Fall Edition | September 2021 |
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How easy it is to ruminate on the complex challenges our world, our state, and our communities are facing. Climate change, job opportunities, equity and diversity, drought and wildfire, the surging Delta variant, and so much more can occupy the “real estate” in our brains. Many of you may be familiar with the bumper sticker, “Trees are the Answer.” For me, “Urban Forestry is an Answer” to many of the issues confronting our cities today.
First, whether the climate is making your town drier or wetter, the virtual Oregon Urban and Community Forestry Conference, Water Wise Community Forests: Strategies for our Future, will offer information and tips for water-wise strategies in your urban forest. Offering generous PNW-ISA, OLCB, SAF, ASCA, and CCB continuing education units, this Sept. 14-15 conference is great value at $70! To find out more, please visit the Oregon Community Trees webpage.
When it comes to heat and wildfires, a well-managed urban forest can reduce the urban heat island effect, especially when trees are both incorporated and cared for in areas with lower amounts of tree canopy. Recently American Forests launched its Tree Equity Score project which, health and census data, was able to create TES for several Oregon cities. Check out the map.
As for the Delta variant ... well, where better to hang out, suitably distanced, with friends and family than under dappled tree shade in a neighborhood park?
All the best,
Kristin Ramstad, Manager
ODF Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program
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2021 Tree waterer, Renee Lafawn Burden, Poland. |
It took decades but finally the urban forest is no longer being treated as a contradiction in terms and urban forestry is a viable career opportunity. A study called Urban Forestry 2020 states, “Urban forestry and urban forests are receiving more attention than ever thanks to accelerating interest in the benefits of urban forests and environmental management tools.” If you are interested in “the forest where we live”, now is the time to leap and fly! The urban forestry field is vast. Career paths are diverse and can lead to jobs in – to name a few - land use planning, environmental law, health and behavioral sciences, landscape architecture, environmental sciences, education, communication, and of course, arboriculture, and state or municipal forestry.
Six women on the Oregon Community Trees (OCT) board recently answered a few questions on their education, career paths, and experiences in urban forestry. Their inspiring words are found in the three articles that follow.
The OCT directors are Jennifer Killian, Urban Forester, City of Corvallis Oregon; Lauren Grand, Extension Forestry Agent, Oregon State University; Morgan Holen, Owner and Consulting Arborist, Morgan Holen & Associates, LLC; Samantha Wolf, Wetland/Soil Scientist, Cardno; Taylor Glass, Volunteer, and Program Specialist, Friends of Trees; and Teresa Gustafson, Urban Forester, City of La Grande Oregon.
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She flies with her own wings
| Oregon State Motto
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By Katie Lompa
Urban forestry. I got goosebumps when I first saw those words written together. It was the mid-’80s and when I knew I wanted to be an urban forester.
I learned that I shared a common feeling of enthusiasm with the OCT board of directors that I asked, “when did you know you wanted a career in urban forestry or an allied profession?”
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What they love about their jobs
1. Being present, focused, and productive.
2. Feeling respected, valued, and appreciated.
3. Being compensated through fair pay and benefits.
4. Understanding what motivates and inspires you.
5. Overall life satisfaction.
The ladies of Oregon Community Trees were asked what in their current job gives them the most satisfaction. Their responses suggest they are doing something they love and believe they are making a meaningful difference. Can you relate?
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Their advice
Are you thinking about or starting a career in urban forestry? As Teresa says, “you will be doing important work and will meet great people!” Even if you are already working with trees and people, please continue to read. I am sure you will glean a few good tips from the ladies.
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Sept. 14 - 15, 2021
ODF & OCT present Oregon Urban & Community Forestry Conference, Water Wise Community Forests: Strategies for our Future
(See article below.)
Sept. 14, 2021, noon CT
Long-term effects of electrical right-of-way vegetation management on floral and faunal communities
TREE Fund Webinar Series
Sept.15, 2021, 8:30-3:30 p.m. PT
Conservation Arboriculture - practical approaches to managing aging trees and reducing the crown and retaining the tree
PNW-ISA Online Workshop & Live Discussion
Sept. 26 - Oct. 1, 2021
Municipal Forestry Institute – an urban forestry leadership course (Society of Municipal Arborists)
Bowling Green, Ohio
Every fourth Tuesday on Zoom
Sept. 28 to Dec. 28, 2021, 2:30 p.m. PT
Oregon TreePlotterTM Inventory (TPI) Monthly Discussion Group
Oregon Department of Forestry Urban & Community Forestry Assistance Program
Oct. 1 – 29, 2021
Resilient Communities: People, Places & Trees
Pacific Northwest ISA virtual Annual Training Conference
Oct. 19, 2021, 12 p.m. CT
Digging into the Science of Tree Planting and Removing Packaging Materials
TREE Fund Webinar Series
Oct. 21 - 23, 2021
Bend, OR
League of Oregon Cities Annual Conference
Visit the ODF-UCF staff at their booth in the trade show!
