Study Finds Loss of Trees Costs Billions
Tree cover in American cities is shrinking, and it could be costing taxpayers billions of dollars. A new U.S. Forest Service analysis of 20 U.S. cities pegs urban tree loss at about 4 million trees a year. That decrease translates into an annual loss in environmental services, such as reduced heating and cooling costs, when you consider that each tree represents as much as $2,500 in such services during its lifetime. Read More

Oregon State Hosts STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series
On March 30, Oregon State University will host the Pro and Collegiate Qualifiers of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series presented by Ram Trucks, the nation's premier lumberjack competition. Winners of the Professional and Collegiate Series competitions will advance to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Championships hosted by The Great Smoky Mountain Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., June 1-3. Outdoor Channel, ESPNU and TUFF TV cameras will capture the action. Read More

Arborists Volunteer to Clean Up Park
Volunteers from the New Jersey Arborists Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (NJAISA) converged on Skillman Park for a massive cleanup of the hundreds of trees on the property. More than 120 volunteer tree professionals from across the state met at the 265-acre site. Read More

Drought Takes Toll on Texas Trees
In Wichita Falls, Texas, an early count found 423 dead trees on the city's land, and they expect that number to grow. These tree deaths are attributed to the drought conditions that plagued 2010. This count only includes the trees planted and maintained by the city and doesn't include residential or undeveloped areas. Pine and magnolia trees were the hardest hit. Read More

Arbor Day Foundation and AASHE Team Up
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a partner of the Arbor Day Foundation, is encouraging its member campuses across the country to plant trees this spring. Since 2009, AASHE has been a partner and supporter of the Foundation's Tree Campus USA program, which awards recognition to colleges and universities for effective community forestry management. Read More

EAB Found in Philadelphia Region
Emerald ash borer infestation was confirmed in an ash tree at a condominium neighborhood in Warrington, Bucks County, Pa. When officials looked at the surrounding forest, they realized maybe 20 ashes were under attack. The insect could land a hard blow to a region that has spent vast amounts of money and effort to replenish the urban forest through programs like Treevitalize. Read More

Tree Trimmer in Running for National Contest
Tree trimmer foreman Morgan Archibald is one of 10 finalists in the national Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew contest. Voting will take place through March 31 at the contest website, and one grand-prize winner will be selected based on the public's votes. The Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2012 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS series in June. Read More

Khapra Beetle Intercepted by Customs
U. S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists serving the greater New York & New Jersey area intercepted the Khapra Beetle six times during a one-month period. During the month of February, CBP Agriculture Specialists from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and the Port of New York/New Jersey had six Khapra Beetle intercepts combined. Read More

South Carolina Forests Threatened
Giant oaks in South Carolina forests are dying at alarming rates. The killer is hypoxylon canker, a weak but deadly fungus. Hypoxylon won't harm healthy oaks, but it gets under the bark of trees already under stress and strangles them by limiting the flow of nutrients. Below normal rainfall for 10 of the last 13 years has put the trees under severe stress. Read More

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