Urban Forestry Coordinators News

This electronic newsletter is published bi-monthly for state and federal urban forestry program coordinators and other interested individuals. Please print or copy this newsletter and distribute it to volunteer coordinators, state council chairs, and other interested individuals within your state or region, or forward it electronically to them. 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, grant opportunities, and notices of regional and national urban forestry events. Please submit a maximum of two paragraphs to the editorial committee listed below by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month's edition.

The UCF Coordinators Newsletter is compiled and edited by:

Ed Macie, USDA Forest Service - Southern Region
emacie@fs.fed.us or phone 404-347-1647

Dick Rideout, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
richard.rideout@dnr.state.wi.us or phone 608-267-0843

Paul D. Ries, Oregon Department of Forestry
pries@odf.state.or.us or phone 503-945-7391

Phillip D. Rodbell, USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area
prodbell@fs.fed.us or phone 610-557-4133

Pepper Provenzano, TreeLink
pepper@treelink.org or phone 801-359-1933

NEXT DUE DATE FOR SUBMISSION: December 20, 2004

Words for thought

"The Nobel Committee spoke wisely last week in recognizing that 'Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.' Wangari Maathai's [tree-planting] example can help peace take root in many places around the world."

-- David B. Sandalow,
in Washington Post, Oct. 18, 2004 of the Brookings Institution,
was director for environmental affairs on the
National Security Council staff in the Clinton administration.

Around The States  [back to top]

North Dakota
The North Dakota Forest Service, in partnership with the North Dakota Council on the Arts, has released "Spirit Woods: Traditional Stories and Songs of Forests and Trees." This educational and entertaining recording promotes the folk arts and culture of our area, and provides scientific and educational information on the trees found in North Dakota. The CD complements many activities in the Project Learning Tree K-8 curriculum guide for educators and will help meet the No Child Left Behind initiative of strengthening language arts skills through interactive multisensory stimulation. Past PLT workshop participants and interested educators may purchase a copy for $15.95 plus $3 shipping by contacting the ND Forest Service at 701-228-5446 or the ND Council on the Arts at 701-328-7590.

Wisconsin Launches On-line Newsletter
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is a new electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond. Inaugurated in September, The Insider is intended as a new, quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin. Items that cannot wait for the stateÕs quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear on the state website. You can sign-up to receive current copies or visit archived editions at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/forestry/UF/resources/InsiderArchive.html

Western Leadership Hosts Community Forestry News
The Western Forestry Leadership Council is featuring community forestry news on its website. The WFLC Weekly newsletter goes out to about 100 people and the web site receives 1,000 visitors per month. To add information, contact diane.denenberg@colostate.edu, or simply visit http://www.wflccenter.org/spfp_comm_forest.html

Oregon Creates New Web Page on Hazard Tree Prevention
Hazardous trees are often created when people lack the knowledge it takes to keep trees healthy; their actions can unintentionally lead to the decline, and eventual death or failure of a tree. The Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and the Oregon Department of Forestry have created a new web page on hazard tree prevention. The site contains educational modules intended to help people learn what it takes to keep trees healthy, safe, beautiful, and prevent them from becoming hazardous. The site development was funded with a grant from Oregon Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Visit http://www.pnwisa.org/htp/index.html

Washington and Oregon to Cooperate on Municipal Training
The Oregon Department of Forestry and the Washington Department of Natural Resources will again offer our Community Tree Management Institute (CTMI) training next year. CTMI is a year-long crash-course in urban forest management for municipal employees who have tree related responsibilities. CTMI 2005 will consist of 9 instructional days spread out across 4 sessions from March to November. Since 1994, over 70 municipal employees have completed this intensive course. Topics covered in these sessions include Urban Forestry Program Management, The Politics of Trees, The Technical Foundations of Sound Urban Forestry Programs, Elements of Successful Urban Forestry Programs, Developing a Leadership Approach to Urban Forestry, and others. For more info, contact Sarah Griffith at 360-902-1704 or Paul Ries at 503-945-7391.

