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4100 IL Rt. 53 Lisle, IL 60532
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Quick Dates:
3/25
3/29
4/1
4/3
4/11 & 4/12
4/25
Arbor Day
5/3
Carbondale Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month Event
5/15 & 5/16
Invasive Issues in Trees Workshop & Field Tour
Save the Date!
September 11 & 12, 2014
Oak Recovery Conference
November 18 & 19, 2014
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Networking:
Check out American Grove and Illinois Grove - Are you tired of all the news on LinkedIn not being regional? Try posting here and invite all our Illinois professionals to join! We can make this a resource that fits all our needs.
Illinois Grove
Please join our IL page and lets use this resource to keep us all informed
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March, 2014
Welcome to Community Trees News. Through this newsletter, we seek to bring to you information that will be helpful to you in a short, to-the-point format as you work to protect and improve the vitality of the community forest.
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For a full listing of events in and around the state visit our events calendar. |
One Minute Survey
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Click HERE.
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APRIL
April 25, 2014
Celebrating Arbor Day is a great way to bring together your community, school, neighborhood or family. Arbor Day, a national day set aside to celebrate and plant trees, was founded in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, the father of The Morton Arboretum founder, Joy Morton.
Free Arbor Day Tree Tag Kits are available to communities, environmental groups and schools to assist with promoting the value of trees and celebration of Arbor Day. Click title for more information and to register for a kit.
Promote Tree planting and fulfill Tree City USA requirements. Engage your community: residents and students.
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MAY
See workshop information below.
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The Morton Arboretum coordinated the production of this important resource with the help and expertise of many individuals and organizations across the region. This handbook is based on the idea that all parts of the landscape are interconnected and any change --- even a small one --- can improve property management, site design, ponds, turf, trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants and wildlife.
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Photo: The Conservation Foundation
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The handbook is available on the Morton Arboretum website (click on the title to this article). The handbook is formatted to allow you to download individual chapters or the entire document of 94 pages.
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Continuing Education 
First Detector Training 2-Day
Marquette Park Field House
Saturday, March 22 & 29, 2014
Time: 1 - 4pm
Cost: Free!
This is a course open to all TreeKeepers as an extended learning opportunity. If you enjoyed learning about pests and pathogens during your TreeKeepers training, then consider moving to the next level and becoming a certified 1st Detector.
As the pathways for invasive species movement increases, it becomes harder to prevent an unintended pest from entering our borders or moving within the country. In an effort to reduce the risk and damage of pest movement, 1st Detectors are an integral line of defense to protect our natural resources. Learn about the identification, collection, and reporting of specific pests of national concern, all in a friendly atmosphere connecting with other TreeKeepers. For more information and to register, contact Andrea Dierich at The Morton Arboretum.
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Clip & Paste Resident Articles
Copy these articles for use in your municipal newsletter or website
Invasive species such as the emerald ash borer and Asian carp get all the press, but just about everyone lives with far more common invasive species: trees. READ MORE
Your Trees are Community Treasures
Trees form the character and appearance of a community. While we often think of the trees on parkways and in parks as the largest part of our community forest, often 70 percent or more are on private residential property. These trees need care if they are to continue to contribute to the beauty and value of communities.
Here are some simple things you can do to care for trees on your property and in your community: READ MORE
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Community Profile
Respect, transparency win support for removing a beloved tree  It can be hard for residents to see a much-loved tree cut down, and that can make things difficult for forestry staff who need to do the job. A recent case in Urbana shows how staff can reconcile residents to a removal: by taking the time to explain the need, with concrete evidence; inviting public discussion; making it clear that officials understand the importance of tree preservation; and respecting residents' concerns.
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Upcoming Events
For more information on each event click on the event title.
Conferences & Workshops
March 12, 2014
Location: Decatur, Illinois
Presented by University of Illinois Extension.
Early detection and response is key to managing invasive pests. The Illinois First Detector Workshops are aimed at improving first detector training and invasive species awareness. Plan to attend these workshops
focusing on nursery and landscape pests.
March 19, 2014
Location: Matteson Area Center
Presented by Prairie State College.
How can you treat a pest in your yard if you don't know what it is? In this class, you will learn to identify noxious and common weeds, harmful and beneficial insects , and the basics of controlling these pests to make the most of your lawn and garden this summer.
March 27, 2014
Location: Joliet, Illinois
Presented by University of Illinois Extension.
