This weekly newsletter contains information related to urban forestry and arboriculture training, research, jobs, and funding in Michigan, nationally and internationally. If you know of an event or opportunity that may be of interest to our partners, please email program coordinator Kevin Sayers.

• Call for submissions: Smart urban forestry technologies
• Children’s Environmental Health Network 2021 Youth Leadership Awards
• Arbor Day Alliance hosts fifth grade poster contest
• Nonprofit spotlight: Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
• Workshops and conferences
• In the news
• Webinars
• Resources
• Funding

Call for submissions: Smart urban forestry technologies

Authors are invited to submit abstracts of manuscripts for a special issue of Smart Urban Forestry on digital technologies and data for arboriculture and urban forestry planning, design and management. Short abstracts of 250 words or fewer are due April 15. 

Children’s Environmental Health Network 2021 Youth Leadership Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Child Health Advocate awards in science, policy, community advocacy, business, arts/media and for the NOW Youth Leadership Awards. Know someone deserving of this honor? Submit a nomination by March 13. Awardees will be honored at our 2021 Child Health Advocate Awards event, which will be held on Children's Environmental Health Day, Oct. 14.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

National Invasive Species Awareness Week, Feb. 20-28, encourages people to learn about threats posed by invasive species and learn about actions that can be taken to prevent their spread. Get more information about planned events and webinars from the North American Invasive Species Management Association. 

Arbor Day Alliance hosts fifth grade poster contest

The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance invites Michigan fifth grade students to use their imaginations and drawing, coloring and painting skills to create a poster demonstrating the theme "Trees for our Health." Submit posters by March 3.

Nonprofit spotlight: Friends of Grand Rapids Parks

The mission of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is to empower people to cultivate vibrant parks, trees and green spaces in the Grand Rapids community. The group is focused on thriving parks and a sustainable urban forest that actively supports our community’s economic, environmental and cultural health. The organization was founded in 2008 with the belief that all kids in the Grand Rapids community are entitled to parks experiences and opportunities to connect with nature.

Workshops and conferences

Feb. 22-26: Nature of Cities conference festival 

Feb. 23-27: Audubon Naturalist Society - Taking Nature Black Conference 

March 2-3: Michigan Green Industry Association Trade Show and Convention 

March 8-12: Utility Arborist line clearance training

In the news

• Boston moves ahead with 'urban forest' plan

• As developers keep cutting down trees, Boston hires consultants to figure out how to build up city's tree canopy

• When trees suffer cracks or damage, experts have a toolbox full of ways to save them, from steel rods to guy wires

• SavATree Further Expands Presence in Michigan through acquisition of Big Twigs Arboricultural Services

• ‘We all want to save trees’: Mobile wants to redefine its heritage trees

News articles, workshops, webinars and other information from outside DNR in this publication are provided for informational purposes and are not endorsements.