Forests, Plants, and Land Conservation News

This Month's Topics:

• October is Firewood Month
• Submit Your Photo or Artwork to DEC's Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest
• Urban and Community Forestry Corner
  • 4th and 5th Grade Arbor Day Artwork Contest
  • Community Spotlight - Village of Oxford
  • Upcoming Events
  • Funding Opportunities
  • What We're Watching

October is Firewood Month: Follow the NYS Firewood Regulation to Help Protect New York's Trees

The nights are getting longer, the air is getting chilly, and the leaves are changing. It’s starting to feel like fall and that means pumpkin pie, flannel, and everyone’s favorite – nights around the campfire. Whether you’re having s’mores with the kids, a bonfire hangout with friends, or a cookout at camp, be sure to follow the NYS firewood regulation when building your fire - use wood from a source or origin within 50 linear miles of your destination, or use heat-treated firewood.

Firewood can be hiding invasive species, like spotted lanternfly or Asian longhorned beetle,  which you could unknowingly be transporting to new locations. The movement of firewood may be one of the major ways the emerald ash borer was able to infest most counties in New York in only 10-15 years. See our webpage to learn more about how you can protect NY’s trees by following the NYS firewood regulation - and thank you for doing your part!

Photo by Hans Isaacson

Submit Your Photo or Artwork to DEC's Annual Arbor Day Poster Contest

DEC is accepting submissions for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest now until December 31st! Each year, DEC's Urban and Community Forestry program coordinates the contest to promote the immeasurable value of trees in the environment and New Yorkers' lives. The winner of the contest will have their photo or artwork reproduced as the 2022 Arbor Day Poster, to commemorate the holiday.

The annual Arbor Day Poster contest is sponsored by the New York State Arbor Day Committee, which includes DEC, the Empire State Forestry Foundation, the New York State Arborist Association, State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the International Paper Company. DEC will accept original photograph and artwork submissions on behalf of the committee through December 31, 2021. Entries must feature trees within New York State and should be sent to arborday@dec.ny.gov.

Participants must include their name, address, and, if submitting a photograph, where the photo was taken. Participants are limited to three submissions. Model consent forms are required for people in submitted photos. For more information about the contest, visit DEC's website.

To obtain past New York State Arbor Day posters, contact any local DEC forestry office or call 518-402-9428.

Pictured: The winning photograph selected for the 2020 Arbor Day poster was taken by Dave Marshall of Webster, NY.

Urban and Community Forestry Corner

4th and 5th Grade Arbor Day Artwork Contest

DEC’s Urban Forestry Program is excited to announce the return of the 5th grade Arbor Day Artwork Contest – expanded this year to include 4th grade! The contest is open now and posters must be received by December 10th. This year's theme is “healthy trees – healthy people!” and lesson plans and resources are available for educators on the contest webpage. For the complete list of rules and how to apply, visit the contest webpage.

Community Spotlight - Village of Oxford

Communities in DEC’s Region 7 celebrated Arbor Day this past spring with several different tree planting events. DEC foresters joined several events to help teach proper planting techniques and ensure these young trees get off to a great start. The Village of Oxford’s planting event included free seedlings for residents to take and plant, along with Arbor Day posters and information for residents who want street trees added to their neighborhoods in this 27-year Tree City USA community. (Photo from a Region 7 event in Hamilton, NY)

Upcoming Events

Preparing Your Trees and Shrubs for Winter (virtual) - Wednesday, October 20 at 11:30 AM – Join our Central NY ReLeaf partner Cornell Cooperative Extension Onondaga for a Facebook Live with Aspinall’s Nursery to learn about preparing your trees and shrubs for winter. Bring your questions! Save the date and time by joining the Facebook event to get a reminder when the Facebook Live happens.

Finger Lakes (R8) ReLeaf workshop: Tree Decay and Tree Risk (in person) - Friday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. -  Certified arborists Chris Luley, PhD. and Josh Galiley will discuss the types of decay to look for in trees, how decay can cause failure, and how to assess the risk of failure in trees. Attendees can bring their own samples of fungi and wood decay for identification and discussion. This workshop starts inside at the Watershed Education Center and then will move outside to Long Point Park for a demonstration of risk assessment. Park session includes a look at the impacts of gypsy moth and predictions for next year. Workshop cost is $15/person, or $10 for NYS Urban Forestry Council and ReLeaf committee members. Space is limited. Register and pay online through the NYS UF Council.

Funding OpportunitiesPeople, Parks, and Power is a national initiative for green space, health equity, and racial justice. This program supports community-based organizations working in urban and low income communities of color across the US. They currently have a $7 million call for proposals open, and letters of intent are due by November 4th. Visit their website for more information.

What We're Watching

The recent Central NY ReLeaf soil workshop in Ithaca was an informative and beautiful day for attendees. If you missed it but want to learn more about soil science, watch the video on the Scoop and Dump Method.