ODNR Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Urban Forestry Assistance in Ohio

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On Friday, June 21, 2019, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Forestry (DOF) celebrated the 40th Anniversary of their Urban Forestry Assistance Program at a Forum held at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds. ODNR Director Mary Mertz welcomed the audience attending a program developed to celebrate the last 40 years, and look forward to the next 40+ years. 

 

Tyler Stevenson, Ohio Urban Forestry Coordinator, shared a presentation, From Seed to Shade: 40 Years of State Urban Forestry Assistance. ODNR also recognized several individuals, agencies, and organizations that have worked with them in the field of urban forestry over the years. Those recognized included: U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Congressman David Joyce, USDA Forest Service, Drew Todd, The Arbor Day Foundation, The Ohio Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, and Ohio State University (OSU) Extension.

 

On behalf of OSU Extension we want to congratulate ODNR for 40 years and thank them for presenting Extension with a Cambium Award in recognition and appreciation of the deep rooted partnership and continued public outreach and education over the years. Tyler Stevenson specifically recognized the work of T. Davis Sydnor, Jim Chatfield and Tim Rhodus and the partnership that included the development of an urban forestry curriculum, the first ODNR website, the Street Tree Evaluation Project, an annual City Foresters' Symposium, Emerald Ash Borer Education, and many other projects and programs locally across the buckeye state.

 

We thank you for the beautiful plaque and look forward to displaying it on campus for many to see! 

 

Photo of the Cambium Award presented to OSU Extension

 

Here is to the next 40+ years of working together! If you see Ann Bonner (Southeast Ohio), Lisa Bowers (Central Ohio), Lola Lewis (East Central Ohio), Stephanie Miller (Northwest Ohio),  Alan Siewert (Northeast Ohio), Wendi Van Buren (Southwest Ohio) give them a shout out and thank them for the work they do in Ohio's Urban Forests!