MAINE FOREST SERVICE PROJECT CANOPY July/August 2005 - Trees on Maine Street Bulletin Maple Anthracnose (Kabatiella apocrypta), a fungus that thrives in moist conditions, is infecting maple trees throughout southern Maine. Infected young leaves shrivel and turn black. On more mature leaves, red, brown, or black lesions develop that may or may not be associated with leaf veins. Diseased leaves may drop, making the tree appear as though it is severely stressed or even dead. You can expect affected trees to form new, healthy leaves midsummer. Other forms of Anthracnose also infect all species of ash (Fraxinus sp.), sycamore (Platanus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). For more information about Maple Anthracnose, please call the Maine Forest Service at 1-800-367-0223. 2005-2006 MAINE REGISTER OF BIG TREES CHAMPIONS The Maine Forest Service is proud to announce the availability of the 2005-2006 Maine Register of Big Trees. This year's register lists 158 trees, representing 145 species, 8 appearing for the first time. State champion big trees capture our imagination for their size and strength; however, there is more to champion trees than just their size-they are symbols of all the good work trees do for the quality of the environment and our quality of life. Big trees provide more cooling shade and more places for wildlife to perch and nest. They sequester more carbon dioxide, trap more pollutants, and purify more water. To determine if a tree is a champion, The Maine Forest Service gives each tree a score based on a formula that adds circumference in inches, height in feet, and ¼ of the crown spread. In addition to 158 state champions, Maine has also nominated three trees to the National Register of Big Trees compiled by American Forests™. Maine's National Champions are: a Yellow Birch located in Deere Isle - total points 351, an Eastern Larch located in Township13 Range 8 - total points 243, and an Eastern White Pine located in Morrill - total points 379. The next register will be printed in 2007. The Maine Forest Service will accept nominations until December 31, 2006. For more information on Maine's Register of Big Trees and to receive a copy of the 2005-2006 Register, please contact Michael DeBonis, Big Tree Coordinator, at 1-800-367-0223. The Register can also be downloaded from the Project Canopy website: www.projectcanopy.org THE HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION INVESTS IN COMMUNITY FORESTRY In an effort to raise awareness about the economic, environmental, and health benefits of urban forests, the Home Depot Foundation announced on Arbor Day 2005 that it will award grants totaling nearly $1 million to three leading nonprofit community forestry organizations: National Alliance for Community Trees, The National Arbor Day Foundation, and American Forests. These grants will assist these organizations to restore urban and rural forests and create healthier natural areas and a better environment for communities. · The National Alliance for Community Trees will receive $500,000 to distribute small grants to local tree planting organizations. The small grants program will support volunteer activities to plant thousands of trees in communities across the country. · The National Arbor Day Foundation will receive $410,000 for Arbor Day tree plantings in 2006. NADF will work with local schools, community volunteers, and the Home Depot and its supplier partners to support tree planting in 10 cities. Team Depot, The Home Depot's volunteer corps of associates, will lead these tree-planting events. · American Forests will receive a grant to plant 25,000 trees as part of its Global ReLeaf program. Additionally, the Home Depot Foundation will be the presenting corporate sponsor of American Forests' National Conference on Urban Ecosystems to be held in Charlotte from November 17-18, 2005. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION GRANT OPPORTUNITY The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is offering the 2005 Native Plant Conservation Initiative, which provides federal dollars to nonprofit organizations and government agencies to promote the conservation of native plants. There is a strong preference for "on-the-ground" projects that involve local communities and citizen volunteers in the restoration of native plant communities. Projects that include a pollinator conservation component are also encouraged. Grants range from $5,000 to $40,000 with an average grant size of $15,000. It is expected that all grant funds will be matched by non-federal contributions from project partners. The pre-proposal deadline is August 15, 2005. FMI visit http://www.nfwf.org/programs/npci.htm URBAN RISK TREE MANUAL AVAILABLE ONLINE Urban Tree Risk Management: A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation is a fully illustrated, easy to read training manual written for community leaders, administrators, city foresters, parks and public works staff, and private tree care practitioners. The manual is designed to help communities design, adopt, and implement tree risk management programs, and train field staff to detect, assess, and correct hazardous defects in urban trees. To download the