Wisconsin Arborist Association heads to Forest Home on Friday for Annual Day of Service

MILWAUKEE __ A cemetery is no place for dead trees, so members of the Wisconsin Arborist Association will be on duty at Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum (2405 W. Forest Home Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, September 27. Arborists will remove trees killed by the invasive emerald ash borer and prune overgrown trees at the southside arboretum.

More than 30 Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA) members will offer their time and expertise during their annual Day of Service event. Removing dead trees will create space for 500 new trees Forest Home and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District will begin planting on the 200-acre grounds this October.

“Day of Service is our opportunity to give back by using our expertise to support non-profits and community centers with exceptional tree-related needs,” says WAA member and Dane County Forester/educator Adam Alves.

“We are committed to replacing our tree canopy to continue to provide environmental benefits into the future,” adds Forest Home Historic Preservation Association Executive Director Sara Tomilin. “Forest Home will always be a haven for trees, and we’re grateful for partners like the Wisconsin Arborist Association who recognize this part of our mission and help make it achievable.”

WAA members say they chose Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum for their 2024 Day of Service event due to its cultural and environmental significance. The cemetery is on the National Register of Historic Places. ArbNet certified the cemetery’s tree collection as a Level II arboretum in 2021.

“We look forward to the challenge of removing trees declining from emerald ash borer to make way for Forest Home’s new planting project,” Alves explains. “New plantings and healthy mature trees will serve the community for generations to come.”

Forest Home’s tree canopy captures more than 51 tons of carbon and 3,280 kilograms of air pollutant mass annually, contributing to cooler temperatures and cleaner air for families and businesses in Milwaukee’s multicultural Forest Home neighborhood, Tomilin says.

“Healthy trees contribute to a healthier community and keep our cemetery safe for the tens of thousands who visit us each year,” Tomilin adds. “WAA’s donation of time, knowledge and equipment is a gift to everyone who enjoys Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.