See description for Decatur workshop above.
Saturday, March 22 & 29, 2014
Location: Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois
Presented by The Morton Arboretum.
March 29, 2014
Location: The Morton Arboretum
Presented by The Morton Arboretum.
Gain an understanding of the plant science behind pruning, practice properly timed pruning techniques, and learn how to select the right equipment for the job in this hands-on class. Proper pruning will enhance form, maintain size, and improve woody plant health.
April 3, 2014
Location: University of Illinois at Chicago Forum
Presented by Chicago Wilderness.
The 2014 Congress, themed "Natural Allies: Partners in Conservation," will highlight diverse conservation partnerships among nonprofits, health organizations, cultural institutions, faith-based organizations, government agencies, and other groups that are critical partners in regional conservation.
April 11-12, 2014
Location: Oak Lawn, Illinois
Presented by MUTCF.
Midwest Urban Tree Care Forum (MUTCF) provides students a unique opportunity to engage with professionals and other students in urban forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, and other green industries and professions.
May 3, 2014; 6:00 pm-8:30 pm Location: Carbondale, Illinois Township Hall
Presented by Southern Illinois University.
Invasive species affect everyone, in work, in recreation, and everyday activities. This workshop will provide information and resources to help stop the spread of invasive species in Illinois.
Light refreshments provided
No registration required, free to the public
May 15 & 16, 2014
Location: The Morton Arboretum
Presented by The Morton Arboretum.
Space is limited so register today!
Teleconference Opportunities
Several Dates
Location: Naperville, Illinois (Call your local Extension office for more locations)
Presented by University of Illinois Extension.
University of Illinois Extension will be hosting their first teleconference in their Four Seasons Gardening series on Thursday, April 10, 2014.
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Tree City USA
The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.
Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Not a Tree City USA? Attend anyway to find out how you can become one today!
Below are the scheduled Illinois Tree City USA Awards.
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Grant Opportunities
Technical Assistance Scholarships for Addressing Vacancy and Abandonment
Applications are due by March 24, 2014
The Center for Community Progress, a privately-funded entity founded in 2010 to coalesce efforts in revitalizing vacant property, seeks applications from public and nonprofit entities for the new, competitive
Technical Assistance Scholarship Program. Successful applicants will receive up to 200 hours of direct technical assistance from a team of experts that specializes in relevant aspects of vacant, abandoned and problem property reclamation.
Community Groves Grants
Application due by April 11, 2014
 In 2014, Alliance for Community Trees is pleased to offer Community Groves Grants of up to $2,500 to help local organizations grow fruit and nut trees in their communities. Launched last year, Community Groves offer a new path to improve the health and livability of neighborhoods through planting, maintaining, and harvesting fruit and nut trees.
U.S. Forest Service FY2015 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program
Application due May 15, 2014
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC) announces the posting of the U.S. Forest Service Fiscal Year 2015 Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share grant program. This year, there are three grant categories:
- Incorporating Urban Forests as Green Infrastructure into Urban Planning Practices that will result in improvements for ecologically underserved communities and regions.
- Green Infrastructure Jobs Analysis.
- Utilizing Green Infrastructure to Manage and Mitigate Stormwater to Improve Water Quality.
(NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE) 
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will be posting its Wood Reclamation projects in the near future. Please consider this upcoming opportunity and also pass this announcement to other colleagues in the wood-working field who may be interested in applying for a long-term wood project with the FPDCC. Sign up as a vendor and view current & upcoming bid announcements on projects-- or if you are already registered then you will be receiving alerts on any upcoming opportunities at the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Please email Lindsay Ivanyi, if you have further questions.
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NATIONAL NEWS
And it's going to remake the skyline.
Why the sudden interest in wood? Compared with steel or concrete, CLT, also known as mass timber, is cheaper, easier to assemble, and more fire resistant, thanks to the way wood chars. It's also more sustainable. Wood is renewable like any crop, and it's a carbon sink, sequestering the carbon dioxide it absorbed during growth even after it's been turned into lumber. Waugh Thistleton estimates that the wood in Stadthaus stores 186 tons of carbon while the steel and concrete for a similar, conventionally built tower would have generated 137 tons of carbon dioxide during production. Wood nets a savings of 323 tons.
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Lydia Scott, Community Trees Program Manager Beth Corrigan, Community Trees Program Coordinator Andi Dierich, Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator Melissa Custic, RTI Coordinator |
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