PRESERVING, PROTECTING AND ENHANCING NEBRASKA'S TREES AND FORESTS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: RREA
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1011707
• Project Start Date: Dec 13, 2016
• Project End Date: Oct 1, 2021
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
(N/A)
LINCOLN,NE 68583

Performing Department
School of Natural Resources

Non Technical Summary
The proposed demonstration and media outreach program will primarily target >1 million people in eastern NE, a priority landscape designated in the NE Forest action plan. A mix of media outreach and field-based experiences, focused through the use of segmented marketing, will target rural forest landowners; urbanites who would benefit from improved urban tree care; multiple "publics", agricultural producers and other groups.Effective forest management demos will promote practical techniques that, combined with a greater appreciation of the value of their trees and forests, will foster increased management on more urban and rural acres across NE. Media products will by their nature be useful statewide, and potentially across the Great Plains. We will share these products on the web, accessible by others wishing to replicate this approach.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
123	0699	3020	100%

Knowledge Area
123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;

Keywords

forest health

management

outreach

climate change

biomass

stewardship

Goals / Objectives
Nebraska's forest provide environmental and economic benefits to the citizens of the state which include soil and water conservation, wildlife habitat, wood and specialty forest products, wind protection and beauty. Today, there are many threats to the both rural and urban woodlands. This treats range from overstocking of trees to invasive insect and disease. Community forest are important to our citizens as nearly 66% of Nebraskans live in urban, suburban or community areas. Trees have significant benefit to the health and well-being of people in our communities. In NE there are approximately, 470,000 acres of community forests. NE's community forests improve air and water quality; reduce noise pollution; improve human comfort, health and psychological well-being, increase property values and improve a community's "sense of place." NE's rural forests include native forestland, as well as conservation plantings, such as windbreaks and riparian forest buffers.The yields of crops and livestock increase in areas surrounded by trees. Trees, protect our water resources by filtering sediment and runoff and trees protect our riparian systems by reducing erosion and by filtering water. NFS activities are designed to educate landowners and homeowners of the importance of healthy forests and how both rural and community forests can be managed to provide maximum benefits. Activities educate green industry professionals about proper tree care and emerging threats so they are able to interact with and educate homeowners and landowners about maintaining healthy forests. Woody biomass is a proven, reliable energy source for heating and cooling, as well as industrial applications, electricity generation and ethanol production. Woody biomass is a near-carbon-neutral energy source that can be used to co-fire coal-burning power plants, reduce air pollution and offset carbon emissions. For industrial applications, woody biomass can replace natural gas, increasing profitability and reducing net carbon emissions. NE's forests produce 92 million cubic feet of net growth each year, the equivalent of 1.47 million net air-dry tons of biomass. Other activities, such as fuels treatment projects and municipal tree trimming and removals account for an additional 172,000 tons of biomass. This resource offers opportunities to produce renewable energy, develop bio-based businesses in parts of the state that are often economically struggling, generate energy cost savings and create new markets for Nebraska's low-value and waste wood resources. Conducting a comprehensive, statewide inventory will provide facilities interested in converting to woody biomass energy with the information they need to make informed, strategic decisions. Educational workshops and materials will provide additional information and allow NFS to reach a broader audience.Goals are to:Measurably raise knowledge, awareness & perceptions of Nebraskans on the value & need for tree & forest resource management. Improve the health of Nebraska's trees and forests in both urban and rural environments by educating landowners statewide on the benefits of trees and current issues related to forest health, invasive insects and proper forest management activities. Educate the forest industry and natural resource professionals about issues and opportunities in the development and utilization of biomass. Work with legislature and citizens of Nebraska to prepare for the effects of Emerald Ash Borer, which is present in the state, thousand canker disease and Asian long-horned beetle which are in nearby states.We will use a wide array of outreach/education tools that target diverse audiences in order to change perceptions. We will harness communication resources, partner expertise & utilize field educational facilities to reach Nebraskans. Innovative outreach will target/engage specific groups on the value & need of tree & forest management. Priority target audiences are: elected officials, community leaders, conservation/timber/green industry leaders, producers, forest & acreage owners, & youth.OBJECTIVES Improve the health of Nebraska's rural and community forests. Educate rural and community landowners aboutcurrent issues in forest management and forest health. Educate green industry and natural resource professionals about currentissues in forest management and forest health. Prepare for the arrival of invasive forest pests, such as emerald ash borer andthousand cankers disease of black walnut, in Nebraska. Promote the use of woody biomass as a source of energy for heating,cooling and industrial applications. OUTPUTS Workshops geared toward rural forest landowners and natural resourceprofessionals Workshops geared toward green industry and natural resource professionals Tree care guide for homeownersContinue work as part of the Great Plains Forestry Partnership, a four-state initiative to prepare for the arrival of invasive forestpests in the northern Plains, including Community Threat Assessment Protocol inventories and reports and exploringopportunities for woody biomass utilization in Nebraska. Conduct biomass inventories of 400 randomly selected plots locatedacross Nebraska. Use results of inventories to promote the use of woody biomass as an energy source for heating, cooling andindustrial applications via educational products and workshops.

