Changing the Story of Heat in Metro Phoenix Together



The Nature Conservancy

Western UCF Committee Focuses on Workforce Development

Western Forestry Leadership Coalition

Google Environmental Insights Explorer - A free Tree Canopy tool for municipalities. If you are a city employee, you can create an account for early access to data for your community, including Tree Canopy Cover percentages!

Urban Wood Partner Empowerment Package - A toolkit designed to help contextualize and celebrate urban and community wood utilization, including links to resources, continuing educational opportunities, promotional films, social media assets, and more.

Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standards from Sustainable Forestry Initiative - the world’s first forest standard for communities promotes nature-based solutions and resilience to climate change. Applicable to cities and towns of all sizes, as well as corporate, hospital, and university campuses.

Urban Forests and Wildlife

Madeline Burton

Urban Forestry Specialist

Driving down paved streets surrounded by buildings, sidewalks, and alleyways can make it easy to separate cities from nature, but our communities do not exist outside of an ecological context. 

The fruit of trees, particularly native trees, are an important food source for local wildlife.

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., and rapid city expansion spills into the natural landscape. As the population increases, so does the need for intentional planning on behalf of urban foresters, planners, and policy-makers to maintain and preserve existing trees and other greenspace. Wildlife populations provide essential ecosystem services such as plant pollination, pest mitigation, and decomposition, as well as the fan favorite of bird watching.

The stressors of an urban environment on the ecosystem require proper management to increase positive interactions between people and wildlife. Adequate tree care is the first step in preserving and creating habitat by maintaining a healthy canopy and making management decisions cognizant of specific needs and restraints, such as breeding seasons, rules and regulations, and standards of care.  

While large-scale management is essential for maintaining a community’s relationship with nature and wildlife, personal action by community members fosters biodiversity and boosts positive wildlife interactions. Utilizing private property to assist wildlife can be done by addressing the basic needs of food, water, shelter, and space. It is recommended to mostly plant species native to your area since they are adapted to the environment and often provide high-value food and specific shelter needs. If your trees require maintenance and you see an active nest, or it is the breeding season, we recommend contacting a Wildlife Trained Arborist aware of wildlife regulations and best management practices.

For further reading on managing urban forests for wildlife, check out Urban Forests as Habitat for People and Wildlife from the USDA Forest Service.

Tree Care Professionals who are interested in learning more about Wildlife Best Management Practices and becoming a Wildlife Trained Arborist can attend a Tree Care for Birds and Wildlife workshop hosted by DFFM Staff, Tree Care for Birds, and Arizona Community Tree Council on November 8th at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, AZ. Check the AZ Community Tree Council website to register.

Non-native Insects Threaten Arizona’s Forests and Urban Trees

Mitchell Lannan

Forest Health Specialist

Non-native insects entering the state are a serious threat to both our wildland and urban forests. It is important to protect trees from the pests that have already made their way to Arizona, and keep an eye out for those on their way!

Figure 1: Map of MPE distribution in Arizona as of May 2023, showing evidence of their presence widely across the state.

The most serious non-native insect currently threatening trees in Arizona is the Mediterranean Pine Engraver (MPE). This pine-killing beetle was first found in Phoenix in 2018, likely arriving through the movement of wood packing products from neighboring states. A trapping program completed by the DFFM in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service discovered MPE in Tucson in May of 2021, and a national monitoring program identified the presence of MPE in Kingman, Topock, Pinetop-Lakeside, Superior, and Nogales in spring of 2023 (Figure 1). DFFM will continue to monitor the movement of this pest through Arizona, and provide the public with up-to-date information on management options. 

Other non-native insects such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Figure 2) continue to creep closer to our state; now found in the neighboring state of Colorado. DFFM will begin monitoring efforts for EAB in spring of 2024. Other non-native tree-killing insects that could soon arrive in the state are the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Spongy Moth, and Spotted Lanternfly. For more information on invasive insects threatening trees and ways to stop their spread, please visit our Forest and Woodland Health webpage or Don’t Move Firewood.  

Figure 2: Photo of an adult Emerald Ash Borer on a penny for size reference. They are about a half inch long with a green metallic body.

Non-native Insect Watchlist

• Mediterranean Pine Engraver (MPE)
• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
• Asian Longhorned Beetle
• Spongy Moth
• Spotted Lanternfly

If you suspect you’ve seen one of these non-native insects or would like more information, please reach out to us at foresthealth@dffm.az.gov or call 602.376.0056

Rock? I think not! Pictured is a seed ball ready for dispersal.

Seed balls are a method of seed dispersal and a drought resistant way to sow native plants in the Sonoran Desert, helping to restore land negatively impacted by invasive species and wildfire. Seed balls are a simple mixture of seed, clay, soil, and water. The clay protects seeds from desiccation by holding onto moisture and the soil provides nutrients for the budding plants to grow. When the mixture hardens, it also protects the encased seeds from bird and insect predation. It takes a good monsoon rain to melt the seed balls, which allows them to stay intact until conditions are prime for growth. 

If you are interested in bringing the Sonoran Desert to your backyard, you can make your own seed balls at home with this simple 1-2-3 mix ratio: 1 cup of seed, 2 cups of clay, and 3 cups of soil or compost. Thoroughly mix these three ingredients together in a big bowl- similar to making cookies- and then slowly add water until you get a dough-like consistency that you can mold into balls. Then dry the seed balls indoors for 2-3 days to give them plenty of time to harden before dispersal. Note: Drying seed balls outdoors can be faster, but you run the risk of wildlife taking them apart in search of a snack! When you are ready, you can disperse seed balls by throwing them by hand, using a slingshot, or even a dog ball launcher. Remember to be safe, plant native and grow on!

To learn more visit:

EcoRestore Portal

Sonoran Seed Collaborative

Having a ball: one organization's attempt to replant the desert

Pictured to the left is multiple tables covered in seed balls made by volunteers with Maricopa County.

Professional Classes and Conferences:

Southwest Vegetation Management Association Fall Conference - October 18-19th

- Phoenix, AZ

Equipment Safety Class - November 3rd - Glendale, AZ

Tree Care for Birds and Other Wildlife - November 8th - Superior, AZ

Tree Workers Workshop - November 17th - Chandler, AZ

ISA - Tree Workers Exam - November 18th - Chandler, AZ

Growing Water Smart: Integrated Water and Land Use Planning Workshop - January 22-24, 2024 - Phoenix, AZ - Workshop is for AZ counties and municipalities. Workshop is free, but applications are due October 20, 2023.

Community Events:

Mesquite Pancake Breakfast for Dinner - Trees Matter - October 20th - Phoenix, AZ

Chandler's Arbor Day - November 4th - Chandler, AZ

Volunteer with Trees Matter: Shade Tree Distribution - November 18th - Mesa, AZ

It's tree planting season! Contact your local non-profits and municipalities to see if any volunteer events are happening near you.

Webinars:

In case you missed it: Innovative Approaches to Establishing Trees in Harsh Environments

AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management Funding Opportunities - October 23rd

From Digital Inventories to Smart Tree Inventories - AI in Urban Tree Care - October 26th

Growing Next Generation Scientists and Advocates for Nature in Cities - November 8th

Thanks for reading!

The State of Arizona Urban and Community Forestry Program is made possible with assistance from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this

institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Suggestions or comments? We want to hear from you! Contact Megan Lasley, Forestry Outreach Coordinator at mlasley@dffm.az.gov