Massachusetts Heritage Tree Care Grants
The Massachusetts DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program provides competitive matching grants of up to $5,000 to communities wishing to provide professional care for large or unique "heritage trees" located on public property. Heritage trees are those larger trees (greater than 32" in diameter) that have documented historical significance or champion status. Heritage grants provide funds to hire a Certified Arborist to prune, cable, and fertilize such trees. Communities that have a core tree care program in place, or have conducted a public program to identify their heritage trees are favored for funding. The application and a list of recent grants is posted at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/forestry/urban/urbanGrants.htm

New Jersey Cool Cities--1500 Trees Planted in Elizabeth
In September, the New Jersey Tree Foundation and its partners at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the City of Elizabeth kicked off the Cool Cities initiative in Elizabeth with a press conference at a local Elementary School. The Cool Cities initiative is a $5 million tree-planting campaign funded by the BPU and administered by the DEP to increase tree cover in the most densely populated cities in New Jersey. For more information, contact Lisa Simms at njtf1 @juno.com

A Federal Year in the Life of Indiana Community and Urban Forestry Program
Using federal funds awarded in FY2000, the State of Indiana was able to plant 3,888 trees on public property, complete three inventories and three management plans, certify 3 new Tree Cities, and send 24 people to state and national conferences. The Community and Urban Forestry Program also funded 21 small grants, enabled two communities to hire a city forester and an urban forestry consultant, hired two interns to conduct street tree inventories and management plans, offered a series of tree planting seminars throughout the state with the Indiana Arborist Association, and trained two municipal street crews in tree maintenance. In addition, the program funded four urban forestry trails with interpretive signs, supported at-risk youth to enjoy and learn about urban forestry, and funded seven communities and non profits to provide Arbor Day events that included two schools, cable TV ads and a tree planting video. For more information, contact Pam Louks at plouks @dnr.in.gov

On The National Front

US Senate Passes Interior Appropriations  [back to top]
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved FY 2005 spending for the Forest Service, including the U&CF program (SR 108-341). The U&CF program was marked at $33.1 million. This is $1.15 million above the $32 million request by the administration, all of which is earmarked: $500K for City of Bellevue, $350K for Chicago Wilderness, and $300K for tree planting in Chicago. In addition, 150K of the U&CF budget will be directed to the Parks and People Foundation of Baltimore, to support the Urban Watershed Forestry Research and Demonstration cooperative.

There were no changes to the U&CF program performance measures or allocation methodology for 2004, as a report was not submitted in time for Congress to consider revisions; anticipate changes for FY 2005. Within the Forest Service Research Budget, $200K is reserved for urban sprawl and livability research for the Urban Watershed Forestry Research and Demonstration cooperative in Baltimore, $2 million is reserved for Sudden Oak Death research, $500K is reserved for pathogen and pest research. U&CF research is not a specific line item in the budget.

Full text is as follows: "The Committee has provided $33,111,000 for the urban and community forestry program which is $1,150,000 above the request. Increases above the request are $500,000 for the City of Bellevue Greenstreets program, $350,000 for the Chicago wilderness project, and $300,000 for urban forestry tree planting in Chicago, IL.

Within the funds provided for urban and community forestry, $150,000 shall be made available for the People and Parks Foundation to continue urban natural resource stewardship work as part of the Urban Watershed Forestry Research and Demonstration cooperative in Baltimore, MD.

The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations requested a report from the agency concerning the urban and community forestry program. As part of this report, the Forest Service was required to make recommendations on different allocation methodologies that might serve to improve program performance. Although the report was due on April 1, 2004, the Committee has yet to receive it. Accordingly, the Committee directs that no changes be made to the current allocation methodology for the urban and community forestry program until the Committee has an opportunity to review recommendations from the agency and determine whether these should be implemented. The Committee emphasizes that the final report should not propose penalizing less populated States that are running effective programs merely because they do not serve as many people."