manual, visit: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/uf/utrmm/index.htm 2005 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON URBAN ECOSYSTEMS Charlotte, N.C., November 17-18, Workshops: November 16 and 19. The urban forest is an untapped resource-one that can help cities meet regulatory requirements for clean air and water, revitalize neighborhoods, and reduce the costs of building and maintaining infrastructure. The 2005 National Conference on Urban Ecosystems, Nature at Your Service, will show how to reconnect people to their city's natural resources. From local to regional perspectives, the conference will highlight latest technologies, emerging public policies, and tools to help put the urban forest to best use. More conference information is available at: http://www.americanforests.org/conference/ MAINE TREE STEWARDS 2005 Maine Tree Stewards is a community service educational program designed to help people increase social, environmental, and economic benefits of public trees and landscapes in their local community. Over the course of one weekend, Tree Stewards will gain the skills and knowledge needed to become effective community tree volunteers. The 2005 Maine Tree Stewards program will be held October 28, 29 and 30 at the Pine Tree State Arboretum in Augusta, Maine. If you would like to learn more about becoming a Maine Tree Steward, please contact Jan Ames Santerre at 207-623-2371. CERTIFIED ARBORIST SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM Many communities, particularly smaller communities, often lack trained urban forestry professionals. These professionals are key links to State Urban and Community Forestry Coordinators and are a critical piece in providing education to communities on proper tree planting, care, and preservation. The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program (UCF) has partnered with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to help meet this need. In 2003, UCF provided a $100,000 cost-share grant to ISA to establish a Certified Arborist Scholarship Grant Program for communities. · Scholarships will be made available to communities where there are not enough resources to hire their own municipal arborist or urban forester, or where there are few if any certified arborists available to work with the community. · Successful candidates will then donate 80 hours of their time over the course of two years to train and educate key volunteers, schools, and other government entities in the community on proper tree care. This program will also provide a means to quantify the amount of education provided in communities and the number of community leaders and volunteers that are being trained at the local level. · Increased awareness and knowledge of the latest scientifically based information on tree care and the benefits of the urban forest should lead to improved tree care and increased funding for urban forestry at the local level. Contact Michael DeBonis for more information about this excellent opportunity at 1-800-367-0223. NASA'S WORLDWIND A new service available through the NASA website offers 3-D rendering of the globe - type in location, zoom from outer space seamlessly into an image, which can be draped over the elevation for a 3-d look at any location of earth! http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov July 9 8 AM. Maine Arborist Association 4th Annual Tree Climbing Competition. Deering Oaks Park, Portland. FMI visit www.mainearborist.org or contact Ted Armstrong at 657-3256 17-21 Green Industry Legislative Conference, Washington DC. FMI visit www.anla.org or contact Natalie Hagernan at 202-789-5980 x 3026 18-22 Community mapping institute. Maine Community Mapping Program will offer a 5-day community mapping institute for educators at the University of Maine at Farmington. The target audience is 7-12th grade educators. FMI contact Stephen Engle at englest@earthlink.net August 7-10 International Society of Arboriculture Annual Meeting and Conference, Nashville, TN. FMI visit www.isa-arbor.org 12 8 AM - Noon. ISA Certification Exam, Augusta City Center, 16 Cony St. Register with ISA at 217-355-9411 24 Electrical Hazard Awareness Workshop. Urban Forestry Center, Portsmouth, NH. FMI contact JB Cullen at the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, 603-271-3457 September 14 Maine Licensed Arborist Exam. Augusta. Deadline for application August 26th. FMI or to register contact the Division of Plant Industry at 287-3891 18-21 Society of Municipal Arborists Annual Conference. Windsor, Ontario, Canada. FMI call 1-800-265-3633 or visit www.urban-forestry.com October 23-25 International Society of Arboriculture New England Chapter Annual Meeting, Burlington, VT. FMI visit www.newenglandisa.org or call 1-800-617-4870 28-30 Maine Tree Stewards Training, Pine Tree State Arboretum, Augusta, Maine. Contact Jan Ames Santerre FMI, 623-2371 (tentative) If you would like to put your community's activity on the calendar, please let one of the editors know by the 15th of each month. This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the USDA Forest Service. The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. To file a complaint call (202) 720-5964