Welcome to the
July-August 2008
News You Can Use!

In this Issue

	WCCFC
	NADF Awards
	Tree Study Projects Greener, Cleaner Front Range

	Save The Date!
	Annual Conference

	Check Firewood For Mountain Pine Beetles

	EAB/Gypsy Moth Watch

	Tree Planting Legislation

	Front Range Urban Forestry Council
	CommuniTree Awards
	Champion Tree Classic

The 18th rendition of this annual conference will be held on September 12, 2008, in beautiful, tree-lined downtown Grand Junction. The theme for this year’s conference is believe it or not, “Trees Are the Answer.” This year’s speaker contingent will describe the numerous benefits of urban trees; from the new and improved varieties to those trees that have proven to be assets to the urban environment. We will also discuss the beneficial insects instead of the usual nefarious line-up. Downtown Grand Junction is currently undergoing a face lift so attendees will get to see and discuss the new street tree plantings. For more information and to register contact Vince Urbina at 970-248-7326.
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Do you know of individuals, groups or organizations that have done outstanding work in tree planting, care, conservation or education? Have you seen excellent coverage of tree and conservation issues in magazines, newspapers, newsletters or on TV, radio or video? How about an exemplary Arbor Day celebration by a community, school or other organization? You can fill out an on-line award nomination Here. The nomination entry deadline is usually around September 1st each year, so be sure and send it in before then.
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The Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) recently issued its Tree Project Phase 2 Report signaling completion of a comprehensive scientific study of the environmental benefits of trees in the City of Golden, Colorado. “The goal of the Tree Project is to determine how trees can enhance energy and water conservation, mitigate climate change and improve air quality throughout urban areas of Colorado’s Front Range,” says Carol Lyons, IES Executive Director. “Issuing this report represents a significant step toward enabling better decisions by developers, urban planners, and homeowners about using trees to deliver the most environmental benefit for the least cost.” The study showed that Golden’s trees are storing the same amount of carbon emitted by 10,800 cars; each year the trees sequester another 637 metric tons of carbon dioxide and 25 metric tons of air pollution, valued at $14,500 and $139,000 respectively. Trees can have both positive and negative effects on the environment; if not properly selected, planted and maintained, trees can increase air pollution and water consumption. The Phase 2 work was a collaboration between IES and the City of Golden to quantify all of the environmental costs and benefits of trees on city property. Rod Tarullo, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Golden, said that “IES’s work measured the environmental value our city’s trees provide. Now we can effectively improve our urban environment with the best selection and planting of more trees.” The full text of the Tree Project Phase 2 Report is available by clicking Here. Please visit the IES Website for more information.
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The Rocky Mountain Chapter 2008 Pesticide Applicators Workshop will be held on November 13 & 14, 2008 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, Castle Rock, CO. For more information contact the ISA-RMC at 303-756-1815.
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This year’s annual conference, “Healthy Trees – A Team Effort”, will be held on October 2-3, 2008 at the Double Tree Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO. With a new location and a green state of mind the annual conference is going to be one to remember. With exciting seminars, hands-on workshops and the speakers you have been waiting for, you will want to be there. The RMC Climbing Competition will be held in conjunction with the conference on October 3-4, 2008 at the Colorado College Campus in Colorado Springs.
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Mountain pine beetles are getting ready to emerge and fly, which means Colorado residents should check their remaining firewood stock now to ensure they are not aiding the infestation of urban or neighboring trees. Click here for the story.
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The Colorado State Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Services-Plant Protection and Quarantine and the Colorado Department of Agriculture are carrying out a statewide plan to monitor two non-native insects that may be damaging to Colorado's forests. Gypsy moth and emerald ash borer have not yet been found in Colorado; however, if they are transported into the state, infestations would severely affect the tourism industry and urban and rural areas that rely on forests to produce forest products and services. Click here for more information.
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Legislation that recognizes the important role landscape architects can play in energy conservation is now under consideration in Congress. The Energy Conservation Through Trees Act, H.R. 5687, introduced on Earth Day by Congresswoman Doris Matsui, would establish a grant program to assist electricity providers in planting shade trees to insulate residential buildings, minimize home heating and cooling energy demand, and reduce greenhouse gas concentrations. The bill contains several American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recommendations including:

•Establishing an education campaign to help residents to maintain their shade trees.

•Requiring monitoring and reporting on the survival, growth, overall health, and estimated savings of the provided trees.

•Requiring tree recipients to care for the trees.
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The Front Range Chapter of CTC will be meeting on July 24 at the new Boulder County Parks & Open Space facility near Longmont. A program on biomass and urban wood recycling will be presented, along with planned tours of the Parks & Open Space facility biomass heating operation and a visit to the nearby national champion plains cottonwood tree. For more information contact Keith Wood at Keith.Wood@ColoState.edu.
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Take some time this year to nominate a deserving tree-related project or person for a CTC CommuniTree Award. The award application can be downloaded at www.coloradotrees.org! Be sure to submit the nomination soon, the application deadline is August 6th, 2008.
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On October 4th the International Society of Arboriculture-Rocky Mountain Chapter (ISA/RMC) and the Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC) will be teaming up to co-host the 9th annual Champion Tree Classic (formerly known as the Deb Ashe Cottonwood Classic), a bike ride to raise money for tree planting and tree research. This year's ride will take place in Colorado Springs in conjunction with the ISA-RMC Annual Conference and Tree Climbing Competition. For more information contact ISA-RMC at 303-756-1815.
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