New York City’s urban canopy may be losing its leaves, but it’s gaining an opportunity to make some new friends: The NYC Parks Department has its latest tree census out, and includes an encyclopedic interactive guide to help citizens find their way through its forest of data.

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Downtown Madison ash trees rescued from the chopping block as deadline nears

The Capital Times, August 26, 2016 Steven Elbow

On Wednesday, Peter Ostlind declared a minor victory in the battle against the emerald ash borer.

“We were trying to cover the whole Capitol Neighborhoods area,” said Peter Ostlind, a Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. board member. “We treated every tree that met the city’s minimum requirements in those parks.”

Ostlind was referring to four parks with ash trees that are located in the city’s downtown area: Brittingham, James Madison, Law and Reynolds. Because of the infestation by the pernicious beetle, ash trees have to be either treated or felled. Treating them costs money and the city is looking for folks willing to foot the bill.

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Power to the trees

East-side residents want to bury high-voltage lines to save urban canopy
Isthmus, January 28, 2016 by Judith Davidoff

Soon after news broke that an entire row of trees on Emmet Street had been cut down by the American Transmission Co., neighbors to the south, across Atwood Avenue, offered condolences to those grieving the loss.
“The tree in front of your house is a family member — it shades your home, the birds nest in it, you hang your kids’ swing in it — it is part of your life,” wrote one resident on an east-side neighborhood association listserve. “You may not even know how much of a friend it is until it’s gone.”

But, he added, “The way you see the terrace tree in front of your house or on your block is completely different from the way that city forestry or Madison Gas and Electric or ATC…see it…. The city forester’s main job is not to protect or plant or preserve trees but rather to prevent any tree-related liability. We have to address this disconnect, and our community will be a better place for trees and people.”

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Madison residents alarmed at yellow dots signifying ‘death sentence’ for ash trees

Isthmus, April 24, 2014 by Joe Tarr

Christina Newton fears what her neighborhood on the near west side will look like after Madison deals with the dreaded emerald ash borer pest

“Our whole neighborhood is highly concentrated with ash trees,” says Newton, who lives on Rugby Row near Forest Hill Cemetery. “It’s going to change the quality of life.” Newton and others say the city’s plan to remove thousands of ash trees from the terraces — the strip of grass in-between streets and sidewalks — is too extreme. Especially when many residents are willing to pay to treat trees in front of their homes.

“If the tree is in great shape and the public is willing to pay, it’d be nice for the city,” says Newton. “It’s not a good idea to cut down all your trees. Part of the reason these trees were planted in the first place was that people don’t want sun shining in their living room all summer long. Utility bills go up.”

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