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CRTI Newsletter: July 2020
Equity, Funding, and Learning

In this edition: a message from CRTI Director Lydia Scott, the Urban and Community Forestry Grant is back, Urban Forestry Basic Training, and other learning opportunities

chicagorti.org || crti@mortonarb.org

Working Towards Equity in Urban Forestry

Equity is at the heart of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s goals. We have worked during the last few years to identify where canopy is low, and to understand associated challenges including low household income, increased flooding, poor air quality, higher surface temperatures, and increased health challenges. CRTI has an ongoing process to address these issues in our most vulnerable communities.

In many cases, current challenges and vulnerabilities are the result of long-standing disparity and discrimination. Last year, Lindsay Darling, CRTI's Data Analyst, developed an Interactive Priority Story Map to help us understand where needs are greatest and where we can work collectively to reduce this disparity. She has also studied redlining, which began in 1934 and ended in the 1960’s, and how that continues to plague the Chicago region today. Lindsay has written a short explanation of this practice and its effect on our region's canopy cover. Please take a moment to read her article.

As we think about the lasting impacts of systemic racism on the distribution of trees and green spaces across our region, it is critical to remember that access to green space has measurable health benefits that are currently relevant. Trees speed hospital recovery, reduce stress levels, help kids do well in school, and are correlated with lower rates of death from pulmonary and cardiovascular disease! Many neighborhoods across our region do not have equal access to green space, so these “green benefits” are not evenly available. It’s also paramount to consider that it’s not sufficient to have easy access to trees and green spaces, because all of our neighbors need to feel safe enough to enjoy them.

I'm hoping you will be inspired to work with us to provide equitable urban forestry benefits to the entire Chicago region — especially our most vulnerable neighbors. We cannot change the past but we can change our future. I encourage each of us to strive to improve equity and reduce disparity in our region.

-Lydia

Get Involved!

CRTI is working (from home) and looking to engage with you!

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Urban and Community Forestry Funding

The Morton Arboretum's Grant is Back!

The Morton Arboretum is partnering with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to offer urban and community forestry grants to municipalities, park districts, counties, and other units of local government.

The Arboretum is still finalizing its agreement with IDNR, but in the meantime, we are seeking to identify communities interested in participating in a grant program from 2020-2022.

This grant will fund an inventory of public trees and/or an urban forestry management plan. To apply, you must do one of the following: 1) complete both an inventory and a management plan; 2) complete a management plan based on an existing, updated digital inventory; or 3) complete an inventory if match funds are not available to complete both. For this cycle, there are no funds available for tree planting. This funding will only cover projects on public land that is owned by a unit of local government.

Please visit ChicagoRTI.org/FY20Grant for more information and to indicate your interest.

Learn and Earn Credits!

For a full, shareable spreadsheet of webinars and educational opportunities, click here!

CRTI Urban Forestry Basic Training
A 2-day, hands-on training event for non-forestry professionals who work with trees. Do you maintain streets, utilities or infrastructure around trees? Have you ever had to plant or prune trees, but you've never been trained on best forestry management practices? Do you have trouble answering your clients' questions about tree management? If you answered yes to any of these, learn more about CRTI's Urban Forestry Basic Training and register today.

Fall session: September 1-2 in Montgomery, IL
Class is limited to 20 participants to maintain social distancing
Cost: $25 per day or $35 for both days
Registration fee includes lunch and coffee
Contact Melissa Custic for more information: mcustic@mortonarb.org

IAA Virtual Summer Conference
Introducing a new four-day Illinois Arborist Association 2020 Summer Conference Series!

Monday, July 13 – Thursday, July 16 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. each day.
Two, 1-hour presentations each day for eight total hours of virtual learning and engagement.
Registration Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2020
Click here for presentation descriptions and speaker bios

ACT Webinar Series: Can Stewardship Improve Tree Health?
The USDA Forest Service, Arbor Day Foundation and The Nature Conservancy invite Alliance for Community Trees members to collaborate on a research effort exploring whether stewardship activities such as watering, mulching, and tree monitoring impact overall tree health. Join us for three interactive meetings in July that include the research question, community-based research tools, and a data project. Complete the entire series for a certificate from the USDA Forest Service.

TREE Fund Webinars
TREE Fund webinars bring you the latest in tree research directly from the scientists themselves. The one-hour webinars are free and offer 1.0 CEU (only for live broadcast) from ISA, SAF, NALP, LACES. Space is limited and pre-registration is highly recommended.

See the schedule and register

DePaul University’s MS in Environmental Science (MSES) degree
This student-focused program has both thesis and professional tracks in ecological restoration, species and landscape conservation, biodiversity management, urban forestry, green infrastructure management, and ecological consultancy. For a video highlighting current students, click here.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis for Winter, Spring, or Fall quarters (Fall encouraged). Apply by July 15 for a Fall quarter start.

Learn more from the DePaul website, or contact Dr. Jess Vogt (jess.vogt@depaul.edu) to chat via Zoom, phone or email. You can also contact program director Mark Potosnak at mark.potosnak@depaul.edu or 773-325-7867.

Are you a Veteran looking to become Certified?
The State of Illinois, Department of Veterans Affairs is introducing a new opportunity in the field of arboriculture with the Montgomery GI Bill for United States Veterans who wish to pursue a career in the tree care industry! Programs are approved by the Illinois State Approving Agency for the enrollment of qualified veterans and/or other eligible persons to receive Montgomery GI Bill education benefits, now including the following program approvals:

ISA Certified Tree Climber Specialist
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
ISA Certified Arborist
ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist
ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist
ISA Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

If you are a veteran working for a tree care company or have 3+ years in the tree care business, the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay for your certification!

Learn more and apply!

Fresh Air: A Virtual Art Exhibition of Chicagoland Nature
Artists from Project Onward present Fresh Air, a virtual exhibition featuring Chicagoland natural treasures, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, and sites within the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Fresh Air captures the human yearning for connection to the outside after months of shelter-in-place in Illinois and around the country.

Got woody invasive species?
The Woody Invasives of the Great Lake Collaborative (WIGL) is here to help you find solutions! Land managers, green industry professionals, gardeners, homeowners and educators can use the website to identify, manage and replace invasive woody plants and restore habitat for native plants and wildlife around the Great Lakes. Please visit, bookmark and share www.woodyinvasives.org!

Upcoming Grants and Funding Opportunities

For a full list of Urban Forestry Grants, visit ChicagoRTI.com/Grants.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Grants
The Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities Program provides funding opportunities for projects to construct green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) that prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments by decreasing stormwater runoff into Illinois' rivers, streams, and lakes. BMPs may be located on both public or private land. Deadline: August 21, 2020

IEPA Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Grants are available to local units of government and other organizations to protect water quality in Illinois. Deadline: August 3, 2020

Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
IDNR facilitates planting of native plants on school yards. Deadline: November 30, 2020