Michelle Sutton

Arbor Day Foundation Launches Tree Campus Healthcare Recognition Program

Applications for facilities wishing to receive Tree Campus Healthcare recognition will be accepted through December 31, 2019. Photo Courtesy Arbor Day Foundation

Lincoln, Neb. –  Earlier this month, the Arbor Day Foundation announced today the launch of its new Tree Campus Healthcare program. The Tree Campus Healthcare recognition program connects inpatient healthcare facilities of all sizes with local community forestry programs to improve human health outcomes, while improving the extent and condition of community forests.

Through Tree Campus Healthcare, thousands of people and hundreds of communities will be touched by the proven health benefits of trees. Facilities in the U.S. delivering inpatient healthcare services are eligible for Tree Campus Healthcare recognition, including hospitals, senior care, and other residential rehabilitation centers.

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Town of Kent Launches Community Forestry Program with Aid of Council Grant

Town of Kent folks savor planting a white oak on park land around Lake Carmel. Photo by Bill Huestis

The town of Kent, NY (pop. ~ 13,500) is located in Putnam County. In 2018, the freak EF2 (110 mph at peak) tornado of May 15 plowed through a portion of Kent, uprooting or toppling 40 trees around Lake Carmel. The Town applied for and received a Council grant to plant red maples and white oaks in some key locations around the Lake. The initially scheduled spring planting activities had to be postponed due to unseasonal weather. Town of Kent Councilman Bill Huestis says, “The great news is that we finalized our initial tree planting in late June around Lake Carmel, and as of this writing all of the trees are doing fine.”

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Amboy Launches Community Forestry with Arbor Day Planting

Amboy tree planting volunteers take a selfie with the new community trees in the background. Photos Courtesy Town of Amboy

The Amboy Town Tree Committee sent this lovely narrative from their Arbor Day tree planting dedication on April 27, 2019, supported by a Council Arbor Day grant. Amboy (pop. ~1265) is located in the southeast part of Oswego County.

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —Franklin Delano Roosevelt

On this Arbor Day 2019, thanks to a generous grant from the NYS Urban Forestry Council, we in the Town of Amboy are building on that tradition by adding a new grove of trees in our town park—trees that will flower and fruit and even add a bit of shade to this popular community gathering spot.

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Tree Stewardship Training at CCE Dutchess County

TREE STEWARDSHIP TRAINING IN SEPT & OCT

CCE Dutchess County presents a comprehensive 35-hour training program to address all aspects of tree care and pest management. This course is especially suited for Green Industry Professionals, Municipal Employees, Street Tree Commissions, Utility Arborists, Community Volunteers and Master Gardener Volunteers, although all are welcome. Click here  for more information.

ReLeaf 2019 in Pictures, Part III

Saturday’s keynote speaker, Andrew Revkin (pictured here with his partner, Lisa) brought an international perspective and images in his talk, “Forest Lessons in a Changing Climate.” Revkin is a celebrated environmentalist and musician who, fortunately for us, lives in the Hudson Valley. 
Davey Resource Group Urban Forester/Project Developer Sophia Rodbell serves on the Council Board and volunteered at ReLeaf registration.
Just a mile or so from Mount Saint Mary College is the lovingly designed and coneflower-filled national historic site of the storied Balmville Tree, a cottonwood (Populus deltoides) that was 316 years old when it became too hazardous to the public to stand.

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ReLeaf 2019 in Pictures: Part II

Young people shone extra bright at the 2019 ReLeaf Conference, injecting energy and enthusiasm into the gathering.

After Onondaga Earth Corps (OEC) Director Greg Michel presented about the OEC mission and programming, OEC youth spoke about their experiences. Pictured here, Onondaga Earth Corps Crew Leader Tajuddin (Taj) shared from the heart about his connection to nature and concerns for the environment.
Young Adult Crew Member Jahkella is new to Onondaga Earth Corps and spoke about what she hopes to learn this season.

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ReLeaf 2019 in Pictures: Part I

Thank you, NYSDEC staff and Region 3 ReLeaf volunteers, for your hard work putting together a superb ReLeaf Conference.

Recent SUNY ESF grads Amandy Cruty (left) and Nafisa Tabassum are working as urban forestry technicians this summer with Syracuse City Arborist Steve Harris. They attended ReLeaf 2019 in the Hudson Valley, at Mount Saint Mary College.
Council Executive Secretary Liana Gooding (far right) addresses the Council Board just before the start of the conference. On average, 34 members serve on the Board and come from all nine DEC Regions of New York State.
SUNY ESF alum Lew Cutler came from Syracuse and retired doctor Kathy Gaffney came from Long Island to attend ReLeaf 2019. The conference theme was “Urban Forestry in a Rapidly Changing World,” referring in large part to the intersections of urban forestry and climate change.
Gloria Van Duyne is the NYSDEC Urban and Community Forestry Program Coordinator and facilitated and presented at ReLeaf 2019. She and her team worked with Region 3 volunteers to put on the conference.

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Celebrating Brian Skinner August 3 at 11 a.m. in Ithaca

Dear Council Members & Friends,

There will be a celebratory gathering and tree dedication on Saturday August 3rd, 2019 at 11 a.m. in the F.R. Newman Arboretum at Cornell to remember Brian Skinner. His family will be present and this will be a chance to share funny and cherished stories about Brian.
Brian chose his own memorial tree, a ‘Bonfire’ sugar maple. It’s located in the maple section of the Newman Arboretum. Please see the map below and note where the little yellow and white icon is –that’s where the gathering will take place.
For questions please contact Lori at  lori.brockelbank@davey.com
You can get information about the Arboretum, which is part of Cornell Botanic Gardens, at cornellbotanicgardens.org.

Introducing NYC Nature Map!

Together with NYC Parks, the Natural Areas Conservancy recently launched a NEW interactive web map featuring New York City’s 20,000+ acres of natural areas. 

Take me to the map! >

Named NYC Nature Map, this map identifies the locations of these forests and wetlands and provides detailed information about their size, current health, and improvement projects. Users can sort information by borough, council district, or park. This new resource provides an in-depth look into New York City nature and the actions that NYC Parks, the Natural Areas Conservancy, and other partners are taking to conserve and restore it.

Check out NYC Nature Map’s recent feature in Curbed!

“We’ve been sitting on this huge treasure trove of information but we have not to date had a way share that information,” says Sarah Charlop-Powers, Natural Areas Conservancy executive director. “We are really interested in having this as a resource for people who are nature enthusiasts and also for people who can utilize this information for planning and budgeting, and thinking about nature as part of our city’s infrastructure and how to make our city more livable.” Keep reading…