Nov. 16, 2021, 12 p.m. CT
Growing Trees in Paved Sites
Tree Fund Webinar Series
Nov. 16, 2021
In-person and virtual event – Louisville, KY
Alliance for Community Trees Day 2021
Arbor Day Foundation
Nov. 17 – 18, 2021
In-person and virtual event – Louisville, KY
Partners in Community Forestry Conference 2021
Arbor Day Foundation
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Completely Arbortrary
Casey Clapp, dendrologist and Alex Crowson, tree skeptic
Entertaining discussions about trees and other related topics. Past podcasts are available on their website.
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International Red Cross Releases Heatwave Guide for Cities
This practical guide is designed with, and for, people working in city government to understand, reduce the risk of, and respond to, heatwaves in their cities.
ISA Conference Rewind series
Free podcasts and video presentations are available to all. Continuing education credits for a fee. Six, 50 minutes in length. Providing the tree care industry’s top researchers, educators, and practitioners and the most popular presentations from the ISA 2020 virtual conference.
Monthly, Second Wednesdays,
1:00-2:15 p.m. ET
Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series
(USDA Forest Service)
Free, monthly, 1+ hour webinars offering continuing education credits. Discussions on the latest science, practice, and policy on urban forestry and the environment. Past webinars are recorded and available on their website.
TREE Fund webinars
TREE Fund and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Free, 1-hour webinars offering continuing education credits. Discussions on the latest in tree research. Past webinars are recorded and available on their website.
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League of Oregon
Cities Conference
The staff of the ODF-UCF Program will be in Bend on Oct. 21-23 at the League of Oregon Cities Conference. Stop by our tradeshow booth to talk trees and urban forestry. Visit to learn how Oregon TreePlotterTM Inventory can help your city plan for climate change in the urban forest.
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Oregon TreePlotterTM Inventory
"The key to maintaining a sustainable and healthy urban forest is species and age diversity, proper tree maintenance, risk management, and community support. Planning an urban tree inventory informs and advances each of these aspects." - Alec Sabatini, PlanIT Geo
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Green Communities Leadership Institute
Courtesy of Alliance for Community Trees
The Green Communities Leadership Institute is a new leadership training opportunity for anyone who works in the urban natural resources and community planning fields. The first-ever Institute will be held in early 2022, with both online and face-to-face modules. The mission of the Institute is Growing Next-Level Leaders for Nature-Based Solutions. Applications for their first cohort are open now and close on Sept. 30, 2021. To learn more, read their info sheet or visit their website.
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Survey on social equity in tree planting
and greening projects
A research team based at North Carolina State University is working with the US Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and nonprofit partners on a study. They want to understand how organizations and cities include social equity in tree planting and greening projects (e.g., planting trees, developing parks, and designing other green infrastructure).
Social equity concerns, such as who gets trees and who doesn’t, are important as we discover the health benefits trees and green space offer. Their work is designed to address equity concerns and identify strategies for inclusive tree planting and greening programs, with the ultimate goal to help communities create equitable, healthy, and sustainable neighborhoods across the United States. Take this brief survey from NC State University.
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Soak It Week reminds Oregonians to water
their trees!
Oregon is in the grip of a deepening drought ranked as severe to exceptional in more than half the state. Our yard and street trees are particularly hard hit by the prolonged dryness. That’s why Trees for Life Oregon and Oregon Community Trees have again declared the last week in July and the last week in August as Soak It Week.
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Coping with drought and flood will be the focus of Oregon’s annual Urban Forestry conference
Oregon Community Trees, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry program, and USDA Forest Service are co-hosting this year’s annual Oregon Community Forestry Conference via Zoom on Sept. 14 and 15. The conference is titled “Water-Wise Community Forests: Strategies for our Future.”
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Here are Katie’s tips as you prepare to submit your application:
The Tree City USA (TCUSA) application portal is live! Wednesday, Dec. 15 is the deadline to apply for 2021 TCUSA recognition in Oregon. Within your city’s applications, you will report on how the city met the four TCUSA standards during the 2021 calendar year and describe work planned for 2022.
Is your city applying for the first time or returning to the program after taking a year or more off? The Oregon Department of Forestry administers the TCUSA program for the Arbor Day Foundation in Oregon. Contact Katie as soon as you can so she can help you understand the application process and its requirements.
Prepare for the ODF- UCF end-of-year request (check your email in December 2021) to update your city’s page on the Oregon TCUSA cities storymap. With your help, we plan to update the storymap with new city photos, quotes, and relevant urban forestry data. Get to know all of Oregon’s TCUSA cities by visiting the site today!
The Arbor Day Foundation realizes cities are still dealing with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. For that reason, they have waived the TCUSA Standard 4 requirement that cities celebrate Arbor Day, but the mayoral Arbor Day Proclamation remains a requirement. When the pandemic restrictions ease, please consider celebrating Arbor Day in ways that engage your community in appreciating trees. View the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Celebration Toolkit for fun ideas and socially distanced ways to get your community involved with its trees.
