URBANA, Ill. — In summer, the shade of a large oak tree is a welcome relief from the heat. The 4.8 million acres of trees in Illinois do everything from supporting human health and providing habitat for wildlife to creating oxygen and slowing floodwaters. Learn more about Illinois trees and how you can support them in the free online Forestry Stewardship Series this July from the University of Illinois Extension forestry team.
Explore the health benefits urban trees provide, the importance of the state’s oldest trees and how to care for them, how to design and install a firebreak for safe and effective prescribed burns, and what new invasive species are heading toward Illinois and how to manage them. Sessions in this four-part live webinar series are free and available online from 2 to 3 p.m. CT on Wednesdays starting July 9. This program is open to forestry professionals, forest owners, land managers, and the public. International Society of Arboriculture continuing education credits may be available. Sign up for one or all of the sessions to get the access link at go.illinois.edu/ForestryStewardship.
July 9 - Urban Trees are a Matter of Life and Death
Urban trees can have a profound effect on human health. Explore 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; Counties infested with invasive emerald ash borer have higher rates of heart and breathing related deaths; and neighborhoods that have more tree plantings also have lower rates of cardiovascular mortality. Presented by Geoffrey Donovan.
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. Explore the history, ecological and cultural significance, and the benefits of some of the oldest trees in Illinois across both forested and urban settings. Learn how these trees can be managed to sustain the benefits they provide, and programs that support these trees. Presented by Justin Vozzo, University of Illinois Extension forestry specialist.
July 23 - Staying Inside the Lines: Best Practices for Firebreak Design
Prescribed fire is an important tool for managing healthy forests and grasslands. A well-designed and correctly installed firebreak is the first line of defense in keeping a burn safe and effective. Explore the basics of firebreak placement, installation, design tools, and techniques. Presented by Chris Evans, University of Illinois Extension forestry and research specialist.
July 30 - Emerging Invasive Species Across Illinois
Knowing what invasive species may be arriving in Illinois soon and how to respond to them can make a big difference in slowing and preventing their spread. Learn about emerging invasive species, including some new-to-Illinois and some that are actively spreading in other parts of the Midwest. Explore their characteristics, distribution, and control techniques. Presented by Kevin Rohling, University of Illinois Extension forest management and ecology specialist.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Christopher Evans at (618) 695-3383 or cwevans@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
The Extension forestry team conducts research projects, maintains demonstration sites, and teaches courses at University of Illinois. They also administer the Illinois Big Tree Program and the new Citizen Big Tree Inspector initiative. The program is part of the department of natural resources and environmental sciences. Explore more about Extension forestry resources at extension.illinois.edu/Forestry.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.