Project Methods
NFS has demonstrated a successful history of engaging a wide range of locally-based partners, NGO and green industry organizations (115+ tree boards, 230 ReTree Ambassadors, 1,000+ NSA members, etc) & will capitalize on these partnerships to implement this targeted outreach and education project. Partners have agreed to support this e/o project based on the joint and marked concern regarding declining public perceptions of and interest in trees and forests. Partners will combine their expertise to jointly design and implement the educational/outreach media initiative that will utilize traditional and social media-based platforms, media events and other means that maximize exposure and impacts.Host an annual workshop for natural resource professionals and rural forest landowners focusing on current and emergingissues in forest stewardship, forestland management and forest health. Sponsor a series of Tree Care Workshops for greenindustry and natural resource professionals focusing on current and emerging issues in community forestry, tree care and foresthealth. Coordinate ReTree Nebraska, a statewide initiative to plant 1 million trees in NE communities by 2017 and educateNebraskans about the proper planting and care of trees, as well as the role trees and forests play in healthy communities.Develop a tree care guide for homeowners that includes detailed information about tree selection, planting and care, as well asinformation about common tree insects and diseases. Through the Community Threat Assessment Program, inventory 35strategically selected NE communities and develop a detailed report specific to each community inventoried. Reports will includean overview of each community's forest resource, threat assessments and an analysis of public benefits provided by thecommunity's forest resource. providing community leaders information about the potential impact these threats pose for the localresource and potential proactive management strategies to minimize known and predicted threats and strategically managelimited resources while maximizing the viability and benefits provided by the community forest resource. Once assessments arecompleted, NFS will begin public education and outreach programs within the communities as a way of advocating for andenhancing public benefits from the community's tree resources. Community leaders will also be engaged to formulate responseplans that can be linked with existing community-based programs, such as Tree City USA, ReTree Nebraska and the GreenerCommunities Initiative. Attendance at each event will be monitored, as will the number of landowners who adopt and implementforest management plans and the number of communities requesting assistance for forestry-related issues. The number ofcommunities and landowners participating in ReTree Nebraska, the number of trees planted will also be monitored.Using theUSFS's Forest Inventory and Analysis program, inventories will be conducted in 400 randomly selected areas that are classifiedas "forested" or "land with trees." Plots will be classified, and data collected on the number of trees, tree species, tree stemdiameter, tree health, tree height, forest stand density and seedling count. Reference photos will be taken of the plot center.Completed inventories will provide NFS the data necessary to estimate potentially available, local biomass resources, predictfuture growth and allow future estimation using aerial imagery. This information will help interested facilities determine biomassutilization feasibility. Host workshops in areas where there is high potential for woody biomass energy use. These workshopswill be targeted toward facilities and forest landowners. Develop educational products (publications, videos, etc.) to informfacilities and forest landowners of NE's woody biomass potential and its benefits.This project will leveragestate & partner field-based investments, substantially increasing the use of the Living Learning Centers (LLC) to provide meaningful perception-changing educational outcomes. Partners will encourage groups to utilize the LLC demonstration forests and associated programming, resulting in educating and informing thousands of Nebraskans on the value of trees. Beyond the joint outreach efforts of this project, partners and other organizations are expected to independently develop, promote and implement additional programming events at the LLCs long after the grant ends.The comprehensive, highly targeted education/outreach initiative, will utilization of Living Learning Centers, complimented by innovative educational events and field demonstrations, all done with partners, will have substantial impacts on the way Nebraskans view trees and forests. These focused, targeted efforts by multiple partners will have a measureable impact on reversing the long-term perceptions of trees in the state.