State Foresters Select New Members for Urban Committee  [back to top]
Below are the names and email addresses for the 2004 - 2005 NASF Urban & Community Forestry Committee that has changed. There are three new members: Jim Sledge (MS), Ken Stewart (GA) and Don Smith (CT). Please use the following list as your contact list, and phone numbers, if needed, are available on NASF's website.

Call for Agenda Items - 2005 National Urban Forest Conference  [back to top]
The urban forest is an untapped resource-one that can help cities meet regulatory requirements for clean air and water, revitalize neighborhoods, and reduce the costs of building and maintaining infrastructure. The 2005 National Urban Forest Conference, Nature at Your Service, will show how to reconnect people to their city's natural resources. The latest chapter in urban thinking for the 21st century recognizes the ecological city and the importance of respecting and using natural systems of forests, soils, water, and air to support urban areas. The 2005 National Urban Forest Conference is designed both for those who want to influence the shape and direction of their community and for those who must meet environmental quality requirements. The conference will highlight latest technologies, emerging public policies, and tools to help put the urban forest to best use.

The 2005 National Urban Forest Conference will be held Nov. 17-18, 2005, in Charlotte, NC. Visit www.americanforests.org and click on 2005 National Urban Forest Conference under Resources for more information. You will find a Call for Papers, which is due on Nov. 30, 2004.

National Wildland Urban Interface Maps  [back to top]
The U.S. Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) have released new scientific maps depicting the communities and lands within the wildland urban interface (WUI) across the lower 48 states. This is the first consistent nationwide representation of the WUI as defined in the Federal Register (Volume 66:751, 2001) and makes possible mapping and analysis at national, state and local levels. In all, 42 million homes or 37 percent of the nationÕs total are in the WUI. These lands comprise 273,000 square miles or nine percent of the 48 states. The WUI, where houses meet or intermingle with wildland vegetation, is not only a high-value environment for users, but also a focal area for human-environment conflicts, such as wildland fires, habitat fragmentation, invasive species and biodiversity decline.

"These findings clearly depict the potentially extensive scope of wildland fire issues confronting communities across the nation," said Dr. Ann Bartuska, Forest Service deputy chief of research and development. "This information will help land managers focus on these critical areas and develop preventative measures as we continue to implement the Healthy Forests Initiative."

Using geographic information systems, Forest Service and university researchers integrated U.S. Census Bureau housing data and U.S. Geological Survey National Land Cover data to map the WUI based on housing data. While California leads the nation with more than five million homes within the WUI, North Carolina has the greatest area at more than 12 million acres. In 20 states, 50 percent or more of all homes are in the WUI. Learn more at http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/Library/WUILibrary.asp and http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/projects/WUI_Main.asp

Watershed Forestry Assistance Program Guidance Nearly Complete  [back to top]
Even though funding for this program has not been included in the PresidentÕs budget for 2005, the US Forest Service has decided to go forward with completion of the policy guidelines for implementation of the program. In February, a Technical Work Group began and has now produced its fourth draft. This latest draft incorporates comments received during the 3 months of public comment from the Federal Register and posting of the guidance on the Web. Final guidance will be completed by October of 2004. To view the latest draft regarding the Watershed Forestry Assistance Program, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/wfa/index.shtml

Forest Health News  [back to top]
Emerald Ash Borer Wood Utilization Project
The Emerald Ash Borer infestation is a critical urban forest health issue. Thirteen counties in southeast Michigan have been quarantined. It is estimated that 13 to 20 million ash trees have been infected and must be removed. Infection results in 100% mortality and the only control measure known is to remove the infected tree and chip the bark and cambium into chips of 1 inch or less. Removal is at substantial cost. Removals are brought to a certified marshalling yard and chipped for biomass fuel. LaMont Bros. has opened a marshalling yard for the ash borer tree removals. Preliminary production using a Woodmiser sawmill was favorable. Consequently, the company has plans for a higher production tie mill on site at the yard.

