March is a great time to prune trees. While pruning can be done at any time during the year, new growth is maximized, wound closure is fastest, and pest risks are lowest if pruning takes place before spring growth. Correctly pruning a tree lengthens its life and increases its value, however poor pruning—especially "topping"—can lead [read more]
West Virginia University (WVU) researchers and the West Virginia Division of Forestry have teamed up to better understand and communicate the significant economic and environmental impacts of urban and community tree canopy cover across the state. Greg Dahle, associate professor of arboriculture and urban forestry in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and [read more]
The Nomination Period is Now Closed. Recognize national-level excellence in forestry! The National Association of State Foresters is now accepting nominations for the 2017 NASF Awards. 2017 NASF Award categories include: Michael Buck Outstanding Service Award for Forest Public Policy Pete Anderson Current Achievement Award for Fire Protection Ken Arney Current Achievement Award for Forest [read more]
Arbor Day has always been one of those holidays loyally celebrated by some and yet completely unknown to others. It’s time to change that. This year the National Association of State Foresters and the Arbor Day Foundation are asking you to submit information about your local Arbor Day celebration to be included on a cool [read more]
With 2017 just around the corner, now is the time to start planning an Arbor Day celebration in your community. Ideas for celebrations and ready-to-use resources are available through the Arbor Day Foundation to help you get ready, including: Ways to celebrate the tree-planting holiday. The history of national Arbor Day. Ideas for inspiring your school or [read more]
Trees and forests built America and are essential for the nation’s growth and success. State forestry agencies are poised to support the new presidential administration. The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is pleased to provide the Donald Trump Administration and Congress with recommendations for capitalizing on the benefits of trees and forests. Trees and [read more]
City planners and urban foresters now have a resource to more precisely select tree species whose growth will be a landscaping dream instead of a maintenance nightmare. The U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station recently published a technical manual and launched the most extensive database available cataloging urban trees with their projected growth tailored to specific geographic regions. [read more]
By Emily Bazydlo Looking for a fun an innovative way to teach youth to identify plant pests and diseases in their communities? Check out Plant Heroes, an educational campaign by the American Public Gardens Association with support from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Serivce and Forest Service, offers free downloadable educational materials with fun characters [read more]
By Emily Bazydlo The ecologically valuable Anacostia River in Maryland and Washington, DC, once known widely for high levels of pollution, is recovering thanks to the power of local partnerships. A main source of pollution in the Anacostia is stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff is rainfall that flows over the ground surface and is the number [read more]
Urban and community forests provide essential benefits we cannot live without. My Tree—Our Forest®, NASF's urban and community forestry campaign, aims to increase public understanding about the benefits that healthy forests offer to communities across the United States and the role that state forestry agencies play in protecting the nation’s urban trees. Download the new My Tree—Our Forest fact sheet for [read more]
