Welcome to Community Forestry
QUESTIONS? — See our Staff Contact Information below or email us at communitytrees@idl.idaho.gov. You can also find one of our statewide Area Offices by using our Interactive Map or by visiting our Area Offices web page at http://www.idl.idaho.gov/areas.htm.
Updates
› Community Forestry Workshops and Conferences Calendar
Understanding Tree Risk: A Webinar for Municipal Officials—DOWNLOAD
Sponsored by the States of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and the Pacific NW Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture
What We Do
Everyone agrees that trees add to the beauty of a city, increase property values and are generally nice things to have around, but the question is how can they really help solve some of the emerging urban and community issues in Idaho. An active community forestry program will assure long-term benefits to the community and its residents.
Our Mission
The Community Forestry Program will provide technology transfer and financial assistance to develop awareness and understanding of the value of sound urban/community forestry management among community citizens and leaders. Assistance is provided to Idaho Communities to establish and enhance sustainable urban and community forestry management programs on public and private lands.
Program Profile
Community forestry is a fast growing concept in Idaho that has created a demand for financial and technical assistance that far exceeds the Idaho Department of Lands' (IDL) current program. IDL has partnered with several agencies to increase our ability to meet these demands. While successful, these activities have also increased requests from communities for assistance. Especially those Idaho communities with a population density of less than ten thousand.
Idaho's rapidly developing populated areas often necessitate the removal of trees and other natural resources. Providing educational and financial assistance to preserve trees where plausible and replanting trees where desirable to maintain Idaho's quality of life is a challenging task. We will meet the challenge by combining a greater public awareness program with assistance and incentives to encourage city governmental participation and involvement. We will partner with public and private agencies and utilize technology transfer techniques to create a network of informed communities and knowledgeable local volunteers.
Contact Our Staff
Contact: (phone) 208-666-8621 — (fax) 208-769-1524
Email: dstephenson@idl.idaho.gov
David Stephenson is the Idaho Community Forestry Coordinator. This position involves networking with numerous federal, state, municipal and private agencies to promote the conservation and management of Idaho's community forest resources. David administers a statewide grant program for Idaho communities that exceeds $140,000 annually. The Community Forestry program relies heavily on partnerships and community volunteers to achieve the greatest benefits possible for Idaho's communities.
David received a degree in Forest Resource Management from the University of Minnesota, College of Forestry, in 1980. He has been working in the community forestry profession since 1978 in a variety of positions - as a community forester, urban forestry consultant, statewide program manager and, most recently, as a regional urban and community forestry coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In this position, David provided technical and program development assistance for more than 150 communities in a twelve-county area of South Central Wisconsin. David is also an active volunteer. He has served as president of the Wisconsin Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), a member of the core planning team for the 2001 ISA Conference and neighborhood nonprofit friends group and as a Tree Board member for the City of Madison, Wisconsin. He has also ridden his recumbent bicycle in the 2000 and 2001 Tour des Trees, raising nearly $40,000 for community tree research.
David and his wife, Annette, enjoy travel and a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling, sailing, rock climbing, cross country and downhill skiing, snowshoeing and gardening. They look forward to living and recreating in the Inland Empire.
Contact: (phone) 208-666-8622 — (fax) 208-769-1524
Email: jjowdy@idl.idaho.gov
Joyce Jowdy is the Community Forestry Grants Program Specialist. The natural environment - its protection, conservation and enrichment - has always been very important to Joyce. By helping to administer grant and recognition programs, Joyce hopes to aid cities in their efforts to improve or protect the condition of their urban forests.
Previously, Joyce has worked in the capacity of educator, administrator and advocate for human service organizations. For nearly 10 years, as Assistant Director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., Joyce helped individuals affirm their rights and learn their responsibilities under Fair Housing laws. She also worked as an organizer for Citizen Action of New York, a Nutrition Lead for a natural foods department and has aided senior citizens regarding their housing needs.
Joyce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New York at Buffalo. After many years living in western New York, Joyce left that area in search of a new place to call home. The combination of mountains, water, trees (which she emphasizes) and the promise of green summers drew her to Northern Idaho.
Free time for Joyce is usually spent outdoors enjoying nature. She enjoys hiking, creative writing, photography, reading and (when the paycheck permits) extensive travel.
Community Forestry Assistants are Available to Help You!
The Idaho Department of Lands partners with the nine Resource Conservation and Development Councils to provide technical assistance to communities throughout the State. Cooperative agreements with the RC&D provide for the contracting of three Community Forestry Assistants. These specialists offer timely local assistance to cities and organizations in their respective geographic areas at no charge.
For additional information, please refer to the profiles below.
GERRY BATES
Community Forestry Assistant
Idaho Community Forestry Program
Cell: 208-681-5964
FAX: 208-529-0832
Email: plantingidaho@gmail.com
Gerry Bates has worked as a Community Forestry Assistant in Idaho since 1998. He currently works in seven RC&D areas: Three Rivers RC&D, High Country RC&D, Mid-Snake RC&D, Bear River RC&D, Wood River RC&D, Southwest Idaho RC&D and the West Central Highlands RC&D. Before contracting with the Idaho Department of Lands, Gerry owned and operated his own nursery and landscaping business with his wife. He is a past president of the Idaho Nursery Association, an INA Certified Nursery Professional, a Certified Plant Diagnostician and a Master Gardener. Additionally, he is a Certified Arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture. As a volunteer, he is the chairman of the City of Idaho Falls Tree Committee.
Gerry's responsibilities include assisting communities with the development of sustainable community forestry programs, assistance with grants, tree committee and ordinance development, helping cities to obtain Tree City USA status, Arbor Day planning, etc. Gerry also helps with the development of tree inventories, community forestry workplans and offers advice in design of new city parks or other public projects.
Gerry has lived in Southeastern Idaho all his life and currently resides in Idaho Falls with his wife, Ann, and son, Evan. Gerry's hobbies include skiing, hunting, whitewater rafting (he owns his own boat) and golf. He feels the nice part of having such a large area to work in is the opportunity to play on all those courses.
Community Forestry Assistants - North Idaho
This position is currently vacant. If you have any questions, please contact our staff listed above.
NOTE: Some links on this page will take you outside the State of Idaho web server. 
Document links on this page are provided in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
