching from the lower Hudson River Valley to the Delaware River. The study area serves as the major source of clean drinking water for northern New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area. It also provides outdoor recreation opportunities, and serves as an important habitat for a wide variety of bird, animal, fish, and plant species. The Highlands region contains a diverse mix of forests, farms and communities, many of which are undergoing rapid changes in land use patterns. Part of the assessment includes an analysis of projected land-use change for the region and the potential impacts of those changes. Study findings should assist citizens, communities, organizations and government agencies to make informed decisions about managing, protecting, and restoring portions of the Highlands region. To obtain or view a copy of the report, please email a request to NA_HighlandsStudy@fs.fed.us, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/na/highlands, or call 973-702-7266 ext. 18

The Impact of Land Use Decisions
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Environmental Affairs has launched a new website to better inform communities and citizens about the current and potential impact of land-use decisions. The address is http://141.154.98.52/#.

Metro Research
Very cool site. Go to Projects & Maps then to both "American Metropolitics" and "Region Maps" to find a bunch of stuff about urban areas in the country. http://www.metroresearch.org/

The Elements of Sustainability in Urban Forestry, UFEI publication, July 1994 is now available as a PDF download from http://www.ufei.calpoly.edu/data/abstracts/abstracts.html

Best of the Net
Here's another web-based guide to Urban and Community Forestry links, and the author names TreeLink and the Urban Forestry South Technical Service Center as "Best of the Net." http://forestry.about.com/cs/urbanforestry/index_2.htm

Community Character Act
By a vote of 12 - 7, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee gave final approval to S. 975, the Community Character Act, introduced by Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee. The act would provide a much-needed incentive to help states and localities initiate and implement smart-growth planning strategies. http://www.planning.org/legislation/

CONFERENCE CALENDAR  [back to top]

May 2002

June 2002

July 2002

August 2002

September 2002

October 2002

November 2002