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Welcome to the '22 Summer Issue of Urban Tree Talk!

Stay cool under your favorite shade tree, and read on for the latest news, resources, and events.

- AZ Department of Forestry & Fire Management

From your Urban and Community Forestry Team

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Early Summer Tree Care for Established Trees


As we head into the final weeks before summer monsoons, be mindful of the extreme drought conditions our state is experiencing.


 Trees are living parts of our community so be sure to monitor them weekly for any signs of stress from lack of available water!


Here are our recommended best practices for giving your established trees an extra drink if you can. 

Watering Tips & Resources
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Summer Insect Activity


Many insects become more active this time of year. Now is the best time to manage Oystershell Scale populations (pictured above), and monitor Bark Beetle activity for fall and winter treatment.

Click Here for More Information


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Applications are due by July 29, 2022.

The 2022 Invasive Plant Grant is OPEN! 


This DFFM Grant Program supports cooperative management of non-native invasive plants that threaten and are capable of transforming plant communities in forests, woodlands, and rangeland throughout Arizona.  Click below for full details and please share widely with folks working to eradicate invasive species in the state! 

View Full Details
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Our Team is Growing - 

Meet Viri Quinonez!


"I am excited to be the new Forest Health Technician! In this role I will be assisting the agency with our forest health programs, evaluating forest health and monitoring for damage across the state, as well as the exciting task of completing aerial detection surveys. I enjoy seeing and learning new things and making connections."


We're so excited to have Viri on our team! 

AZ UCF Team in the News

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Cronkite News -

Forest health in Arizona: Stressed by drought and pests, trees are losing resilience to changing climate.

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Cronkite News 

Buffelgrass: The scourge of the Sonoran Desert is here to stay.

 

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Arizona Highways -Great Big Trees





Check out these articles featuring our team and their work! 


Northern District Update


In each newsletter, we feature news from one of our Forestry Districts. This go-around, Brece Hendrix shares what they've been up to on the Northern side of the state. Lots of projects and partnerships in progress! 

Read More
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Tree City and Tree Campus Highlights! 

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Tree Care Training for Yuma Staff


Espy Matlock, Grounds Supervisor at the City of Yuma, consistently advocates for his staff to receive tree training opportunities. DFFM hosted a Tree Care and Maintenance class for 15 staff members, covering topics from proper planting, watering, and pruning, all the way to wildlife precautions, pests and disease.


Thank you Yuma for your continuous dedication to your canopy! 


Left: Photos of City of Yuma Staff during the Tree Care Workshop

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Below: Photo from MCC Tree Campus Ceremony & Arbor Day Celebration! Photo Credit: Nader Shakerin, Adjunct Faculty, Engineering at MCC.

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Mesa Community College becomes the first Arizona Community College to obtain Tree Campus Recognition!


We are so proud of what MCC has accomplished. With over 1100 trees of more than 100 species on campus - all of which are inventoried, measured, and incorporated into their curriculum - we could not be more excited to see them recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation! Check out their Plant List, Tree Map and Events on their Arboretum webpage.


Learn more about Arbor Day Foundation Programs at arborday.org

Also in Mesa.... 


The West Mesa River Community Heat Action Project, a recent initiative of the Rio Reimagined partnership, is focused on addressing heat mitigation along the eastern reach of the Salt-Gila River corridor through Metropolitan Phoenix.


The project was featured in the most recent Urban Forest Connections, a webinar hosted by the US Forest Service, titled Engaging Community Residents in Heat Mitigation and Canopy Expansion. Watch the recording and sign up for future webinars here.

Grant and Cost-Share Opportunities


DFFM Invasive Plant Grant Program - mentioned above, and again! Click the link for full details. Applications due July 29, 2022. 


USDA Urban Agriculture Grants Program - for planning and implementation projects focused on urban agriculture, including agroforestry, food forests and more. Applications accepted via grants.gov, due July 20th, 2022.


National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) -America the Beautiful Challenge - for conservation and restoration projects across the US. Proposals due July 21st, 2022. 


The APS Community Tree Program - ongoing grant for community-based tree planting projects in high need areas within the APS service territory.


DFFM Bark Beetle Reduction Cost Share Program a cost share program to help homeowners pay for the removal of actively infested bark beetle trees. This program 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.


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

Summer Webinars, Trainings and Events


June 24th - Pest Management for Trees - In-person Training, Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Community Tree Council (ACTC)


June - October -  Mesquite Artisan Training for Climate-Resilient Management of Mesquite Savannas and Woodlands in Southern Arizona: Creating Jobs for a Restoration Economy - Free In-person Workshops, Patagonia, AZ - Borderlands Restoration Network 


July 5th - Cultivating Native Edible Landscapes - Free In-person Workshop, Tucson AZ - Watershed Management Group


July 12th - "Summer watering: Is this enough water?" - Free Virtual Fruit Tree Classes by Greg Peterson


July 13th - Dan Halsey Agroforestry Initiatives - Free Virtual Webinar - ACTC 


September 15-16th - ACTC's Annual Conference & Pest Management Workshop - In-person, Prescott, AZ - ACTC

Heat Related Resources


Be sure to stay hydrated, avoid excessive activity during the hottest hours of the day, and prepare accordingly before venturing outside.


Arizona Emergency Information Network - Extreme Heat


National Weather Service Arizona Heat Awareness website (English)


National Weather Service Arizona Heat Awareness website (Spanish)

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School's Out? Spend time with trees!

Project Learning Tree has an assortment of Activities for Families for kids from 3-15 years old. Whether you visit a forest, explore a local park, or get to know your own backyard - there are some great ideas to engage your kiddos in some outdoor learning over the summer! 


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.)


Urban & Community Forestry, Forest Health, and Invasive Plant Programs Staff:

John Richardson, Assistant State Forester - Forestry Programs

[email protected]

(602) 771-1420


Cori Dolan, Program Manager

[email protected]

(520) 262-5519


Wolfgang Grunberg, GIS Coordinator 

[email protected]

(602) 399-1886


Willie Sommers, Invasive Plant Program Coordinator

[email protected]

(602) 319-6818


Aly McAlexander, Forest Health Specialist

[email protected]

(602) 290-9644


Viri Quinonez

Forest Health Technician

[email protected]

(480) 349-7585


LoriAnne Barnett, Urban Forestry Specialist

[email protected]

(602) 399-9447


Megan Lasley, Conservation Education Coordinator

[email protected]

(602) 206-9830 


Suggestions or comments? We want to hear from you!

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


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