Progress 12/13/16 to 10/01/21

Outputs
Target Audience: elected officials community leaders conservation/timber/green industry leaders producers forest & acreage owners youth Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Provided direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers, and land stewards Assisted landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors In 2021 our Forest Health Program continues to be impactful across Nebraska. FH workshops and presentations helped educate over 1,600 people focused on tree pest detection, diagnosis, insects, diseases, windbreak issues, herbicides, freeze damage, chlorosis, exotic pests, tree physiology and anatomy, soils, watering, and nutrition/fertilization. We created seven videos on various tree pests and problems. Professional Development Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) forestry assistance staff provided crucial forest management planning and implementation to both private and public landowners. Along with more than 944 projects visits conducted by staff, 199 management plans (57 were Forest Stewardship Management Plans) were developed to facilitate the management of 58,840 acres of Nebraska forests (45,782 acres under Forest Stewardship Management Plans). These management plans led to 3,562.42 acres managed through$1,432,148.49 in financial assistance provided to public and private landowners. Foresters also coordinated the reforestation of 120 acres of pine forest in the Pine Ridge. Along with direct, technical assistance, Foresters organized 26 education programs (reaching 1,519 people), developed, delivered 67presentations (reaching 2,439 people), and participated in 451 media pieces. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Developed high-quality information, education, and outreach programs and materials Provided additional outreach in the form of a newsletter, publications, articles, and social media Developed stronger and more collaborative partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and internal/external stakeholders What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide increased direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers, and land stewards Assist landowners with access to cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Develop high-quality information, education, and outreach programs and materials for landowners Updating outreach material to include educational videos on overall stewardship BMPs Continue to support strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and stakeholders Identify long-term collaboration opportunities related to: conservation forestry windbreak renovation Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? OUTPUTS: Workshops focused on rural forest landowners and natural resource professionals Workshops geared toward green industry and natural resource professionals Tree care guides for homeowners Continue work as part of the Great Plains Forestry Partnership, a four-state initiative to prepare for the arrival of invasive forest pests in the northern Plains, including Community Threat Assessment Protocol inventories and reports and exploring opportunities for woody biomass utilization in Nebraska Conduct biomass inventories for randomly selected plots located across Nebraska Use results of inventories to promote the use of woody biomass as an energy source for heating, cooling, and industrial applications via educational products and workshops In 2021, NFS programming directly reached over 253,422 Nebraskans. Our staff worked in over 150 communities. The team provided 133 presentations, hosted 187 events, and contributed to 118 news articles and stories. Staff wrote 199 forest management plans affecting over 58,000 acres in Nebraska; planted over 80,000 trees/shrubs/forbs; implemented urban interface projects on 3,562 acres; completed 4 new Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans affecting 22 counties.

