NEBRASKA FORESTRY SHORTCOURSE COMING TO NORFOLK, NEBRASKA

The Nebraska Forestry Shortcourse will be held June 22-27, 2003 at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE. The course is held every two years and is rotated across Nebraska. The last shortcourse was held at Peru State College and before that at Chadron State College. The Forestry Shortcourse is a practical, interactive learning experience for natural resource professionals, teachers, college students, and others who want to learn more about trees and forests.

Training will include indoor classes and hands-on field sessions. Participants will increase their forestry knowledge and skills in the principles of forestry, forest ecology and management, wildlife and forests, agroforestry, and community forestry in Nebraska. Other topics will include tree/shrub ID, riparian and upland forest management and establishment.

Mornings are spent indoors with afternoons devoted to site visits. This year participants will be shown western coniferous forests along the Niobrara Valley, eastern hardwood forests along the Missouri River bluffs, riparian forests along the Elkhorn River and other representative tree resources.

The course can be taken as non-credit or for 2-hour UNL credit. Costs are kept minimal and numerous scholarships will be available. If you are interested in this year's shortcourse, contact this office at 402-370-4024 for a current course brochure and scholarship information.

ARBORISTS WEBSITE

The Nebraska Arborists Association (NAA) has launched a new web site at http://www.NEarborists.org. The site contains information about the NAA, educational programs, and how to select a professional arborist. You can also search for a Nebraska Certified Arborist. Check it out.
(Source: Shady Lane Listserve)

COMING FOR THIS SPRING: THE FOREST LAND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (FLEP)

The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) is an exciting new Forest Service landowner incentive program authorized in the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-171). Through FLEP, State forestry agencies can provide a wide array of services to ensure that our nation's non-industrial private forests (NIPF) and related resources continue to provide forest products and safeguard the health of our water, air, and wildlife.

The program is being managed by the USDA Forest Service and will be administered in Nebraska through the Nebraska Forest Service to:

• Establish, manage, maintain, enhance, and restore NIPF lands;
• Enhance the productivity of timber, fish and wildlife habitat, soil, water, air quality, wetlands, and riparian buffers of these lands;
• Assist owners and managers to more actively manage NIPF lands and related resources;
• Reduce the risk and help restore, recover and mitigate the damage to forests caused by fire, insects, invasive species, disease and damaging weather; and to
• Encourage the use of State, Federal, and private sector resource management expertise, financial assistance and educational programs.

The FLEP national program funding is anticipated to be $20 million in fiscal year 2003, to be divided among the states. Nebraska hopes to receive $150,000 - $200,000. An additional $80 million will be divided nationally among each of the following four years. State forestry agencies can use FLEP funds to provide financial, educational or technical assistance to NIPF owners to achieve a broad array of objectives including:

1. Forest Stewardship Plan Development,
2. Afforestation and Reforestation,
3. Forest Stand Improvement,
4. Agroforestry Implementation,
5. Water Quality Improvement and Watershed Protection,
6. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection, Forest Health and Protection, Invasive Species Control, Wildfire and Catastrophic Risk Reduction,
7. Wildfire and Catastrophic Event Rehabilitation, and
8. Special practices.

Cost share rates will vary, but is expected to be 65% in Nebraska. It is hoped the state allocations will be set in April with signups to begin in May. Contact this office if you are interested in doing any woodland management work.

NFS FORESTER JON WILSON DECEASED

Sometimes tragedies happen that defy logic. Such is the case with the sudden death on October 30, 2002 of long-time friend and colleague, Jon Wilson. Jon had been the District & Extension Forester for the West Central Research & Extension Center, UNL, in North Platte, Nebraska, for over 15 years.

Jon came to work for the Nebraska Forest Service in 1987. He was very well liked and respected throughout his district. For those who knew Jon, he was enthusiastic about forestry and a strong promoter of tree planting for all conservation purposes in central and western Nebraska. Jon particularly enjoyed teaching youth about trees, forestry, and the environment, often volunteering at local schools, coaching local Envirothon teams, and participating in Project Learning Tree and NatureLink. Jon was an active member of the Plains & Prairie Forestry Association (PPFA) and the Society of American Foresters.