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Dedication of the Hiroshima Peace
Tree in Rogue River
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By guest writers JoAnn Dixon and Helga Bush, members of the Rogue River Tree City Committee
The morning of August 12th was the hottest and smokiest yet! But after months of planning, the Tree City Committee hosted the dedication of our Hiroshima Peace Tree at its forever home on the banks of the Rogue River in John F. Fleming Memorial Park. Our Ginkgo tree, a descendant of a tree that survived the bombing of Hiroshima, appropriately symbolizes world peace and hope in a park memorializing the destruction and loss of life during war.
Our honored speaker was Hideko Tamura Snider. Residing in Medford, she is a survivor of the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Hideko is the founder of One Sunny Day Initiatives, a group of volunteers working to promote peace, reconciliation, and a world free of nuclear weapons.
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Hideko speaking at the dedication in Rogue River on Aug. 12, 2021. |
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The event began with Mayor Wayne Stuart welcoming the guests to the dedication. Hideko Tamura Snider spoke about the reasons for devoting her life to the promotion of peace and hope. Michael Oxendine from Oregon Community Trees talked about the process of seeds becoming Hiroshima Peace Trees, starting with obtaining seeds from the organization Green Legacy Hiroshima through the distribution of seedlings to cities statewide. Dave Hedberg, an environmental historian, spoke about working with Oregon Community Trees to document the dedications of these trees throughout Oregon. Our last two speakers were from the Rogue River VFW Post 4116, and we thank them for flying the flags on the Depot Street Bridge.
There were approximately 50 guests at the dedication. Everyone listened intently to the speakers as they talked about their association with the Hiroshima Peace Tree process. One and all enjoyed refreshments, browsed through the literature, and visited with one another. Our Gingko tree was the main attraction and was admired by everyone.
We thank the press from Medford Mail Tribune, Grants Pass Daily Courier, and Rogue River Press for attending and conducting interviews. A special thank you to Tree City Committee members and staff at the City of Rogue River for their support.
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Hiroshima Peace Tree dedication in the City of Rogue River. |
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Oregon Community Trees corner |
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Would you like to serve on the
Oregon Community Trees board?
Serving on the board of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is a great way to build your leadership and organizational skills. Oregon Community Trees is always on the lookout for talented, motivated people, who are interested in serving OCT’s mission of urban forestry advocacy and education. You do not need to be an urban forester/arborist to join, but having an aligned interest/profession, such as a city planner, teacher, public works, or parks professional, health care provider, utility forester, legal professional, nursery, landscape, or horticultural professional, is helpful. People with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultures are encouraged to check us out. Interested folks should get in touch to first schedule a time to attend and observe an OCT quarterly board meeting. If still interested, you may apply for a position/talk to an OCT director to have your questions answered. For more information, send an email to president@oregoncommunitytrees.org with “Board Interest” in the subject line.
Here’s what some people say about serving on the OCT board:
“It’s the happy combination of tree enthusiasts and friendly people. Also, I had the opportunity to see different parts of Oregon and expand my network of friends and colleagues. Over time, I was able to apply skills and strengths towards OCT work and goals, this made me feel like I could positively contribute to urban/community forestry efforts in the state.”
“I’m honored to serve as an Oregon Community Trees board member. I’m inspired by watching my fellow board members work hard to make their communities a better place through urban and community forestry. I know if I have a question, concern, or need help in any way, I have this whole board eager to help, and I hope that board members feel free to reach out to me as well."
“I was connected with OCT through some awesome coworkers and fellow female arborists. I work for Oregon (and SW Washington) nonprofit Friends of Trees whose mission directly correlates with that of OCT's, so it was a no-brainer to apply to serve on the board of directors!”
“I volunteer for Oregon Community Trees to interact with other urban forestry professionals and to learn from communities statewide by visiting and seeing urban forest management in action. Serving on the grant committee has been especially rewarding, knowing that the funds OCT raises are put to good use providing Oregon Tree City USA communities with a way to boost their Arbor Month celebrations. Over the past seven years, OCT has awarded nearly $20,000 to 46 different Oregon TCUSA communities.”
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Your "reward" for reading all the way down a lo-o-o-ng newsletter.
Next time you visit the Oregon coast, stop and see Oregon's newest Heritage Tree. Thought by the Oregon Heritage Tree Program to be about 400 years old, the Sitka spruce is in Lincoln City's Regatta Park. Named by the Siletz people Nuu-k’wii-dae-naa~-ye ("Our Ancestor" in English), watch the video about the tree by environmental historian and filmmaker David Hedberg.
* Credit to OPB's online newsletter and "Click of Zen" feature.
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Contact us
Kristin Ramstad
Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager
503-945-7390
Katie Lompa
Community Assistance Forester
541-480-3790
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ODF's Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program is celebrating 30 years of service in 2021! |
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About the Community Tree Connections newsletter |
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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. CTC is published in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Subscriptions to Community Tree Connections are free. Sign up to receive the newsletter.
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Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. |
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