Publications

Progress 10/01/21 to 10/01/21

Outputs
Target Audience: elected officials community leaders conservation/timber/green industry leaders producers forest & acreage owners youth Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Provided direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers, and land stewards Assisted landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors In 2020-21, our Conservation Education (CE) program had to drastically rethink to do outreach. Through virtual outreach CE was able to do a total of 15 presentations. 12 presentations were done through a partnership with local community libraries. These presentations were for both children and adults and reached 137 people. Three presentations under the Forest Fest umbrella focused on engaging people of all ages and interests through three unique offerings. CE reached 58 people through these events. Professional Development The forestry assistance provided by NFS staff facilitates crucial forest management planning and implementation to both private and public landowners. Along with nearly 860 project visits conducted by staff, 253 different management plans were developed to facilitate the management of nearly 38,328 acres of Nebraska forests. Along with direct, technical assistance, forestry staff organized 7 education programs (reaching 184 people), developed and delivered 53 presentations (reaching 1,608 people) and were a part of 2,709 media pieces (reaching over 854,000 people). In addition to the fieldwork and promotional activities, staff are highly involved in university, partner and professional service activities How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Developed high-quality information, education, and outreach programs and materials Provided additional outreach in the form of a newsletter, publications, articles, and social media Developed stronger and more collaborative partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and internal/external stakeholders What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide increased direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Increase Forest Stewardship Plans (FSPs) by 10% (target total = 36 FSPs) Increase Forest Management Plans (FMPs) by 10% (target total = 28 FMPs) Assist landowners with access to cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Increase fuels projects completed by 10% (total target = 136 projects) Improve project tracking the implementation of the Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal Fuels projects tracking Non-FSP management plans Develop high-quality information, education, and outreach programs and materials for landowners Updating outreach material to include educational videos on overall stewardship BMPs Continue to support strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and stakeholders Identify long-term collaboration opportunities related to: conservation forestry prescribed fire windbreak renovation Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2020-21 under the restraints of the COVID-19 global pandemic, NFS staff had over 850,000 direct & indirect contact in over 100 communities through programming, media, promotion, and other outreach activities. NFS staff provided 117 presentations and contributed to over 2,700 news articles, magazines, newsletters, etc. Staff wrote 253 management plans affecting 38,328 acres in Nebraska; planted over 100,000 trees and implemented wildland-urban interface projects on 3132 acres.

Publications

Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:NFS staff provides key on-the-ground technical assistance along with additional education and outreach through workshops, presentations and publications focused on issues surrounding forest health issues, wildland fire, community forestry & sustainability, conservation education, and land management/stewardship. For example, our Tree Pest Detector program expanded training to carry out the goal of increasing invasive pest detection in the state. As in past years, workshops were organized to train tree care professionals in recognizing evidence of EAB in trees. The workshops covered several invasive pests and tree identification, but the highlight of the workshop was the opportunity to work with EAB infested logs--using draw knives to peel bark and look for larval tunnels and larvae. When COVID-19 began limiting in-person workshops, an alternative to the tree pest detection workshops was needed. Forest Health decided to produce videos that could be viewed any time to teach viewers how to recognize invasive tree pests. A series of four videos was made, each covering a major pest: emerald ash borer, thousand cankers disease, Asian longhorned beetle, and spotted lanternfly. These have been viewed 2,000+ times on Facebook and 300+ times on YouTube. Tree Pest Detector workshops included multiple speakers: Forest Health staff, NDA staff and USDA APHIS staff. The expertise and variety of speakers helped ensure successful workshops. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Provided direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Assisted landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors In 2020, our Conservation Education (CE) program had to drastically rethink to do outreach. Through virtual outreach CE was able to do a total of 15 presentations. 12 presentations were done through a partnership with local community libraries. These presentations were for both children and adults and reached 137 people. Three presentations under the Forest Fest umbrella focused on engaging people of all ages and interests through three unique offerings. CE reached 58 people through these events. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Developed high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials Provided additional outreach in the form of a newsletter, publications, articles, and social media Developed stronger and more collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and internal/external stakeholders What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide increased direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Increase Forest Stewardship Plans (FSPs) by 10% (target total = 36 FSPs) Increase Forest Management Plans (FMPs) by 10% (target total = 28 FMPs) Assist landowners with access to cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Increase fuels projects completed by 10% (total target = 136 projects) Improve project tracking the implementation of the Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal Fuels projects tracking Non-FSP management plans Develop high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials for landowners Updating outreach material to include education videos on overall stewardship BMPs Continue to support strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and stakeholders Identify long-term collaboration opportunities related to: conservation forestry prescribed fire windbreak renovation Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2020 under the restraints of the COVID-19 global pandemic, NFS staff had over 850,000 direct & indirect contact in over 100 communities through programming, media, promotion, and other outreach activities. NFS staff provided 117 presentations and contributed to over 2,700 news articles, magazines, newsletters, etc. Staff wrote 253 management plans affecting 38,328 acres in Nebraska; planted over 100,000 trees and implemented wildland-urban interface projects on 3132 acres.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Nebraska Statewide Forest Action Plan