Jon was born October 3, 1949 in Dayton, Ohio and grew up in Delaware, Ohio. He received a BS degree in Forestry from West Virginia in 1971. From 1971 to 1973 he served in the US Army and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. In 1976 he obtained an MS in Forestry from Duke University. From 1976 to 1981 he worked for the US Forest Service on the Okanogan National Forest in Oregon and the Plumas National Forest in California. In 1980 he married Cynthia West. In 1986 he received a MS in Range Management from the University of Nevada at Reno. Since 1987 Jon has worked for the Nebraska Forest Service, University of Nebraska.

Jon's death is a true tragedy. He will be missed both personally and professionally. Expressions of sympathy and memorials may be sent to Friends of Viehmeyer Arboretum, Karen Christiansen, 461 West University Drive, North Platte, NE 69101.

VIDEO TAPES AVAILABLE FOR CHECK-OUT

Winter is a great time to sit and watch movies or an educational video. I have numerous tree/forestry related videos in my office for checkout basis. Stop by the Norfolk office and check these videotapes and others out. The following is a partial listing:

BENEFITS OF A SHADE TREE

Here are some tree factoids for your next Arbor Day presentation or Community Forestry meeting. To keep abreast of latest developments in research on urban forest benefit-cost analysis visit the web site at http://cufr.ucdavis.edu. A large front yard tree in a San Joaquin Valley community in California provides the following benefits each year:

1. Saves $30 in summertime air conditioning by shading the building and cooling the air (250 kwh), about 9% of total annual air conditioning cost.
2. Absorbs 10 pounds of air pollutants, including 4 pounds of ozone and 3 pounds of particulates. The value of pollutant uptake by the tree is $45 using the local market price of emission reduction credits. Uptake of NO2 by the tree is equivalent to NO2 emitted by a typical car driven 3,600 miles.
3. Intercepts 760 gallons of rainfall in its crown, thereby reducing runoff of polluted storm water and flooding. This benefit is valued at $6 based on local expenditures for water quality management and flood control.
4. Cleans 330 pounds of CO2 (90 pounds C) from the atmosphere through direct sequestration in the tree's wood and reduced power plant emissions due to cooling energy savings. The value of this benefit is $5 assuming the California Energy Commission's price of $30/ton. This tree reduces the same amount of atmospheric CO2 as released by a typical car driven 500 miles.
5. Adds about 1% to the sales price of the property, or about $25 each year when annualized over a 40-year period. This assumes a median residential property sales price of $100,000.

The value of all benefits is $111 in this example. Typically, a city will spend $20-$40 per year to maintain a street tree of this size (sometimes located in a front yard easement) and a resident will spend about $10 per year maintaining a large yard tree.
(Source: USDA Forest Service in Shade Lane Listserve)

WINTER TREE WORKSHOPS 2003

Saturday, February 22

The University of Nebraska School of Natural Resource Sciences and the Nebraska Forest Service is offering a one-day workshop titled "Specialty Forest Products: Increasing Profits and Wildlife on the Small Farm and Acreage." The February 22nd workshop will focus on emerging income opportunities for landowners as well as wildlife enhancement tactics. The event will be held in the East Campus Union and free parking will be available. Pre-registration is $10 and includes lunch, breaks and handouts. Late registration is $15 at the door. For further information or to pre-register, contact Christine Meyer at 472-9869 or cmeyer3@unl.edu.

Tuesday, March 18

There will be a Tree Pruning Workshop held at the Corps of Discovery Welcome Center located on U.S. Highway 81, three miles south of Yankton, SD. The program will run from 1:30 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. Information on proper pruning techniques will be followed by hands-on pruning demonstrations. This workshop is free to the public. Pre-registration is requested to help get an idea on the number of materials and refreshments to be ordered. Contact the Welcome Center at (402) 667-6557 or Steve Rasmussen at (402) 370-4024.

