URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM The Ohio Urban Forestry Program provides leadership and scientific-based information to local communities to build capacity to develop and enhance self-sustaining urban forestry and tree care programs that maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits trees provide for all Ohio residents. ODNR Division of Forestry’s Urban Foresters directly assist Ohio communities with the: Development of professionally-based resource assessments and management plans. Establishment and training of professional municipal forestry staff. Development and review of tree ordinances and policies. Establishment of new or enhancement of existing advisory organizations. 2015 Ohio Urban Forestry Statistics Total Urban Forestry Assists ............................................................ 492 Total Community Assists ................................................................. 421 Total Communities Assisted ............................................................ 135 Tree City USA Communities ........................................................... 241 Growth Awards .................................................................................. 36 Tree Campus USA ............................................................................. 13 Tree Line USA ..................................................................................... 5 Volunteer Hours .......................................................................... 56,665 Trees Planted .............................................................................. 28,759 Trees Pruned ............................................................................... 87,153 Trees Removed ........................................................................... 33,360 Expenditures (Urban forestry-related, Tree City USA community expenditures) $44,898,234.10 In 2015, the Urban Forestry Program awarded over $132,000 in tree planting funds to nine communities through the Lake Erie Watershed Canopy Replacement grant program. The funding was passed through from US Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds for the Cuyahoga and Black River Areas of Concern. The Urban Foresters continued to provide formal training for Ohio Tree Commissions and municipal staff through the national award-winning Tree Commission Academy (TCA). TCA is a unique educational platform designed to give tree commissioners the urban forestry knowledge and skills 2 Urban Forestry Program — continued necessary to be effective commission members. TCA embodies the “teach people to fish” philosophy by empowering communities to build sustainable urban forestry programs from within. Rather than funding a onetime tree planting project, TCA’s eight day course prepares communities to plan, prioritize, and execute the necessary steps to sustain annual plantings in addition to the many other tasks and responsibilities of a comprehensive tree care program. By covering classroom topics ranging from tree biology to budgeting as well as hands-on field experiences with Urban Site Index and Master Planting Designs, TCA ensures a solid foundational education while increasing the capacity of new and veteran tree commissioners to implement a successful program. In 2015, the Urban Foresters conducted 76 TCA classes for 290 students from 131 communities. In addition, two TCA Conclaves were held for 43 students from 14 communities. Since the inception of the academy in 2009, 911 citizens in 248 different communities have registered for the program, impacting over 4.6 million Ohioans. The Urban Foresters also hosted four regional urban forestry conferences and presented at several arboriculture and urban forestry programs and events including the Ohio Chapter - International Society of Arboriculture’s Ohio Tree Care Conference and ISA Certification Preparation courses. In March 2015, the Urban Forestry Program partnered with the US Forest Service and Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association to conduct an Urban Forest Strike Team (UFST) Training in Columbus. The UFST provides assistance to communities on urban tree damage assessment following natural disasters. The initiative involves recruiting, training, and deploying professional urban foresters and arborists to assess tree damage using FEMA and International Society of Arboriculture Tree Risk Assessment standards. The assessments help communities plan needed recovery work and document the amount of damage and cost of clean-up. This efficient and nationally accepted process helps communities obtain financial assistance more quickly through FEMA and begin the recovery process following a significant storm event. Upon completion of the training, these “Task Specialists” are placed on a roster to be contacted if local, state, or regional assistance is needed. Task Specialists representing 17 Ohio communities as well as ODNR, university, and arboretum staff are now trained and prepared for deployment within the State or in response to an out-of-State request for assistance. The training was also attended by neighboring U&CF staff from West Virginia and Indiana. In October, twenty-six City Foresters from across the state attended the 2015 City Foresters’ Symposium and shared information, expressed areas of mutual concern, and received statewide updates. The topic for this year’s symposium was storm preparedness and featured a speaker with national FEMA disaster experience. 3 Northwest Ohio Field Windbreak Program — continued Northwest Ohio Windbreak Program—Row Miles Per Year 1977-2015 Row Miles Row Year (#WB’s) Year Total Miles Year Total Miles Year Total Miles 1977 (101) 46.8 1990 (65) 32.2 2003 (53) 113.3 1978 (60) 27.5 1991 (78) 47.9 2004 (30) 35.4 1979 (38) 15.7 1992 (63) 39.0 2005 (26) 33.1 1980 (39) 13.4 1993 (68) 37.5 2006 (23) 29.1 1981 (38) 13.8 1994 (57) 37.2 2007 (33) 65.1 1982 (26) 9.3 1995 (54) 39.6 2008 (35) 65.9 1983 (22) 13.0 1996 (61) 37.8 2009 (21) 46.8 1984 (34) 15.8 1997 (39) 31.8 2010 (24) 38.7 1985 (46) 20.4 1998 (48) 35.7 2011 (7) 18.2 1986 (60) 23.2 1999 (36) 28.2 2012 (10) 18.4 1987 (32) 12.8 2000 (29) 21.5 2013 (9) 14.2 1988 (51) 31.1 2001 (62) 104.4 2014 (6) 3.6 1989 (42) 21.4 2002 (51) 76.2 2015 (10) 17.3 Total 1,332.2 5 FIRE PROGRAM The Division of Forestry provides leadership in wildfire prevention, training, suppression, and prescribed fire management. The division participates in cooperative agreements with local fire departments, as well as in training, equipping, and coordinating the Ohio Interagency Fire Crew and specialized individual resource personnel for wildfires and disasters in and out of state. The division also administers federal grants and federal excess property to rural fire departments. Wildfires and Acres Burned by Size Class Between 07/01/14 and 06/30/15 CLASS DESCRIPTION NUMBER NONFORESTED FORESTED TOTAL OF FIRES OF FIRES ACRES ACRES ACRES Class A ...................... .25 Acres or less ..................... 91 .................................. 7 ..................................... 7 .......................... 14 Class B ......................... .26 to 9.9 Acres ................... 262 .............................. 215 ................................. 288 ........................ 503 Class C ........................ 10 to 99.9 Acres ..................... 40 .............................. 178 ................................. 567 ........................ 744 Class D .....................100 to 299.9 Acres ....................... 2 ................................ 81 ................................. 221 ........................ 302 Grand total 395 481 1,082 1,564 Wildfires and Acres Burned by Causes Between 07/01/14 and 06/30/15 CAUSE NUMBER OF FIRES FOREST ACRES BURNED TOTAL ACREAGE BURNED CAMPFIRE ........................ 12 ........................................................ 138 ......................................................... 151 CHILDREN .......................... 5 ............................................................ 1 ............................................................ 3 DEBRIS BURNING .......... 206 ........................................................ 380 ......................................................... 663 EQUIPMENT ..................... 14 ............................................................ 8 ...........................................................35 INCENDIARY ..................... 18 .......................................................... 40 ...........................................................82 LIGHTNING ......................... 1 ....................................................... 0.01 ........................................................ 0.02 MISCELLANEOUS ............ 94 ........................................................ 445 ......................................................... 550 POWERLINE ..................... 26 .......................................................... 59 ...........................................................64 RAILROAD .......................... 1 ............................................................ 0 ............................................................ 1 SMOKING .......................... 16 .......................................................... 10 ...........................................................14 STRUCTURE ....................... 2 ............................................................ 2 ............................................................ 2 Grand Totals: ........... 395 ....................................................