University News
WIU School of Ag to Begin New Minor Degree Program in Community Forestry
December 6, 2023
MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture (Ag) will begin offering a new Community Forestry Minor in Fall 2023.
The Community Forestry minor is about improving our communities, whether rural or major metropolitan, by incorporating and managing trees to improve the quality of life for present and future generations. The minor requires 18 credit hours. Courses include Principles in Community Forestry, Woody Plant ID and Dendrology, as well as Tree Care Science – Arboriculture. Electives in the minor also include an advanced course in Community Forest Management and a field skills course that focuses on tree climbing, pruning and tree removal.
WIU Forestry Instructor Paul Blome brings 35 years of professional experience to the classroom, preparing his students for a career in community forestry.
"The driving force behind adding the minor comes from employers in the community forestry industry, which is experiencing a shortage of potential employees with tree-related experience," Blome said. "Classroom experiences are enhanced by several industry professionals who visit the classes each semester as guest speakers to offer hands-on experiences and promote their numerous job openings to the students. The minor is open to students from any academic unit at the University."
Community forestry career opportunities are readily available in communities of any size from coast to coast and internationally, although there are more in higher population areas and stronger economies.
"Besides the strong job market in the industry, graduates gain the personal satisfaction that they are making their community a better place for themselves, their families and future generations," said Blome. "It's an additional credential for a resume and the industry is hungry for people who want to make the world a better place with trees."
Trees provide a myriad of community benefits, including environmental, economic, sociological and psychological. Tree benefits increase as trees grow in size and age.
"Professionals who know how to keep trees healthy are improving the quality of life in communities now and for decades to come," Blome said.
The coursework will include tree plantings on campus and Arbor Day celebrations provided at local elementary schools. Additionally, Blome is the advisor to the WIU Forestry Club, which provides student members with local experience protecting ash trees from emerald ash borers as well as the occasional pruning and removing of trees for customers in the community. These experiences impress potential employers who see the value in graduates who have actually gained applicable job skills while in school.
WIU has over 200 species of trees and shrubs, and there are countless opportunities on campus and in the surrounding community where students can learn and practice community forestry from planting, pruning, inventorying, diagnosing and treating trees.
"A future goal would be to get the Macomb campus designated as an arboretum to benefit the University and surrounding community," Blome said.
"People feel good about what they do when their activities make the community better. People who come into the Community Forestry program will gain skills to make positive contributions to their community."
For more information on WIU's Community Forestry program, contact Blome at PH-Blome@wiu.edu.
Posted By: Chiamaka Ezeobi (cc-ezeobi@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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