2014

• One of the items discussed at the Continental Forest Dialogue’s meeting in 2013 was the development of repository for school-based educational materials. Dan Stern, of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and a new Dialogue steering committee member, volunteered to spearhead this initiative as it dovetailed nicely with a project he was already pursuing with APGA’s youth education program, Plant Heroes. APGA launched the curriculum hub on the Plant Heroes website in 2014. The hub is a curated collection of lesson plans that relate to invasive species, plants and environmental stewardship that educators can search by age, subject, skills and learning standards to find resources that meet their needs. The Plant Heroes website also provides a lot of interactive learning activities online as well as a variety of downloadable activity books and field guides to enrich the learning experience. Find the Plant Heroes curriculum hub here and share it with your colleagues. APGA would love to get your recommendations for additional content and has already built in a mechanism for people to make these suggestions through the site! If you have questions or other feedback about the curriculum hub, please contact Dan Stern.
• Created several fact sheets for use in educating policy makers, the media, and forest stakeholders about the threat posed by non-native forest insects and diseases.
• All documents produced in 2014 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2013

• Convened the ninth Continental Dialogue meeting November 4-5, 2013 in Pittsburgh, PA to cultivate collaborations toward action to address the threat of non-native forest insects and diseases; expand the effectiveness and reach of public and private entities and citizens in the battle against the non-native insects and diseases killing their trees; and identify and seek consensus on needed actions for major initiatives the Continental Dialogue will advance in 2014.
• All documents produced in 2013 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2012

• Convened the eighth Continental Dialogue meeting November 13, 2012 in Sacramento, CA to cultivate collaborations toward action to address the threat of non-native forest insects and diseases; look for opportunities to link state and local actions to Continental Dialogue efforts to enhance national policies and strategies; expand the effectiveness and reach of public and private entities and citizens in the battle against the non-native insects and diseases killing their trees; and identify and seek consensus needed actions for major initiatives the Continental Dialogue will advance in 2013.
• All documents produced in 2012 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2011

• Convened the seventh Continental Dialogue meeting October 5-6, 2011 in Boulder, CO to cultivate collaboration toward action to address the threat of non-native forest insects and diseases; continue efforts to link state and local actions to Continental Dialogue efforts to enhance national policies and strategies; expand the effectiveness and reach of public and private entities and citizens in the battle against the non-native insects and diseases killing their trees;  and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2012.
• Convened an Address P. ramorum Webinar on August 15, 2011 to hear updates from APHIS on some of the major regulatory changes the agency envisions may be needed to address P. ramorum and on the development of a guidance document on addressing positive P. ramorumfinds in wildlands.
• Convened a workshop on APHIS/National Plant Board P. ramorum Regulatory Program Review and USFS Framework for Sudden Oak Death in Wildland Forests, February 15-16, 2011 in Washington, DC.
• Delivered numerous consensus letters and recommendations to policy makers and federal agencies.
• All documents produced in 2011 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2010

• Convened the sixth Continental Dialogue meeting October 5-6, 2010 in Waltham, MA to continue efforts to link state and local actions to Continental Dialogue efforts to enhance national policies and strategies, enlist communities in the battle against non-native insects and diseases impacting their trees, and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2011.
• Held a Steering Committee retreat on June 3-4, 2010 in Boulder, CO to develop the agenda for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Placed Lurking in the Trees on the National Educational Television Association’s ACCESS feed, thereby helping ensure that it would air on many public television stations.
• Delivered numerous consensus letters and recommendations to policy makers and federal agencies.
• All documents produced in 2010 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2009

• Convened the fifth Continental Dialogue meeting on October 27-28, 2009 in San Francisco, CA to continue efforts to link state and local actions to Continental Dialogue efforts to enhance national policies and strategies, enlist communities in the battle against non-native insects and diseases impacting their trees, and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2010.
• Held a Steering Committee retreat on June 23-24, 2009 in Washington, DC to develop the agenda for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Met with OMB on FY11 funding needs for APHIS.
• Met with new Obama administration USDA officials with focus primarily on Q-37.
• Created and began promoting Lurking in the Trees, a documentary on Asian Longhorned Beetle impacts in the Northeast.
• Continued to promote and update the Don’t Move Firewood campaign.
• Delivered numerous consensus letters and recommendations to policy makers and federal agencies.
• All documents produced in 2009 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2008

• Submitted a package of Dialogue related information and recommendations to the Obama Administration Transition Team in a meeting. Meeting overview available here.
• Created the award winning Don’t Move Firewood website and secured formal support from 11 organizations. Website transitioned into a multimedia campaign.
• Developed initial newsletter for all Dialogue participants.
• Developed a resolution for the US Conference of Mayors and recruited sponsors and co-sponsors (including the mayors of Anchorage, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Sacramento, Honolulu, and Ann Arbor). The resolution was unanimously adopted at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting.
• Held the fourth Continental Dialogue meeting on November 12-13, 2008 in Grand Rapids, Michigan which provided the group with the opportunity to tie local-level challenges and solutions to national policies and strategies, enlist communities in the battle against non-native insects and diseases impacting their trees, and identify and agree on needed actions for Continental Dialogue to take in 2009.
• Convened a Steering Committee retreat on September 25-26, 2008 in Warrenton, Virginia to set the stage for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Delivered numerous consensus letters and recommendations to policy makers and federal agencies, and the organizations lobbying for appropriations spent significant time coordinating on their efforts.
• All documents produced in 2008 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2007

• Developed consensus recommendations on Federal Regulations Governing Imports of Living Plants (Q-37) which were then submitted to APHIS and formed an ongoing area of emphasis for the Dialogue.
• Crafted consensus recommendations on APHIS and USFS appropriations which were signed by 16 and 14 organizations respectively.
• Continued public polling efforts to refine understanding of regional differences in attitudes and to build the background information needed to launch Don’t Move Firewood campaign.
• Organized the third Continental Dialogue meeting on December 12-13, 2007 in Washington, DC to share updates on implementation efforts and agree on activities for 2008.
• Convened a Steering Committee retreat on October 2-3, 2007 in Elkridge, Maryland to set the stage for the upcoming Dialogue meeting.
• Held the second Continental Dialogue meeting on January 23-24, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia to confirm the Dialogue’s vision and goals, identify key areas of focus, and develop detailed strategies for advancing those opportunities.
• All documents produced in 2007 can be found in the Dialogue’s Library.

2006

• Initiated public polling efforts (e.g., surveys; focus groups) to identify best ways of communicating about forest insects and diseases and public awareness of the issue.
• Held a Steering Committee retreat on September 5-6, 2006 in Elkridge, Maryland to build on the work of the first Dialogue meeting.
• Developed the “Failure to Change” analysis paper for the Steering Committee.
• Convened the first Continental Dialogue meeting on June 20-22, 2006 in Potomac, Maryland to engage diverse stakeholders in exploring and planning for a collaborative effort to address non-native forest insects and diseases.
• Recruited a diverse Steering Committee to oversee the effort.