Webinar Toolkit - Urban Wood Network

Urban wood utilization and marketing is increasingly recognized as a component of quality urban forest management programs. The use of wood from urban and community tree care residues is an effective way to reduce municipal forestry costs and waste, promote stronger linkages with the forest products industry, and produce new economic opportunities. For many, developing a community wood utilization plan may seem like a complicated burden, especially when disposal of wood residues via landfill is viewed as affordable and efficient. However, finding value-added uses for wood generated through urban forestry practices can be a pragmatic way to provide benefits to your community.

The Urban Wood Toolkit was created to walk users through necessary components of building an urban wood use plan and establishing wood utilization efforts within a community. The Toolkit is designed to be used by municipal foresters, city managers, community volunteers or students and to arm them with information needed to advance their wood utilization plan. The Urban Wood Toolkit was written by Jessica Simons of Verdant Stewardship and Margaret Miller of Spalted Banjo Consulting with support from the Urban Wood Network, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the and the U.S. Forest Service.

The Urban Wood Toolkit is divided into six bulletins:

Bulletin #1: A Guide for Creating Urban Wood Utilization Plans
Bulletin #2: Building Organizational & Community Support for Urban Wood
Bulletin #3: Exploring Product Options for Urban Wood Utilization
Bulletin #4: Establishing an Urban Log Collection and Sorting Yard
Bulletin #5: Building Relationships with Wood Industry Partners
Bulletin #6: Recommended Resources for Building an Urban Wood Use Plan

Webinar #1: Start with a Plan: A Guide for Creating Urban Wood Utilization Plans

Watch the Webinar

The first bulletin, A Guide for Creating Urban Wood Utilization Plans is the backbone of the entire toolkit and is the focus of this webinar. Author Margaret Miller and MDNR staff speak about the need for increasing urban wood utilization in Michigan and beyond, their collaboration on the Urban Wood Toolkit and walk participants through Bulletin #1. Discussions include how to assess current capabilities, identify needed resources, and explore potential opportunities.

Dave Neumann, Forest Utilization & Marketing Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Dave is a relative newcomer to the urban wood community, and has worked as a private land service forester and as a silviculturist for the DNR for 15 years before joining the wood use program.

Kevin Sayers, Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Kevin has worked as the Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator at the MDNR since 2002 where he administers the state urban forestry program at the MDNR out of Lansing. Kevin is a graduate of Michigan State University (2001) with a Master’s degree in Forestry. The urban forestry program provides technical, educational and financial assistance to communities and partners throughout the state to support a variety of urban forestry activities. Prior to working for the DNR, Kevin worked in the tree nursery industry, and with the municipal forestry program at the City of Lansing.

Margaret Miller, Spalted Banjo Consulting, MI

With a resume that ranges from championing the opening of an Urbanwood Marketplace within the City of Flint to chairing the City of Grand Rapids first ever Urban Wood Utilization Sub-Committee, Margaret views wood utilization as a vital management practice, obtainable to any community. As a forester and consultant, Margaret is dedicated to viewing resource management through both an environmental and anthropocentric lens. Margaret received her degree in Forest Science from Michigan State University. As a consultant, for Spalted Banjo Consulting, Margaret strives to assist all of her clients by managing their projects and resources in the most effective and sustainable manner.

WEBINAR #2: From Leaders to Neighbors – Gaining Support for Urban Wood

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This webinar guides participants in strategies, resources and examples of how to gain organizational, community and industry support for an urban wood program. Urban Wood Toolkit co-author Margaret Miller walks participants through Bulletins #2 and #5. Following Margaret’s introduction Dwayne Sperber, founding member of Wisconsin Urban Wood and Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council Member, discusses his efforts to build support for urban wood in Waukesha County, Wisconsin as well as statewide through the Wisconsin Urban Wood network. Urban wood industry expert, Jim Wesp, shares his experiences in building a successful urban wood business by partnering with industry members from municipalities to urban wood buyers.

Margaret Miller, Spalted Banjo Consulting, MI

Dwayne Sperber –Wudeward Urban Forest Products, WIJim Wesp – Kettle Morrain Hardwoods, WI

Wudeward Urban Forest Products Owner Dwayne Sperber has always been interested in architecture, wood, and the environment. He was introduced to urban wood nearly twenty years ago, and with this intersect of his three passions, Dwayne immediately became a major advocate for its use. He has worked tirelessly to build awareness and markets for the abundance of wood being removed due to insect, disease, or circumstance. Dwayne is a founding member of Wisconsin Urban Wood, a nonprofit focused on building networks of people and businesses that links material streams and availability of quality urban wood products and services across Wisconsin and beyond. He is also an appointed member of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council.

Jim Wesp – Kettle Morrain Hardwoods, WI

Jim Wesp – Kettle Morrain Hardwoods, WI.

Other Webinars from the Urban Wood Network: The “How to Do Urban Wood” Webinar Series is available for viewing

The Urban Wood Network’s “How to do Urban Wood” webinar series is a collection of webinars showcasing urban wood experts sharing how they’ve been successful in utilizing urban wood. Urban wood enthusiasts from every link in the urban wood supply chain will gain a better understanding of how others in every link of the supply chain have successfully been involved in utilizing urban through their own ingenuity and through networking with others in the urban wood community.