Government funding pays the cost of removal, transportation, and chipping. Even though current ash lumber market prices are less than glamorous, there is a high demand for green railroad crossties. This green tie demand is projected to continue for the next four or five years. For more information on ash utilization in SE Michigan, see http://www.semircd.org/ash/index.php

Status of EAB Infestation
These maps give a good perspective on EAB current infestations and risk http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/4501/eab/maps/
http://gis.tnc.org/data/MapbookWebsite/map_page.php?map_id=129

Full-length feature of problems and solutions to EAB battle East Lansing's WKAR recently featured EAB on their Michigan at Risk program (Emerald Ash Borer - Path of Death) The complete video (46 minutes) has been posted to their website below. http://wkar.org/michiganatrisk/programs/frame.php?pgmnumber=1601

Grant Opportunitie$  [back to top]

Environmental Professional Student Intern Program
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/EPA/OGD/GAD/LV-OAR-RIEL-04-13/listing.html

Environmental Education Grant Program
Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/EPA/OGD/GAD/EPA-GRANTS-092304-001/listing.html

Graduate Research Fellowship Program
National Science Foundation Grant
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/NSF/OIRM/HQ/04-615/listing.html

Brownfields Assessment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals for brownfields assessment, revolving loan fund and cleanup grants. These grants are part of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act to help states and communities around the country clean up and revitalize brownfield sites. Proposals are due to the EPA by Nov. 12, 2004. The EPA is estimating that 200 grants will be available totaling $100 million. The proposal guidelines for the grants are available at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/applicat.htm#pg.

U.S. Community Forestry Research Fellowships Available
The U.S. Community Forestry Research Fellowship Program provides fellowships to graduate students to support their field work in communities in the United States. The awards are up to $15,000 for dissertation fellows, up to $7,000 for masters fellows, and $2,000 for predissertation fellows. The program accepts proposals dealing with the broad array of issues and resources in community forestry, including, but not limited to, collaborative processes and conflict resolution, social networks, political ecology of forest communities, urban forestry issues, watershed restoration, park creation and management, forest labor issues, nontimber forest product production (floral greens, basket-making materials, wild mushrooms, maple syrup), and revitalization of local lifeways and cultures. Questions concerning issues of social justice and equity are especially welcome.

Eligibility: Students at any institution of higher learning may apply for a fellowship. The applicant must be enrolled in a degree-granting program in the social sciences, economics, environmental science, forestry, agriculture, or natural resource management, policy and planning at their home institution. Applicants must be engaged in research that deals directly with or is explicitly relevant to U.S. forest communities. Field work must be participatory; Fellows must work actively with members of the community in which they are conducting research to engage them in the research process. Deadline: Applications must be received by Feb. 1, 2005.
For more information, contact Carl Wilmsen at cffellow @nature.berkeley.edu

Publications & Websites  [back to top]

Tools to Help Manage the Hispanic Workforce
Now available at www.na.fs.fed.us/wihispanic/
The wood products industry, like many labor-intensive industries, has increasingly turned to hiring Hispanic workers to maintain a competitive edge. Recently, numerous wood product industry associations decided to collectively address the challenges that their members were facing with their Hispanic workforce. An intensive assessment was completed to identify the needs for companies in the wood products industry and their Hispanic workers. Based upon these results the following products were developed:

