Coordinator’s Corner — Budget planning (and a sneak preview of 2020 urban forestry grants)

While summer is a season for quite a lot of field-based urban forestry work, it is also the season when many managers begin to dig into budgeting activities for the upcoming year. Budgeting is made easier when you have a plan in place, ideally, a city-wide tree management plan that directs near-term and future actions. …

State Asks Residents to Check Trees for Invasive Pests in August

This news release has been reprinted with permission from the Washington Invasive Species Council and the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. OLYMPIA– The Washington Invasive Species Council is asking residents to check trees and swimming pools in their yards for harmful bugs as part of the national Tree Check Month in August. August is …

Faces of Urban Forestry: Karen Black Jenkins

Name: Karen Black Jenkins Title: Tree Board Member (volunteer), City of White Salmon Favorite Tree: I don’t have one favorite tree, but generally the right tree in the right place. I do have a soft spot in my heart for a mature sycamore in an urban setting, a giant sequoia preserved in a neighborhood, and …

Announcing the “Rooted in Puget Sound” Campaign

The Nature Conservancy in Washington is excited to share an opportunity to engage in the “Rooted in Puget Sound” campaign, which was officially launched on July 17, 2019. This campaign connects people across the Puget Sound region to the importance of our urban tree canopy and motivates people and communities to participate in tree planting …

Protecting Trees During Construction: A seminar for planning and code enforcement staff

Trees are important assets in our communities with well-established economic, environmental, and social benefits; however, trees are vulnerable to negative impacts from construction activities. A new seminar from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ Urban Forestry Program, “Protecting Trees During Construction,” will provide a review of urban development processes and explore common strategies used …

Coordinator’s Corner — June

It’s development season. You may know where, but do you know how your community’s street trees are being planted? When we plant trees, we assume that they will become community assets that provide a plethora of benefits, but if not planted and maintained correctly, trees can grow into community liabilities. Trees intended to provide benefits, …

Faces of Urban Forestry: Charlie Vogelheim

Name: Charlie Vogelheim Title: Green Cities Project Manager, Forterra Favorite Tree: I find ginkgo trees to be fascinating: the fact that they are living fossils, disease resistant, beautiful fall foliage, and have bizarre leaves. What is involved in your work of managing Green City Partnerships? The Green Cities Partnerships are a coordinated effort within regional …