Urban Tree Talk: Spring Edition

Hello and welcome to the Spring Issue of Urban Tree Talk!

We're gearing up for spring activity as the trees are. Stay in the loop for the latest news, resources, and events!

- Urban and Community Forestry Program, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM)

From your Urban and Community Forestry Team

How to Stake Trees

Not all new trees need to be staked. So when do you stake a tree? And how do you do it correctly? Get tips from a pro!

Do it Right!

Forest Health

News

Data from our latest Aerial Detection Survey (ADS) identifying our most pressing threats, insects and diseases to forest health in Arizona.

Read the Report

olivia-with-a-large-fountain-grass-Nov-9-2020-wildhorse.jpg

An Invasive Plant Grant Project Engages Youth in Environmental Conservation

Learn about the Friends of Saguaro National Park's project Engaging Tucson Youth in Controlling Fountain Grass in Desert Stream Habitat.

Check it out

Eastern District Update

In each newsletter, we will feature news from one of our Forestry Districts! In this edition, Jon Orona shares what they've been up to on the Eastern side of the state - from hazardous fuels reduction to agroforestry projects.

"All Hands In" - Yuma youth on Arbor Day!

Celebrate 150 Years of Arbor Day with DFFM!

Please join us for the Annual State Arbor Day Celebration on April 22nd, 2022 from 11am-12pm

Celebrate with us virtually! Hear about the urban forestry action that took place over the last year, while looking forward to future collaborations and efforts. We hope it inspires you to "branch out!"

Arbor Day Celebrations around the State

Living Green: Trees Are Cool, Tree Care Workshop for Homeowners

April 30, 1:30-3pm

Mesa Red Mountain Branch Library

Celebrate Arbor Day and learn about the benefits of trees and how to properly select, plant, and maintain them for your landscape. An option to participate in a tree planting will follow the program!

Smucker Arbor Day

March 24th, 10 am - 1pm

Smucker Memorial Park

W 28th St & S Avenue A, Yuma, AZ

Plant trees for the community!

MCC Tree Campus Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Arbor Day

April 29th, 9am

Southern and Dobson Campus

1833 W. Southern Ave, Mesa

Celebrate Mesa Community College becoming a Tree Campus!

Reach out to your local municipality to see how they plan to celebrate!

Bark Beetle Reduction Cost Share Program -

a 50/50 cost share program funded by DFFM and the USDA Forest Service which helps homeowners pay for the removal of actively infested bark beetle trees.

The BBRCS program is currently paused but will resume in September, 2022. Homeowners are welcome to sign up on our waitlist, as properties will be visited on a first-come first-serve basis this fall.

Grant and

Cost- Share Opportunities

The APS Community Tree Program is a new program that offers grant funding to qualified organizations for community-based tree planting projects within the APS service territory, which stretches across 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties. Check out their page for more information on this awesome opportunity!

Community Challenge Grants and TREE Grants coming in the fall. Stay tuned!

Webinars and Events

Certified Arborist Trainings happening now through April 8th! Hosted by Arizona Community Tree Council - register for multiple or single classes.

The Nature of Cities Festival - Virtual, March 29th -31st - An annual experiment in multidisciplinary collaboration to radically reimagine cities that are better for nature and all people. Skills sessions, virtual field trips, sliding scale registration. They have it all!

The AZ DFFM Magnificent Tree Program Reboot - Virtual, March 31st -

Join us for an online presentation about our Magnificent Tree Program. We invite you to tune in to a zoom presentation on March 31st from 5:30-6:30pm for a program update! We'll share information about this year's nominations, provide a sneak peek into the Magnificent 7 for 2021, and provide details about how you can become a trained Magnificent Tree Verification Volunteer! Here is the link to register for the presentation.

Sonoran Seed Summit - April 5th - Hosted by the Sonoran Seed Collaborative at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. Join a collaborative discussion on strategies of native plant material development and conservation! Register by March 25th.

Predicting Restoration Outcomes: From Concept to Practice - Virtual, April 27th - Great Basin Fire Science Exchange hosts a discussion on how to handle notoriously unpredictable restoration outcomes in your project planning.

USDA's Forest Service "Urban Forest Connections" - A monthly webinar, with different panelists and discussions related to the series topic. Watch past recordings and sign up for future webinars!

Series 1, Spring 2022: Racial equity and environmental justice

Series 2, Summer 2022: Mitigating urban heat

Series 3, Fall 2022: Climate change resilience and adaptation

Tis the Season for Tree Planting!

In celebration of the 100 Year Anniversary of Emerson Elementary School, a special tree planting event was held. These trees will create shady places for kids to play and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Read more about the event's importance here. Congratulations to AZSA and Emerson Elementary School!

- Willie Sommers

For links to many different tree planting volunteer opportunities, check out Arizona Community Tree Council's Volunteer Webpage!

Make the Case!

With Arbor Day and Earth Month coming up, there's no better time than now to take action for your local ecosystems and urban forests. V ibrant Cities Lab makes it easy - check out their website for case studies, research, and a toolkit for action.

Thank you 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!

Email Megan Lasley, Conservation Education Coordinator at [email protected]

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