Welcome to the '22 Fall Issue of Arizona's Urban Tree Talk!

As temperatures cool, our tree activities ramp back up - we have SO much to share! 

- AZ Department of Forestry & Fire Management (DFFM)

DFFM Sends Phoenix Arborist to Women's Tree Climbing Workshop! 

Our Urban and Community Forestry team was excited to sponsor Celina McGregor, a local female arborist, to attend the ISA Western Chapter Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop in Colorado!

With urban trees providing our communities with numerous health and environmental benefits, it’s time to bring more people and more awareness to the tree care industry in Arizona. The UCF team aims to continue directing funding to sponsoring professional development opportunities for folks like Celina who are outside caring for our canopy every day. 

Invasive Plant Online Resources

Willie Sommers, our Invasive Plant Program Coordinator, compiled a list of three online resources for invasive plant species identification and management in Arizona. Check it out!

A journal article published in July in the Journal of Forestry describes the process researchers used to identify the urban forests in the US having the greatest cumulative threats. They found the highest risk was to urban forests on the east coast, while western urban forests are also becoming more at risk of decline from stressors such as temperature, pests, and wildfire.

This information will help urban foresters and decision makers develop adaptation plans for proper tree selection and planting to sustain healthy and functional urban forests into the future.

Bark beetles are very small insects that damage trees by feeding and tunneling underneath the bark of a tree. This disrupts the flow of nutrients in the tree and often leads to needle discoloration - and with a severe enough infestation, tree mortality. Signs and symptoms of a bark beetle infestation include pitch tubes along the bole of a tree, frass collecting in the crevices of the bark, and discoloration of needles usually starting at the top of a tree. Bark beetles not only target conifers but also juniper, cedar, and cypress trees here in Arizona. 

Property assessments for the Bark Beetle Reduction Cost Share Program are taking place this fall. As bark beetles begin to overwinter, it is recommended to remove actively infested trees during this time while they are dormant. 

Removing actively infested trees help reduce the spread of bark beetle infestation, promote a healthy forest, and reduce wildfire risk. The Bark Beetle Reduction Cost Share program aims to assist private landowners remove actively infested trees by paying 50% of the cost of tree removal. Homeowners are welcome to sign up on our waitlist, as properties are being visited on a first-come first-serve basis this fall. If you suspect bark beetle activity on your property, sign up here.

Please read the Bark Beetle Reduction Cost Share program homeowner's handout for more information on the program.

*Now Open* 

Community Challenge Grants

DFFM Community Challenge Grants are accepting new applications! This is an exciting funding opportunity for projects that promote and enhance the quality of Arizona’s urban and community forests.

The theme for this year's Community Challenge Grant is "Using Technology for Management and Maintenance of Trees". Technology takes an assortment of forms and can be used to serve many purposes - examples include (but are not limited to) forecasting trends, conducting inventories, optimizing efficiency, and scheduling/tracking activities. What problems are you facing in the maintenance and management of your community trees, and what types of technology can provide solutions to those challenges?