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.

• Happy Arbor Day!
• MSU Spartan virtual Arbor Day 5k supports tree planting
• May is Michigan Oak Wilt Awareness Month
• Public input requested on Michigan’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal
• Workshops and conferences
• Is urban forestry the career path for you?
• In the news
• Webinars
• Research
• Jobs

Happy Arbor Day!

Today, April 30, is the day we celebrate trees and their importance to our environment and lives. Get outside, take a walk in the woods, breathe deeply and perhaps plant a tree for the future. Here are a few more ways to show some Arbor Day spirit: Don't miss our special Arbor Day newsletter, packed with ways to celebrate! Read a piece by Jessica VanGinhoven of  Ottawa County Parks on the importance of healthy trees.  Learn the steps to plant a tree.

MSU Spartan virtual Arbor Day 5k supports tree planting

Michigan State University is raising funds to plant trees across its more than 5,400-acre campus in East Lansing with a virtual 5k. Participants can use any mode of movement – running, walking, swimming, biking, skating, rowing or even golfing – to reach their 5k goal. Participants will be entered into a prize drawing. Learn more about the program and join the race.

May is Michigan Oak Wilt Awareness Month

May is Oak Wilt Awareness Month, proclaimed to raise awareness of this deadly oak disease and share the importance of these valuable trees in Michigan communities.

How can you protect oak trees from oak wilt? Don't prune oaks between April 15 and July 15 to reduce the chances that flying beetles will transmit the disease from tree to tree, and buy firewood near where you plan to burn it. Learn more about Oak Wilt Awareness Month. 

Public input requested on Michigan’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal

The next public listening session about Michigan’s goals to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 is set for May 5. Learn more about joining the community meeting on Zoom. The session is being organized by the Office of Climate and Energy in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. 

Workshops and conferences

May 5 and 12:  TreeVitalize – Envisioning a just future in community forests

May 11:  Urban Food Production Virtual Symposium

May 12-14:  2021 Sustainable Forestry Initiative Conference

May 18-19: Urban Forest Symposium: Urban forest reboot

May 21:  Electrical hazards awareness for arborists

May 24-26: Climate Leadership Conference

May 25-27:  Tree Risk Assessment Qualification – full course

Is urban forestry the career path for you?

An article and infographic from American Forests shares the different paths people took to discover a passion for forestry. 

In the news

• Why you should plant oaks

• Cuyahoga County will need ‘all hands on deck’ to grow a healthy tree canopy

• Tech billionaires are obsessed with climate change — but some question if they’re focusing on the right areas

• Urban parks play a key role in curbing inequity and climate impacts

• US Representatives re-introduce climate change bill focused on investing in farm conservation programs, reforestation and wetlands restoration

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