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience includes: elected officials community leaders conservation/timber/green industry leaders producers forest & acreage owners youth Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Provided direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Assisted landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors In 2020, our Conservation Education (CE) program had to drastically rethink to do outreach. Through virtual outreach CE was able to do a total of 15 presentations. 12 presentations were done through a partnership with local community libraries. These presentations were for both children and adults and reached 137 people. Three presentations under the Forest Fest umbrella focused on engaging people of all ages and interests through three unique offerings. CE reached 58 people through these events. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Developed high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials Provided additional outreach in the form of a newsletter, publications, articles, and social media Developed stronger and more collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and internal/external stakeholders What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide increased direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Increase Forest Stewardship Plans (FSPs) by 10% (target total = 36 FSPs) Increase Forest Management Plans (FMPs) by 10% (target total = 28 FMPs) Assist landowners with access to cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Increase fuels projects completed by 10% (total target = 136 projects) Improve project tracking the implementation of the Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal Fuels projects tracking Non-FSP management plans Develop high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials for landowners Updating outreach material to include education videos on overall stewardship BMPs Continue to support strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and stakeholders Identify long-term collaboration opportunities related to: conservation forestry prescribed fire windbreak renovation Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2020 under the restraints of the COVID-19 global pandemic, NFS staff had over 850,000 direct & indirect contact in over 100 communities through programming, media, promotion and other outreach activities. NFS staff provided 117 presentations and contributed to over 2,700 news articles, magazine, newsletters, etc. Staff wrote 253 management plans affecting 38,328 acres in Nebraska; planted over 100,000 trees and implemented wildland urban interface projects on 3132 acres.

Publications

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:NFS staff reached over 15,630 Nebraskans across the State and staff worked in 163 NE communities. NFS staff provided key on the ground technical assistance along with additional education and outreach through workshops, presentations and publications focused on issues surrounding forest health issues, wildland fire, conservation education, and land management/stewardship. Our tree pest detection workshops have greatly expanded the state's capacity to detect invasive species. Over one hundred seventy individuals were trained to recognize signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer--and many of these were professionals who work daily with trees. In addition, the Canopy Pest Detection workshops gave participants a chance to work with EAB-infested ash wood--viewing tunnels and woodpecker damage and practicing bark peeling to look for larvae. Shortly after receiving training, a municipal tree crew from Lincoln discovered the first city tree known to be infested with EAB, and they credited their workshop training for the find. Other outreach efforts have focused on the sustainable community forest, from landscape to trees, providing Nebraskan's the education needed to make sound resource decisions and raise up the next group of land stewards. A highlight included the "More Trees Please" workshop which brought together tree caretakers to improve their tree knowledge and management skills. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training Provided direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Assisted landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities CE worked with223 educators and over 1,825 students participating in project learning tree, project WET and other curricula. The NFS "Sawmills for Schools" program provided three complete sawmills and kilns to high schools in western Nebraska to assist with their vocational programs.This turnkey operation allows hundreds of students each year to connect with trees and forests by providing students with experiential learning. Students make the connection with the lumber they use in the project while tracking the supply chain from the stump to the finished product. Helped woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors Professional Devlopment NFS staff facilitated crucial forest management planning and implementation to both private and public landowners. Along with more than 870 projects visits conducted by staff, 330 different management plans were developed to facilitate the management of nearly 33,000 acres of Nebraska forests. Along with direct, technical assistance, forestry staff organized 35 education programs (reaching 7,500 people), developed and delivered 75 presentations (reaching 4,700 people) and were a part of 234 media pieces (reaching 500,000 people). In addition to the field work and promotional activities, staff are highly involved in university, partner and professional service activities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Developed high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials Provided other outreach in the form of a newsletter, publications, articles, and media contacts Developed strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and stakeholders What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Provide direct, on-the-ground, technical assistance to woodland owners, agricultural producers and land stewards Increase Forest Stewardship Plans by 15% (target total = 40 FSPs) Assist landowners to access cost-share assistance programs to implement forest management activities Increase fuels projects completed by 15% (total target = 116 projects) Improve project tracking Fuels projects Non-FSP management plans Develop high-quality information, education and outreach programs and materials Review 3 existing publications Continue to support strong, collaborative partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, conservation organizations and stakeholders Identify long-term collaboration opportunities related to... conservation forestry prescribed fire windbreak renovation Help woodland owners and contractors generate income from management activities by marketing products to primary processors

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In 2019, NFS programming directly reached over 110,000 Nebraskans across the State and staff worked in over 300 communities. Our staff provided 317 presentations, hosted 403 events and contributed to 185 news articles and stories. Staff wrote 330 forest management plans affecting over 33,000 acres in Nebraska; planted over 124,000 trees; implemented urban interface projects on 950 acres; and assisted in the development of one new Firewise community.

