Illinois has 4.8 million acres of forest land. From shading homes and cooling urban areas, to feeding wildlife, producing oxygen, and filtering water, trees do a lot of heavy lifting. Give them a hand by discovering innovative, research-based management options in the summer Forestry Stewardship Series.
Live webinars in this four-part series are free and available from 2 to 3 p.m. CT on Wednesdays from July 9 to 30. International Society of Arboriculture continuing education credits may be available.
This series is open to forestry professionals, landowners and managers, and the public.
Register for the Forestry Stewardship Series
July 9 - Urban Trees are a Matter of Life and Death
Urban trees can have a profound effect on human health. The first presentation in the 2025 Forestry Stewardship Series will discuss three studies linking urban trees with positive health outcomes.
- Women who have more trees around their home are less likely to have underweight or premature babies.
- The spread of the invasive emerald ash borer does more than cause environmental harm. In addition, counties infested with emerald ash borer have higher rates of cardiovascular and lower respiratory mortality.
- Neighborhoods that have more tree plantings also have lower rates of cardiovascular mortality.
Presenter: Geoffrey Donovan, Ash and Elm Consulting
July 16 - Legacy Trees: The Significance Of and How to Manage our Forest Elders
Legacy trees are defined by many names, shapes, sizes, and stories. This talk will define a legacy tree and explore the history and benefits of some of the oldest trees on our Illinois landscape. We will discuss the ecological and cultural significance of these trees across both forested and urban settings. Explore how these trees can be managed to support and sustain the benefits they provide. Finally, this talk will cover past, current, and future programs and initiatives that advocate for these trees.
Presenter: Justin Vozzo, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Forestry
July 23 - Staying Inside the Lines: Best Practices for Firebreak Design
Prescribed fire is an important management tool in forests and grasslands. A well-designed and correctly installed firebreak is the first line of defense in keeping your burn safe and effective. Explore the basics of firebreak placement, installation, design tools, and techniques.
Presenter: Chris Evans, University of Illinois Extension Forestry and Research Specialist
July 30 - Emerging Invasive Species Across Illinois
Keeping tabs on the latest invasive species in our region is critical to implementing successful management strategies, such as Early Detection and Rapid Response. This presentation will cover emerging invasive species based on several sources of information, including land managers, surveys, citizen science, and expert opinions. Species covered will include some new-to-Illinois in recent years and some species actively spreading from one region to another where they will be new invaders. Examples include Amur maple, wineberry, chaff flower, stiltgrass, spotted lanternfly, and others. Ecological characteristics, current and native distributions, spread pathways, and control techniques for each species will be covered.
Presenter: Kevin Rohling, University of Illinois Extension Specialist, Forest Management and Ecology