Trees in the Time of Coronavirus Issue |  April  2020
Community Tree Connections
The Newsletter of Oregon's Urban & Community Forestry 
Assistance Program

Gladstone residents and staff recently planted their Hiroshima Peace tree by following ODF's planting and protection instructions while maintaining the necessary physical distance to discourage COVID19 transmission.

   (Photo: N. Eichensteadt)


Deadlines and Dates for upcoming events, awards, and grants
 
P lease see articles at right re. Arbor Day celebrations and Tree City and Tree Campus requirements.

Oregon Arbor Week  is traditionally observed the first full week in April; this year it will be  April 5-11, 2020.

National Arbor Day is  April 24th, 2020.

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Grant Opportunity!

Urban Agroforestry RFP (click the link for info)
Proposals are due by June 1, 2020

The USDA National Agroforestry Center is requesting proposals to substantially expand and accelerate the availability of information to support decisions on the adoption and design of urban agriculture that includes agroforestry practices.  No matching funds required! Budgets should be between $25K to $50K. Applicants can include nonprofits, local governments, Tribal governments, and schools that serve any grades from kindergarten through 12th grade.

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SAVE THE DATES:

CANCELED for 2020
Oregon Annual Urban and Community
Forestry Conference
  (See article, right)

                ***
Tree Plotter Inventory LIVE Webinars for Oregon Cities!
May 7 and May 14, 2020
1:30-2:30 pm
(See article, right)

                ***
These fall events are  currently  still scheduled

PNW-ISA Chapter -  Annual  Training Conference
Coeur D'Alene, ID
Oct 4-7, 2020
for more information go  HERE 

                ***
Partners in Community Forestry Conferenc e
Louisville, Kentucky
November 18-19, 2020
Presentation applications are still being accepted until April 15th!

Attention
(ISA-Certified)
 Arborists!
 
Your questions answered (by the ISA):

What if I am due to renew my ISA certification in the next 30-60 days and cannot attain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) due to event cancellations?
ISA is extending those recertification periods by an additional 120 days to allow for more flexibility. We encourage credential holders to seek CEU opportunities available online .   
 
If I am an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ) credential holder with expiration date within the next 6 months and was schedule to attend an event that is now cancelled, will my credential expire?
You should receive a communication directly from the ISA and your credential expiration date will be extended by an additional 6 months

Ongoing CEU Opportunities

PNW-ISA classes on tree care.  For upcoming classes go HERE.

Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series. USDA Forest Service Research (2nd Wednesdays of the month) - Info, registration, and class descriptions  HERE You can view past webinars too.

Learn at Lunch Webinars
Due to recent staffing changes, Utah State University Extension will not be hosting new webinars after Feb 2020. However, a large archive of past webinars, going back about 8 years!, can be found   HERE 
 
Tree Fund Webinars
Perhaps the least well known of urban forestry webinars, these presentations are excellent! They have just added several upcoming CEU-offering webinars to the list! Info, registration, archive, and class descriptions  HERE

Trees Encountered Recently While Walking a Dog in Salem, OR
(Can YOU name them all?)

(A)


(B)


(C)


(D)


(E)


Answers*:
(A) Mount Fuji Japanese cherry (a.ka. Prunus 'Shirotae')
(B) Norway maple (cv unknown)
(C) Crabapple (cv unknown)
(D) Red Horsechestnut (cv unknown)
(E) Pacific madrone

* If you have additional or corrective info on these trees, please let us know.


Other links of interest: 
 
Have you noticed a lot of storm water runoff and flooding this year? This is a reminder that you can learn about Low Impact Development from OSU Extension's  online course Green Infrastructure Solutions Across the Urban Rural Continuum
 
If your city has instituted Green Infrastructure planning, projects, policies, or regulations, please let us know. To help them promote the benefits of urban forestry, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) is interested in knowing about cities using green infrastructure/Low Impact Development. 
Contact Kristin.
Quick Links
Oregon Heritage Trees
Contact Us
Kristin Ramstad 
Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager
503-945-7390
Katie Lompa
Community Assistance Forester
541- 480-3790

About
Community Tree Connections (CTC) is a periodic publication by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program. Our mission is to help Oregonians improve their quality of life by promoting community investment in our urban forests. Subscriptions to this newsletter are free and available by contacting ODF. CTC is published in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Connect with Us
"No place like home..." an Unusual Tree Stump in Salem
Dear Tree Friends,

When the first spring issue of this newsletter was emailed to you last month, we were all still bumping elbows. Now, we are trying to be at least 6 ft apart, wearing masks, and mindful of everything we touch... We hope you're hanging in there during these strange days. Although we need to keep a distance from each other, we can all still hug a tree.

Fortunately, we are all "tree people" who know how get outside and appreciate our arboreal neighbors. For fun, please enjoy our little tree quiz near the bottom of the left column.

The ODF-UCF Assistance Program is open for business, but we are "staying home saving lives," like most of you. We are still reaching out to cities, answering questions, and meeting via video-conferencing. Get in touch! You also may be hearing from us as we update our files with your city's information. Does your town have a new community forestry management plan or tree ordinance? Please let us know.

