The Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science and USDA Northern Forests Climate Hub are offering the Adaptation Planning and Practices training as an online course for forest and natural resource managers.
We are encouraging projects from the Midwest and Northeast US related to:
Forests
Forest watersheds
Urban forests
Interested? Please register online by December 20, 2019. ADVOCACY:Minneapolis Forestry Coordinator Positions at Risk
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is currently working through the 2020 budget process. Of concern to all MnSTAC members, particularly those living in Minneapolis is the possibility of losing some or all funding for three Forestry Coordinator positions. The proposed MPRB Superintendent’s Budget for 2020 would like to use funds already earmarked for these positions to help fund a new, unbudgeted $1.5 million “ideation” project that would create computer classrooms at two Park Board locations.
The three existing Forestry Coordinators focus on: 1. Tree preservation in construction projects, 2. Volunteer engagement and, 3. Tree diversity, forest health and sustainability. As professionals, we know how essential these services are important to growing the benefits that our urban trees provide. The work provided by these Coordinators is essential to the Forestry department’s efforts at EAB management, forest sustainability, forest diversity, public outreach, tree planting and other tasks too numerous to mention but play an important role in maintaining a healthy urban forest.
If you are a Minneapolis resident, we ask that you contact your MPRB district commissioner and voice your support for continued full funding of these coordinator positions. The MPRB meets at 5:00 on November 20 to discuss their proposed 2020 budget. The meeting will be held at Park Board Headquarters, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis. The meeting is open to public comment. A list of Park Board Commissioners and their contact information can be found at the MPRB website. ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTSYour assistance needed:The Nature Conservancy is working with a GIS course at the University of St. Thomas to create a web-based tool that will help municipal foresters and stakeholders in determining where new trees could be planted. If you are willing to share your: Ash Inventory, Complete Street Tree Inventory and/or last three years’ worth of tree planting data, those would all be helpful in fine tuning this tool.
MNSTAC November Forum: Research Perspectives on Health & Establishment of Different Nursery Production Methods Presented by: Michael Bahe and Daniel Wattenhofer, Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota Date & Time: Thursday, November 21, 2019 @ 10:00-11:00 am Location: Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55417
FREE Emerald Ash Borer Field Workshops
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) staff will be leading free EAB Field Workshops in Rockville (near St. Cloud). These hour-long outdoor workshops will provide an opportunity to get a firsthand look at EAB-infested trees and will assist the community in becoming familiar with early detection.
Monday, December 2 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Monday, December 2 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Monday, December 2 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Tuesday, December 3 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Tuesday, December 3 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Tuesday, December 3 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Registration is available at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab or by calling 651-201-6097
Trees in the Urban Environment Date & Time: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 @ 8:00am - 5:00pm Location: Eagan, MN Presented by:
Faith Appelquist - Owner of Tree Quality in St Paul, Minnesota
Manuel Jordán - Owner, Heritage Shade Tree Consultants and Partner of Plant Health Doctors
Webinars
Emerald Ash Borer University, Fall 2019 Webinar series Next webinar in the series: The Unusual Case of Minnesota and EAB
Val Cervenka, MN DNR; Brian Palik, USDA Forest Service, N. Research Station, Grand Rapids, MN; Paul Dubuque, MN DNR Wednesday, November 20, 2019 @ 10:00 am Central