Thursday, March 20

The Nebraska Forest Service, UNL Cooperative Extension, and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum are again sponsoring Tree Care Workshops at six locations across the state in March, 2003. For the northeast it will be on March 20 at the Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center (room to be posted), 601 E Benjamin, Norfolk. These popular workshops provide basic and advanced, up-to-date information about tree care to arborists, nursery professionals, grounds keepers, master gardeners, landowners and others who work with trees. Landscape tree care is the main focus of the workshops, though many of the topics covered apply to trees in any situation.

Registration fee is $20 and deadline is March 3, 2003. The ISA and NAA have each assigned 5.5 Continuing Education Units to this workshop.

Agenda

For more information call Steve Rasmussen, District Forester at 402-370-4024 or call/write David Mooter, Nebraska Forest Service, 8015 W Center Rd, Omaha NE 68124, 402-444-7804. E-mail: dmooter2@unl.edu.

CUT DOWN CRIME, NOT TREES

Some city officials believe that trees in urban areas can hide would-be criminals, thus increasing the likelihood of crime. But a series of scientific studies by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign demonstrates that the opposite may be true. Residents living in 'greener' surroundings actually report lower levels of fear, fewer incivilities, and less violent behavior. There were also fewer crimes reported in these areas. Reasons why green spaces may inhibit crime include: vegetation alleviates mental fatigue, one of the precursors to violent behavior; green spaces are used more, deterring potential criminals through fear of being watched; and greenery promotes a sense of community, leading residents to feel safe and be more civil toward one another.
(Source: Arbor Day Jan/Feb. 2003)

Steven D. Rasmussen
District/Extension Forester
Northeast Res. & Ext. Center
601 E. Benjamin Avenue, Suite 104
Norfolk, NE 68701-0812
Phone: (402) 370-4024
FAX: (402) 370-4010
E-mail: srasmussen2@unl.edu

65th BIRTHDAY...

This year, thousands of Americans will celebrate thier 65th birhtday. This milestone event makes dreams of reitrement travel, and more time for grandThis year, thousands of Americans will celebrate their 65th birthday. The milestone event makes dreams of retirement, travel, and more time for grandchildren a reality. Unfortunately, turning 65 also means joining an age group with the highest risk of death due to fire. More than 1,200 Americans over the age of 65 die as a result of fire each year. Many of them might be alive today if they only had practiced a few minutes of fire prevention and learned fire-safe behaviors. Consider:

1. Residential fires injure an average of 3,000 older adults each year.
2. Fires caused by smoking are the leading cause of fire deaths among the elderly.
3. Older adults over the age of 65 represent one of the highest fire risk groups in the United States. Adults between the ages of 65 and 75 have a fire death rate twice that of the national average. Adults between 75 and 85 years old are three times as likely to die from fire and adults over 85 years old are four times as likely to die from fire.

The Nebraska Forest Service and the United States Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA), are working to reduce this risk and we need your help. Approximately 4,000 Americans die each year in fires and 80 percent of those deaths occur in the home. More than 25,000 per year are injured. Older adults comprise over 25 percent of fire deaths and 30 percent of fire deaths that occur in the home.

Share the fire prevention message with older adults and help prevent future unnecessary tragedies.

SPACE HEATERS

Do you ever use a space heater? I have a few rules for those, too. First, never add fuel to a portable heater that is turned on or still hot. The fuel could explode into flames. Second, space heater cords should not be run under carpets or furniture. The cord could overheat and cause a fire. Third, all flammable materials-that includes bedding, drapes, clothing, rugs, and furniture-must be kept at least three feet from the heater. Even the slightest contact with a heating element can cause a severe burn, shock, or fire. And finally, it's best not to go to sleep with a space heater running.

FIRE PREVENTION

Smoking - Make sure you are alert when you smoke and never smoke in bed. When you are finished smoking, soak the ashes in water before discarding them. Never leave smoking materials unattended, and collect them in large, deep ashtrays.