As part of the national COVID-19 response, the PNW Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture is reminding governments to consider  tree care companies and arborists as "essential" workers for the work they do directly related to public safety Essential tree care services can be placed in three categories: protection of infrastructure, maintaining public safety, and protection against the spread of invasive and injurious pests.  Such activities may include removal of a high-risk tree, pruning of dead, dying or dangerous limbs, road safety clearance, mitigating storm damage, emergency response readiness, utility line clearance, and treatment for invasive insects. For more information, read this article.

Thank you to Sam Wolf, Morgan Holen, Katie Lompa, Nancy Eichensteadt, Jim Gersbach, and others who helped with writing articles and providing photos for this issue.

Be brave, have hope, and take care of yourselves.

Kristin Ramstad & Katie Lompa
Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program (ODF-UCF)

P.S. If this newsletter has been forwarded to you, and you would like to subscribe, please visit the U&CF Program Webpage

The 2020 Annual Urban & Community 
Forestry Conference is canceled.

PLAN TO ATTEND 
the  2021 Oregon Urban & Community 
Forestry Conference!
"Water-Wise Community Forests: 
Strategies for  Oregon's Future" 
Thursday, June 3, 2021
World Forestry Center, Portland

The Conference Committee has made the gut-wrenching decision to
A Water-Wise Strategy: "Tree-Gators," or locating a water-filled 5 gal bucket with a few nail holes in the bottom over tree roots, can deliver water slowly to young trees during dry months.
postpone the June 2020 U&CF conference until 2021. This seems like the most prudent choice given our uncertain future with the coronavirus i n Oregon over the next few months.

Instead of rescheduling the conference in the fall, as many other organizations are doing with their spring and summer events, the committee has chosen to simply postpone this conference "as is" for next year - and will feature most of the same presenters next June. If you have registered for the conference already, you will receive a refund shortly. Sponsors will be contacted by someone from the sponsorship committee -- sponsors may request a refund of their sponsorship, or have it applied to next year's conference.  We h ope to see you next June!
Echo Tree Inventory
Why You Should Consider
Inventorying your City's Trees NOW!

As the national and local economies recover from the ravages of the current pandemic, cities may be looking for items to cut out of their operating budgets.  The data from a tree inventory is the best way to make a compelling case for continuing and sustainable funding for your community forestry program. 

ODF-UCF is making available to Oregon cities
free Tree Plotter Inventory software by PlanIT Geo.
We invite you to get involved!
  • Start by reading the FAQ document (PDF) located near the top of the ODF-UCF webpage.
  • After reading the FAQ, check out the instructional videos on the PlanIT Geo website, such as this one: Getting to Know Tree Plotter Inventory
  •  Next, register for our upcoming, free, LIVE instructional Zoom webinars with PlanIT Geo staff on May 7  and May 14, 1:30-2:30. (Use the date links to register for each webinar separately.) The May 7th webinar will start slightly beyond the "basics" covered in the "Getting to Know Tree Plotter Inventory" video. The May 14th webinar will cover software attributes not covered on May 7th, and will also feature a Q&A session with participants.
  • If you would like to fool around with the software on a demo site,or have other questions, please contact Kristin.
With a tree inventory of your city, ODF-UCF staff can help you  make the case for funding a community tree program in your town.
2019 Oregon Tree City of the Year winner - Corvallis! Jon Pywell and Jennifer Killian with Corvallis Parks.
2020 Urban Forestry Award Winners!

Each year, OCT and ODF-UCF recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations, and the "Oregon Tree City of the Year" for their leadership and accomplishments in advancing urban and community forestry projects in Oregon. These award recipients are powerful examples of Oregonians engaging citizens, promoting tree planting and quality tree care,  and raising awareness and knowledge about Oregon's trees and forests. Their work helps protect Oregon's urban and community forests and improve the quality of life in towns and cities around the state. 

2020 award recipients are: 
Individual Award: Garry Black Philomath Public Works
Individual Award: Rachel  Munzig, Portland Fruit Tree Project
Organization Award: Clackamas River Basin Council
President's Award: Scott Altenhoff, Eugene Urban Forestry
Tree City of the Year: City of Grants Pass

Gratitude and congratulations to all!
Green Legacy Hiroshima Peace Trees UPDATE

UCF program manager, Kristin Ramstad, and OCT Director and ODF PIO, Jim Gersbach, plant a Peace Tree at the Oregon Dept of Forestry. The tree will be dedicated at a later time.
Several Hiroshima Peace trees were planted and dedicated earlier this spring. Those Peace tree recipients who did not plant their trees prior to the statewide Covid19 restrictions, are advised to plant their trees now (without ceremony), and then to consider dedicating them appropriately later in the year. Jim Gersbach, a Public Information Officer at ODF and OCT Director, suggests several dates later in 2020 when it may be appropriate to dedicate a community's Peace Tree:
  • Thursday, Aug. 6 - the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
  • Saturday, Aug. 15 - the 75th anniversary of Japan announcing a cessation of hostilities in World War II (Emperor Hirohito's radio address to the people of Japan)
  • Wednesday, Sept. 2 - the 75th anniversary of Japan signing the instruments of surrender to the U.S. and Allies
  • Monday, Sept. 21 - International Peace Day, which is a United Nations-sanctioned observation first declared in 1981
  • Friday, Oct. 2 - International Day of Non-Violence, another UN observance
  • Saturday, Oct. 24 - 75th anniversary of founding of the United Nations
  • Tuesday, Nov. 10 - World Science Day for Peace and Development, UN sanctioned
Oregon Community Trees' Arbor Day Grants 
for Oregon Tree City USAs!   

