Four active work groups within the partner network of the Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative focus their attention on tree planting, stewardship, research, education, policy, skill and training development, and resource needs for the regional forest.
The work groups meet throughout the year and come together annually for the annual Partner Recognition Celebration. Together, these groups are tackling the regional forest’s issues.
Forest Composition Work Group
The primary role of the Forest Composition Work Group is to get an accurate snapshot of the current forest structure and to identify priority areas in our region where planting trees will have the highest impact.
This work group collects and maps data from the Chicago Region Tree Census, inventories from private and municipal property, an Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, and many other sources to produce interactive community-scale maps like CRTI’s Priority Maps, the Canopy Counts Program, and the downloadable Community Tree Canopy Summaries.
The collected data informs the specific, measurable composition goals of CRTI.
Chair
Lindsay Darling, The Morton Arboretum, ledarling@gmail.com
Tree Stewardship and Planting Work Group
The Tree Stewardship and Planting Work Group focuses on increasing the number of new trees in the Chicago region and ensuring that they are cared for properly to reach maturity. The group shares best practices with people who work in forestry-related professions, provide tree-related outreach, or support community green spaces throughout the region.
This work group also coordinates the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Community Tree Network, which meets several times a year to bring together forestry experts and community members for networking, peer-to-peer mentoring, and practical training. Volunteers and nonforestry professionals are welcome.
Co-Chairs
Brianna White, CEO and office manager, Emerald Tree Care, brianna@emeraldtreecarellc.com
Michael Collins, Village of Riverside, mcollins@riverside.il.us
Trees and Green Infrastructure Work Group
The purpose of the Trees and Green Infrastructure Work Group is to ensure that urban forest ecosystem services are preserved and protected in local policies, and that oak ecosystems are understood, restored, and protected.
To do this, the work group assists communities in developing sound policies for managing public and private trees and to expand appreciation for trees as critical infrastructure that improves with age.
This work group advises on the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s work towards restoring oak ecosystems and implementing the Oak Ecosystem Recovery Plan. The group also drafts policy recommendations for tree protection and preservation, before, during, and after building or land development.
Co-Chairs
Karen Miller, Kane County, millerkaren@co.kane.il.us
Robyn Flakne, Village of Glenview, rflakne@glenview.il.us
Tree Risk Assessment and Management Work Group
The goal of the Tree Risk Assessment and Management Work Group is to maintain a healthy urban forest that is resilient to ongoing threats.
The biggest threats to our urban forest are the changing climate, in which extreme weather, increased pest pressure and associated issues will exacerbate damage to and from trees; and the unintentional damage caused by those without an understanding of proper tree care and arboricultural practices.
In this work group, arborists with diverse backgrounds represent both the public and private sectors and evaluate the biggest challenges to appropriately managing trees in the region. Through outreach and advocacy this work group seeks to inform and empower land managers to take action to support a healthy regional tree canopy.
Resources and Programs
Visit the work group’s Tree Risk Tool Kit for an informational, ready-to-share video to help speak up for trees and convince a local decision-maker of the value of maintaining our urban forest.
From proper pruning to tree risk assessment, the IAA and CRTI Urban Forestry Basic Training course developed by this work group gives participants a valuable introduction on how to care for trees. For more information and to register for the upcoming session, visit Urban Forestry Basic Training.
The spread of invasive woody plant species such as European buckthorn and tree-of-heaven diminish the diversity of the urban forest and can provide habitat for other deleterious forest pests such as the spotted lantern fly.
Members of this work group contribute to regional knowledge of how to deal with invasive woody plants by presenting at conferences and publishing informational products like the Management of Invasive Plants and Pests of Illinois.
Options for replacement plants after the removal of invasive shrubs can be found in the Healthy Habitats brochure series.
Co-Chairs
Kim Blaszczak, Cook County, Kimberly.Blaszczak@cookcountyil.gov
Daniel Miraval, Green Extraction Technologies and Emerald Tree Care, dmiraval@greenextractiontechnologiesllc.com