This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will continue to offer our seminar series virtually. In the past, we covered the same topic 8 times traveling throughout the state to present in each region. This year, given how accessible online presentations are, we are changing our seminar format up a bit. We will offer a total of four urban and community forestry seminars on three separate topics. Below is the schedule and registration information:

Urban Forestry Re-Engagement
Tuesday, May 25, 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT
Register Here
Tree City communities, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss! 

Invasive Urban Forest Pests Roundtable
Tuesday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT
Register Here
*Certified Arborist CEU’s are being sought for this Seminar topic

Manual for Standards in Practice: Urban & Community Forestry
Tuesday, August 17, 9:00-11:00 a.m. PT 
Register Here
AND
Wednesday, September 22, 9:00-11:00 a.m. PT
Register Here
**Certified Arborist CEU’s are also being sought for this Seminar topic

To discover what will be presented at each seminar, please read the summaries below:

Urban Forestry Re-Engagement
Tuesday, May 25, 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT
Register Here

Last fall, DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program conducted almost 40 check-in calls with cities throughout Washington and learned that many communities felt a general disconnection with their Urban Forestry volunteers, residents and city leadership as a result of Covid-19. The complete presentation of findings from those calls can be found on our latest recorded meeting here, and we’ll briefly go over the findings in the May 25th seminar.

During this seminar, we provide examples of successful urban forestry projects from the last year and also provide examples of alternative online engagement options. The Arbor Day Foundation will join us to speak on the updates to the 2021 Tree City, Line and Campus recognition program, particularly covering the Requirement 4&5 updates, as well as showcasing their communications toolkit and other engagement materials that are available for communities to use throughout the year.

If you’re a Tree City, Line or Campus USA Community, tree non-profit, tree board member, or city admin—you won’t want to miss this seminar.

Invasive Urban Forest Pests Roundtable
Tuesday, June 22, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT /1:00-3:00 p.m. EST
Register Here

City trees lead difficult lives—from having to survive in compacted soils to combating the effects of climate change.  Reasons for tree decline in cities can be multifaceted, ranging from real-estate development to pests and disease. Join DNR Urban & Community Forestry Program and the Washington Invasive Species Council for an Urban Forest Pest Roundtable, where we will hear from numerous speakers on newly evolving updates of the emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly and Mediterranean oak borer:

  • Spotted lanternfly: Spotted lanternfly is a highly destructive insect that has appeared in several states on the east coast. A skilled hitchhiker, it is quickly moving its way West. Joshua Milnes, Washington State Department of Agriculture, will present on what this pest threatens, and what’s being done to control and stop its spread.
  • Emerald Ash Borer: Many of us are familiar with the emerald ash borer, which has steadily been making its way West since its introduction in Michigan in 2002. But are you aware of the recent federal domestic deregulation of the invasive borer? Herb Bolton will discuss what regulatory actions the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has ended since deregulation and about the continuation of the APHIS EAB program for biological control.
  • Mediterranean Oak Borer: New pests are regularly detected throughout the United States that can lead to outbreaks in urban areas. Recently, in 2019, a new invasive borer was discovered in California. David Pegos and Curtis Ewing, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento and CALFIRE will share what we need to know about this emerging oak borer called the Mediterranean oak borer (MOB).

**Certified Arborist CEU’s are being sought for this Seminar.

If you’re a city Forester, Arborist, Master Gardner, Tree Board member, or concerned tree-lover, you won’t want to miss this seminar.

This seminar is part of our ongoing work to improve response readiness for detections of new urban forest pests through Washington’s Urban Forest Pest Readiness Project. Additional materials and information can be found here: invasivespecies.wa.gov/projects/pest-ready/

Manual for Standards in Practice: Urban & Community Forestry
Tuesday, August 17, 9:00-11:00 a.m. PT /12:00-2:00 p.m. EST
Register Here
AND
Wednesday, September 22, 9:00-11:00 a.m. PT /12:00-2:00 p.m. EST
Register Here

Join us for a seminar that will discuss everything you need to know to begin creating or updating an urban forestry standards in practice manual for your community. An urban forest manual can be used concurrently with your municipal or country tree code. Manuals help staff, contractors and volunteers ensure that tree design, planting, pruning, removal and maintenance requirements and standards are understood easily and executed properly.

Urban forestry manuals allow city foresters, arborists or admin to quickly implement best management practices − widely accepted practices and standards used by industry professionals and based on the best available research. These standards should be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary. This seminar will be a good opportunity to reflect on what may need updating if your community has already adopted a manual and will also go over the basic tenants recommended for inclusion if your city is beginning to draft an urban forestry manual.

**Certified Arborist CEU’s are being sought for this Seminar.

If you’re a city Forester, Arborist, admin, Tree Board member, or planner you won’t want to miss this opportunity.