Tim Howe
Tim Howe has been a certified arborist for 25 years and served as Macomb’s first City Forester for 16 years, retiring in January 2017. During the 1990s, he worked in the Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Agriculture Department as a research associate in the areas of sustainable agriculture and community forestry. While at WIU, he helped with other citizen volunteers to assist the City in establishing a forestry program for Macomb.
In the 1980s, Tim worked first for Soil and Water Conservation Districts; then later with the USDA Soil Conservation Service assisting landowners to conserve their topsoil and other natural resources. He has a graduate degree from WIU in Recreation and Parks Administration, additional graduate coursework in wildlife management, and undergraduate degrees in Biology and Business Administration.
In retirement, Tim serves on the Prairie Land Conservancy (PLC) Board helping in its efforts to preserve important tracts of natural areas in west-central Illinois. Along with serving on the PLC board, Tim is also a member of several local civic organizations including the Morning Centennial Rotary Club, Macomb Beautiful, McDonough County Historical Society, McDonough County Genealogical Society, and the Western Illinois Museum. He also serves as the volunteer sextant for St. Paul Cemetery.
Tim and his spouse Suzan have a small farm near the McDonough-Hancock county line that they have under a forestry management plan, they are planting a field to pollinator habitat under the CRP program, and taking additional steps to improve wildlife habitat including keeping a close eye on the active bald eagle’s nest on their property in a big Sycamore tree along the Lamoine River. Their son Max is a conservation easement stewardship manager with the American Farmland Trust out of their northeast Massachusetts office.
In the 1980s, Tim worked first for Soil and Water Conservation Districts; then later with the USDA Soil Conservation Service assisting landowners to conserve their topsoil and other natural resources. He has a graduate degree from WIU in Recreation and Parks Administration, additional graduate coursework in wildlife management, and undergraduate degrees in Biology and Business Administration.
In retirement, Tim serves on the Prairie Land Conservancy (PLC) Board helping in its efforts to preserve important tracts of natural areas in west-central Illinois. Along with serving on the PLC board, Tim is also a member of several local civic organizations including the Morning Centennial Rotary Club, Macomb Beautiful, McDonough County Historical Society, McDonough County Genealogical Society, and the Western Illinois Museum. He also serves as the volunteer sextant for St. Paul Cemetery.
Tim and his spouse Suzan have a small farm near the McDonough-Hancock county line that they have under a forestry management plan, they are planting a field to pollinator habitat under the CRP program, and taking additional steps to improve wildlife habitat including keeping a close eye on the active bald eagle’s nest on their property in a big Sycamore tree along the Lamoine River. Their son Max is a conservation easement stewardship manager with the American Farmland Trust out of their northeast Massachusetts office.