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Letter from the Editor
Happy autumn everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the return of the rain and the flurry of fall foliage as much as I am! This is a great time of year to carve out time to slow down and have a rest. That could be a stroll in a neighborhood park, a cozy afternoon with a hot cup of tea, or anything else you find to be cozy and resting. For us in the Urban and Community Forestry program this time of year we are busy as ever but taking the time to assess and dream big for the future of our program. Upon reflection we are filled with a sense of gratitude for all the work that our community partners do, so thank you. This issue will cover:
• Urban and Community Forestry Updates
• Autumn & Early Winter Tree Care Tips
• Community Highlights
• Arbor Day Foundation Application Reminders
• Upcoming Events
Warmly, Brittany Oxford
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Staff Introductions
Have you seen this new friendly face from the Urban and Community Forestry program?
Allow me to introduce them here and please say hello if you see them talking
about trees and Emerald Ash Borer in your community.
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LILAH GONEN
Lilah Gonen (they/them) is the new Emerald Ash Borer Support Specialist with ODF’s Urban and Community Forest program, working alongside Evan Elderbrock. Lilah has a BS in Forestry from UC Berkeley, where they also worked in labs studying Sudden Oak Death and historic wildfire trends. They have an MS in Botany & Plant Pathology from OSU, where their research focused on tree-microbe ecology and forest pathology, specifically Swiss needle cast in Douglas-fir and red needle cast in New Zealand radiata pine. They’ve also worked in invasive weed management with City of Gresham and invasive insect surveillance and eradication with Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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When not working outdoors, they’re playing outdoors: climbing, hiking with their dog, mushroom hunting, and gardening. They also enjoy cooking and baking (yes, they were one of those sourdough people), reading strange stories, and playing all forms of games and puzzles. Please reach out to Lilah if you have any questions or ideas about managing and planning for EAB on the local or state level. Welcome Lilah!
 ODF Receives Major IRA Grants and State Funding to Help Support Urban and
Community Forestry Efforts Throughout Oregon
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Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Grants
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Urban & Community Forestry (UCF) Program has been awarded $26.6M in funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s National IRA Grant Program to stand up two sub-award programs in Oregon. $10 million of this funding will be devoted specifically to Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations, and $12.5 million will be available to all eligible entities throughout the state. The goal is to promote urban and community forest investments and tree equity for overburdened and underserved communities in both rural and urban areas. The list of eligible entities includes Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations, state and local government entities, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and community-based organizations. These programs will provide funding to eligible entities to advance UCF planning and monitoring, education and engagement, network development and relationship building, workforce diversification and development, nursery and tree production capacity building, tree planting and maintenance, and adaptive management and lesson sharing throughout the state of Oregon.
Over the next couple of months ODF UCF staff will be hiring additional staff, building program capacity, and solidifying details related to standing up this sub-award grant program. Requests for proposals to community partners will be issued in March 2024 and we are aiming to award the first round of funding in the fall of 2024. Now is the time to start thinking about and developing project proposals and building your community networks! Keep on the lookout for additional information and news releases on our UCF Program website.
HB3409: Community Green Infrastructure Grants
The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) program will be partnering with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to administer a $6.5M Community Green Infrastructure (CGI) grant program as mandated by the House Bill 3409. For the first time ever, HB3409 has dedicated state funding to support UCF efforts throughout the state. As with the IRA grants, the focus of this state grant program will be on promoting urban and community forest investments and tree equity for overburdened and underserved communities in both rural and urban areas throughout Oregon. More details to come as ODF UCF works with DLCD to set up this grant program.
Additional Information:
Oregon Public Broadcasting Article.
USFS Urban and Community Forestry Webpage
HB3409 Legislation Text
Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development Website
As we work to stand up and implement these grant programs, ODF UCF staff will prioritize the need to provide technical support to our community partners in identifying suitable projects, developing proposals, and navigating the grant application process.
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This winter, don’t forget to care for your trees!
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Heritage Tree Announcements
The Oregon Heritage Tree Committee is seeking nominations for two heritage tree awards. Do you know someone who has done an exceptional job educating the public about the value of heritage trees and promoting the appreciation of trees in Oregon? Help us honor their contributions! Please submit your nominations by February 14. Awards will be determined in March and awardees will be recognized in April at a statewide dedication ceremony.
Heritage Tree Hero Award
In 2021, the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee launched the Heritage Tree Hero Award to recognize individuals and groups that are engaging communities through education about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon's history told through trees and forests. Recent winners were awarded for their leadership in advocating for a city heritage tree program, facilitating Oregon's Green Legacy Hiroshima Peace Tree Project, and incorporating tree preservation into middle school lessons.
Consider nominating a person or group who stands out for exceptional project level work by using the Heritage Tree Hero Nomination Form.
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Maynard Drawson Award
The Maynard Drawson Award recognizes exceptional, meritorious, and extraordinary work promoting the appreciation of trees over an extended period. Think of this as a life-time achievement award. It was created to honor Maynard Drawson, a native of Oregon and a veteran of WWII who was best known as a tree advocate. Drawson led a campaign in the 1970s to preserve the Valley of the Giants, and in 1995 helped launch the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country.
Consider nominating a person or group who stands out for their sustained commitment to promoting Oregon's heritage trees by using the Maynard Drawson Award Nomination Form.
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Invasive Mediterranean Oak Borer Found in Wilsonville
WILSONVILLE, Ore. – An invasive insect from Europe and the Middle East that attacks oak trees has recently been found in several Oregon white oaks in Wilsonville. The Mediterranean oak borer (Xyleborus monographus) transmits multiple fungal species to the trees it infests. Some fungal species may cause a disease called oak wilt, which may kill oak trees in as little as two to three years. Mediterranean oak borer (MOB) is a tiny woodboring beetle called an “ambrosia beetle” because instead of feeding on wood, it eats fungus grown in galleries created in the wood of branches and trunks. The fungus grows, robbing tree canopies of water necessary for growth and survival. This insect was first found in North America when it turned up in 2017 in California, where it has been responsible for the decline and death of many native oak trees. Read the full story.
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Emerald Ash Borer Information
Oregon Department of Forestry has put together an online newsletter specifically for updates on Oregon tree health threats including EAB and MOB. Sign up for the bulletin by emailing Jim Gersbach.
Learn about identifying emerald ash borer, host trees, symptoms and more by visiting the EAB Oregon Website.
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 Applications are due December 15!
Don’t forget! The Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education, and Tree Line applications are due on December 15! The Arbor Day Foundation has a new application portal this year. If you have not yet logged in, created an account, and submitted your application in the new application portal, please do so as soon as possible by following these steps:
- Log onto https://recognition.arborday.org
- Click “sign up now”. All users (both new and returning applicants) will need to sign up to create a new account in the application portal.
- Verify your account.
- Select the program you are applying for.
- Fill in your contact and community information.
- Submit application materials.
Reach out to me directly if you have any questions about the application process or run into any issues with the new application portal system. Learn more about program requirements and resources.
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Urban & Community Forestry Events
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Contact Us
Brittany Oxford
Community Assistance Forester
971.375.6346
Email
Scott Altenhoff
Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager
971.428.7380
Email
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Evan Elderbrock
EAB Support Specialist
971.719.0345
Email
Lilah Gonen
EAB Support Specialist
971.718.2532
Email
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About the Community Tree Connections Newsletter
Community Tree Connections (CTC) is a periodic publication by the Oregon Department of Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program. Our mission is to help Oregonians improve their quality of life by promoting community investment in our urban forests. CTC is published in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Subscriptions to Community Tree Connections are free. Sign up to receive the newsletter.
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