• "Working with Hispanics" is a guide to help supervisors and managers understand how cultural differences can affect the workplace.
• "El Peque–a Gu’a para el Inmigrante Hispano" (A Small Guide for the Hispanic Immigrant) is an informational resource explaining the American culture and workplace to the Hispanic woodworker.
• "The Employee Handbook Template" allows companies to develop a customized employee handbook including their company name, contact persons, State (labor laws vary by state) and specific information on times of work, worker obligations, rights and responsibilities. The handbook can be downloaded in English and/or Spanish.
• "A Survival Spanish/English Wood Products Terminology Glossary" has over 1400 terms and phrases that can be printed out to aid in communication or "clicked on" to hear pronunciation.
• "Company Orientation and Employee Motivation" helps supervisors understand the importance of the orientation process and worker productivity. This resource also provides insight into what can motivate employees to perform optimally.
• "Achieving Quality Through Teamwork" helps builds a team mentality that can increase productivity and product quality.
• A comprehensive list of "Related Links" provides additional information and resources on these subjects.

Canada's National Forest Strategy: 2003 Š 2008
The Canadian government has issued a national forest strategy with an emphasis on sustainability that recognizes the influence of the urban forest on public perceptions of the entire forest.
http://nfsc.forest.ca/strategies/strategy5.html

ASLA on line newsletter article on Memorial Groves
The attached article brings new focus to memorial design
http://www.asla.org/land/grnspacedc.html

Stop Topping Trees
A few years back, the Missouri Community Forestry Council developed a comprehensive anti-topping PR campaign. Here is a link to some of that product:
http://www.mocommunitytrees.com/pages/4/index.htm

Structural Soil Mix Gives City Trees Room to Grow
Interesting short article on at National Geographic.Com
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0910_040910_urbantrees.html#main

ISA Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist Certification Now Available
To take the new ISA Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist certification exam, an applicant must be an ISA Certified Arborist in good standing and have a minimum of three years' additional experience in a position managing the establishment and maintenance of urban trees. The exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. For more information, please contact the Certification Department at 217-355-9411, or visit http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/municipal.asp

Sidewalk Expertise
New Research on Trees and Business: Focus on Smaller Cities There is more news from the research effort of Dr. Kathy Wolf at the University of Washington. An earlier study evaluated how business district visitors respond to having trees in the streetscape in large cities. A replicate study done at the University of Washington has explored similar questions in smaller cities and towns. Measures of preference, perception and economic willingness-to-pay were used. Survey respondents greatly prefer having large trees in retail streetscapes. Trees are also associated with reported increases in patronage behavior (such as travel distance and visit frequency), and willingness to pay more for products. Few differences in response were detected between small city residents and potential visitors who reside in nearby large cities.

The factoid of greatest interest to merchants may be product pricing response. The large city study revealed a 12% amenity margin for products; this study indicated a 9% rate. Is this a difference between income levels of community types? or does it reflect pre- and post- bubble economy conditions? The reason is uncertain, but the 9% rate is still noteworthy. Fact sheets about the study are posted at www.cfr.washington.edu/research.envmind/consumer.html Also see Dr. WolfÕs article, Trees, Parking and Green Law: Legal Tools and Strategies for Sustainability at http://www.treelink.org/woodnotes/index.html

Performance Index for Trees
Visit Urban Forest Research to learn moreÉ:
http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/products/cufr521_Urban_Forestry-Sum04FINAL.pdf

Riparian Forest Buffer Handbook and Video
The Chesapeake Riparian Handbook and Riparian Forest Buffer Training Video have been repackaged into an attractive CD/DVD set for distribution. This is the same document completed by the Forest Service with its partners in 1997 and provides science, helpful guidance, and practical information on riparian forest buffer restoration and maintenance. Although it is oriented to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, much of the information has reasonably wide applicability. Copies are available by calling 1-800-968-7229.

Tracking Riparian Plantings
The following web site includes a new online tracking system for input of riparian buffer plantings. The EPA has set up a mapping function that returns map coordinates.
http://wspdev.chesapeakebay.net/rfbtracking/rfbentry.aspx

Job Opportunities  [back to top]

Visit the TreeLink jobs page at http://treelink.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=3 for a variety of employment opportunities.

Continuing Education  [back to top]

Visit the current Calendar of Events at www.treelink.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=4 on TreeLink.