Publications

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Over 31,300 individuals participated in traning activities in cooperation with NFS and NSA programs. Staffprovided education and outreachto professionals and the public on a wide variety of issues including insect, disease and other tree health issues,wildland fire, conservation education, and land management activities. One area of focus was on emerald ash borer (EAB. Tree Pest Detection workshops were held to train citizens and tree care professionals in invasive pest identification and survey. Theseactivities raised awareness, increased detection efforts, prompted readiness planning, and helped to clarify the complex issues surrounding treatments. Our Conservation Education efforts focused on reachingeducators and children in all six of the NFS's districts,offeringnew programing through field trips and specialty workshops,expanded our online educator opportunities, andcontinuedpartnerships. One specialty workshop included our winter wonderland series, which focused on conservation education even during the cold weather. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Staff directly impacted over 29,000 through education and outreach events incollaboration with NFS, NSA Inc., NNLA, LONM, NE Turf Grass Association, UNL-Extension and NE Arborists Association. Supported and promoted the annual arborists training seminar and arborists outreach program efforts including hosting 2 MWISA classes for ISA certification. Supported training series on tree defects, root health and proper planting practices targeting green industry professionals. Collaborated with university partners to implement 2 annual public outreach events in Maxwell Arboretum in both the spring and fall. An estimated600 attendees participate in these events annually and is well supported by UNL administration. Coordinated and supported Tree Care Workshops to 18 locations on disaster ready communities, community waste wood utilization, structural pruning EAB management and tree diversity in coordination with Forest Health and Marketing and Utilization Program. More than 367 participants represented 67 communities or organizations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Website 180,000 Social Media 18,000 Media Coverage 211 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Develop specialty workshops Provide Tree Pest Detector education and outreach Develop Wildfire Cadet Academy Curricula Offer 30 workshops

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Nfs.unl.edu Eabne.info resulted in over 55,000 unique users and 180,000 page visits, up 6% from the previous reporting period. Outreach efforts resulted in media coverage in211 unique articles related to forest health, communtiy trees, wildfire and conservation education.

Publications

• Type: Websites Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: https://nfs.unl.edu/nebraska-eab

Progress 12/13/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Over 12,200 individuals participated in statewide training activities in cooperation with NFS, NSA Inc., NNLA, LONM and NE Arborists Association and NWCG. Supported and promoted the annual wildland fire academy, fire school, tree pest detector, arborists training seminar and arborists outreach program. Supported training for professional arborist with a series on root health and proper planting practices targeting green industry professionals, provide training in forest health and community forest management for county and city officials and provided training for landowners in forest management and tree care. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Thirty-four conservation workshops and educator trainings were held in 2017 reaching 186 educators and 6087 students plus 16 new facilitators were trained.Over 7,200 professionals participated in statewide training activities in arboriculture and 37 forest health workshops were held reaching 1200 people.Rural forestry activities focused on landowner education with over 1300 presentation given resulting in 382 new management plans written. Thirty-eight wildland fire trainins were offered reaching 1100 volunteer firefighters. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Website 170,000 views Social Media 5080 contributions. Media coverage 129 articles What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Develop specialty workshops (Specific to Literacy, science, or after school programs, etc.) Complete the Tree Pest Detector educationa and workshops Align the PLT and WET curricula to the Nebraska Education Standards Lay the groundwork for establishing a state-wide youth network and establish the necessary partnerships Offer at least 30 workshops

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Outreach efforts resulted in media coverage with 129 unique articles related to forest health in the wildlands and communities and over 170,000 unique visits to the NFS website.

Publications

• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: 170,115 total page views, a 20% increase from 2016 Ash tree and emerald ash borer website generated 51,876 page views.