Cooking - Never leave the stove unattended while cooking. If you need to step away, turn it off. Also, wear tight-fitting clothing when cooking over an open flame as a dangling sleeve can catch fire easily. Keep towels and potholders away from the flame.

Heating - Install and maintain heating equipment correctly. Don't store newspapers, rags, or other combustible materials near a furnace, hot water heater, or space heater. Never use a stove as a substitute for a furnace or space heater.

KEROSENE HEATERS

Kerosene heaters deserve careful attention. You should keep the heater out of high traffic areas, doorways, and halls. But make sure the room you put it in is well ventilated. Keep three feet between your heater and any flammable materials.

Store kerosene outside, and keep it tightly sealed, labeled clearly, and far out of the reach of children.

If you have a problem with your kerosene heater and flames appear outside the heater, call the fire department immediately. Don't try to move the heater yourself.

KITCHEN FIRES

Each year more than 10,000 fires start in the kitchen. Most of these can be prevented by following these fire safety tips:

• Never leaving cooking unattended
• Keep the cooking area clean to prevent grease buildup
• Be aware of flammable objects by the stove (pot holders, dish towels, curtains and food packages)
• Always turn pot handles toward the center of the stove and use rear burners whenever possible
• Never wear loose clothing while cooking
• Heat oil slowly to avoid starting a fire
• If grease fire starts:
  o Put a lid on it
  o Keep oven or microwave door shut if fire starts
  o Don't run with the burning pan

AFTER-SCHOOL KIDS NEED SUPPORT

Millions of children of all ages go home from school every day to an empty house. Using a key worn around their necks or pinned inside a jacket, they let themselves into their homes and remain alone until their parents come home from work. Most families set rules and guidelines to help these children help themselves. But they are on their own.

Emergencies strike quickly, and children should not depend on having the time to ask parents for advice. So all children should learn basic fire safety rules:

• Matches and cigarette lighters are not for use by children and should be left alone
• Cooking should be done only by older children, only if approved by the parent, and never without extreme caution; nothing should be left cooking unattended on a stove even for a minute.
• Microwave ovens can cause severe burns and scalds because children expect them to be safe. Don't forget the cooked foods or liquids are extremely hot and can spill or boil over easily.
• If burned by something hot, run plenty of cool water - never butter or other greasy substance - over the burn; call the doctor or an ambulance.
• If clothing catches fire, do not run! Stop immediately, fall to the floor and roll back and forth to smother the flames.
• If a fire starts, do not hide from it or try to fight it! Leave the house immediately. Go to a neighbor's house to report the fire to the fire department.

Although there have been latchkey children since the 1880s, World War II brought more of them to light as fathers were shipped overseas and mothers entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers. Today, more than half of all schoolchildren have working mothers - between 2 million and 6.5 million children between the ages of six and seventeen care for themselves after school. The number cannot be pinpointed because such children are hard to identify. Parents often do not tell others that their children are at home alone, both to protect the children and because they may be embarrassed and feel guilty. Children also are warned not to tell anyone they are at home alone.

BE CAREFUL WITH THAT COZY FIREPLACE

Fireplaces and wood heating equipment can be efficient ways to heat, but the Nebraska Forest Service wants you to use them safely. Cover fireplace openings with tight-fitting metal screens to keep sparks safely inside. Have wood-burning devices installed by a professional and have them inspected by the fire department before you use them. Never burn while you are out of the house or asleep. If you hear a loud roar, sucking sounds and shaking pipes, you may have a chimney fire. Close any air intake vents to the firebox, close the damper and leave the house immediately. Call the fire department from a neighbor's telephone.

Bob E. Vogltance, Fire Resource Manager
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
441 S. Colfax
West Point, NE 68788
(402) 372-5665
E-mail: bv55315@navix.net

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For comments or questions contact:
Mary Jarvi, WebMaster
Northeast Research and Extension Center
601 E Benjamin Avenue, Suite 104
Norfolk, NE 68701-0812