With support from the USDA Forest Service, the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) is achieving goals outlined in its Forest Action Plan. In conjunction with local partners, Kentucky has helped six communities in the southeastern Appalachian corridor develop their own plans for greenspaces, all of which have begun implementing these designs. The plans were used [read more]
Lydia Scott is the Director of the Chicago Region Tree Initiative for The Morton Arboretum Chicago and its seven surrounding counties have more than 150 million trees, which make our area’s communities healthier, more sustainable and more beautiful. But the trees that grow in the Chicago area are under serious threat, with one of every five Chicago [read more]
With support from the Forest Legacy Program of the USDA Forest Service, the Idaho Department of Lands is achieving goals outlined in its Forest Action Plan. In late 2014 the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, acquired a conservation easement on 6,800 acres of working forest within northern Idaho’s McArthur [read more]
With support from the Forest Health Protection program of the USDA Forest Service, the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) is achieving goals outlined in its Forest Action Plan. Cogongrass is an invasive, non-native grass, which occurs in the southeastern United States. A pest in 73 countries and considered to be one of the "Top 10 Worst [read more]
FireWise of Southwest Colorado had some big things to celebrate at its bimonthly meeting Tuesday, including three national awards. Judy Winzell got a standing ovation from her neighbors at Falls Creek as she accepted the Community Wildfire Preparedness Pioneer Award – one of only four in the nation – from Durango Fire Protection District Deputy [read more]
Foresters from across the United States' affiliated Pacific Islands met in Yap, Micronesia this month for their annual collaboration meeting. From March 1-6, about 50 attendees took part in Yap Days cultural observances; field visits to forest, fire and watershed restoration sites; and coordination meetings with partners in the USDA Forest Service, Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) and [read more]
Blog submitted by Sarah C. Gracey, urban forestry coordinator with the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF). Kentucky's successful urban and community forestry project “Increasing Rural Community Wealth and Environmental Health in SW VA and SE KY Coal Counties” was funded as a USDA Forest Service State & Private Forestry organization competitive grant in 2011. In partnership with the [read more]
Blog submitted by Julie Coop, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Greening the Gateway Cities program (GGC) is a multi-agency partnership designed to reduce household heating and cooling energy use by increasing tree canopy cover in urban areas. Supporting groups include the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the Department [read more]
Wisconsin's high quality hardwoods, beautiful pines and skilled workforce helped the state secure the top ranking nationwide in wood furniture manufacturing employment. While other states saw wood furniture industry employment decline, Wisconsin manufacturers increased employment slightly, to 4,144 in 2013, up from 4,040 in 2011, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [read more]
Blog submitted by Daisy Masela Talatau, Urban & Community Forestry Program Coordinator. Talatau works for the Forestry Division at American Samoa Community College's Land Grant Community and Natural Resources. American Samoa's urban and community forestry projects help sustain green spaces; stabilize and beautify urban, village and coastal areas; promote soil conservation; control invasive species; and preserve indigenous trees and forest resources as sources of food, [read more]