[Excerpted from: 3/3/2020 ODF Press Release by Jim Gersbach:  Oregon Community Trees gives grants to 11 Oregon cities to help them hold tree-related events this spring. N ote: all of the planned  ceremonies have been rescheduled for later this year do the COVID-19 pandemic.]
 
Oregon Community Trees has awarded grants to 11 cities across Oregon to help them hold Arbor Week events this spring. Recipients of this year's grants are Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Hood River, La Grande, Lake Oswego, Newport, Rogue River, Salem, Sweet Home, Talent and Toledo. All 11 have earned and held the Tree City USA title for at least eight years and several for more than 30 years, reflecting their commitment to protecting and promoting urban trees to benefit their residents.
2019 - Retiring Echo City Manager, Diane Berry, reads instructions for an Arbor Day project to students. Echo received an Arbor Day grant in 2019.
 
Communities plan to the use the grants in various ways. La Grande, Rogue River and Talent are each planting a peace tree grown from seeds collected from ginkgo trees that survived the atom bombing of Hiroshima 75 years ago. At the same time, Talent will plant a few additional trees of Japanese origin in Chuck Roberts Park.  La Grande, which is celebrating 30 years as a Tree City USA, will be planting 40 other shade trees besides their peace tree. Tree plantings are also planned for Grants Pass, Happy Valley, Sweet Home and Salem.

Other activities funded by the grants include:  Hood River Tree Committee handing out information, and is conducting a raffle to win a free arborist and landscape design consultation;  Lake Oswego Parks and Recreation staff hosting a 10-mile bicycle tour to 20 of the city's oldest, largest and most prominent trees, with its grant paying for reusable signs highlighting each of the trees;  Newport buying tree-related books for the library, which will be on display with posters during Arbor Week;  Toledo's public library holding tree-themed activities for children, including a theatrical reading by local performers of The Lorax. The library will also benefit from new tree-related books.

Grants Committee Chair Morgan Holen of Oregon Community Trees  said the organization gave a combined total of more than $4,300 in grants this year, the largest amount in its history. One criteria for receiving an Arbor Week grant is being a Tree City USA for at least a year.
2015 Arbor Day Planting in Forest Grove
 
A Message from the Arbor Day Foundation for 2019 Tree City, Tree Campus, Tree Line USAs

"The celebration of Arbor Day is central to our mission as well as our recognition programs. These events bring communities together to plant and tend the trees that make our cities and towns fulfilling places to live. But this year, prudence must override our desire to celebrate-at least in the same place at the same time. We are waiving all aspects of Standard 4 in the Tree City USA program for 2020, both the observance and the proclamation. No documentation for Standard 4 will be required when a city applies at the end of this year.
 
"Some cities may choose to go through the process of passing a proclamation, just to keep Arbor Day and their city forestry program in front of city council, even though that proclamation might discourage any public gathering. We would accept this proclamation as part of a consent agenda or read aloud at a meeting, whichever you prefer. Plus, if the national situation settles down by fall and we get closer to normal operations, many cities might use a ceremonial tree planting to bring the community together again. In those cases, our application portal will still accept that content, but it is not required to complete the application."
 
We have heard wonderful creative ways Oregonians are maintaining their sense of community and celebrating their trees while practicing physical distancing!  Let us know what your city has done and is planning to do.  Are you looking for ways to celebrate the trees that make up your urban forest in a fashion that does not require groups to physically gather?  For inspiration, take a look at the list the Arbor Day Foundation has recently created and posted, Alternative Celebration Ideas  .
Your "Click of Trees" *
     
Your "reward" for reading all the way down a lo-o-o-ng newsletter. Here are some links to an interesting tree feature(s) on the web. (As always, thanks to P. Farrell and others for providing these suggestions.)

Conifer is Top Tree in Urban Sound Absorption Test  - hint: it's not about the leaves!

Money trees: U.S. cities find new ways of valuing urban forests - should cities treat trees as utilities, given the benefits they provide?

Journeying into the Depths of Europe's Oldest Primeval Forest "Straddling the border of Poland and Belarus, this protected forest-Białowieza-is Europe's largest surviving remnant of primeval jungle..."

Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Take Time to Reconnect with Nature -- "experiencing nature in a park, street, or even your backyard can significantly reduce your stress levels..."

Matsui, Sarbanes, Fortenberry Lead Bipartisan Effort to Help Homeowners Plant More Trees and Reduce Energy We need to keep track of this lest it be eclipsed by the COVID-19 response.

Finally, just for fun (and nothing to do with urban forestry), the  COVID DoReMi video

*Credit to OPB's online newsletter and "Click of Zen" feature.