TREE ACADEMY – MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024
Using Diagnostics to get to the Root of the Problem! by Alison Herrell & Nicole Dunbar
Monday, October 7, 2024 Tree Academy 1pm – 5pm 3.5 CEUs A,T,M,Bs
An essential part of our job as arborists is to be able to give answers about basic plant and tree diagnostics, yet this is a commonly overlooked part of the industry. Often, arborists fall victim to red herrings, confirmation bias, or are limited by time and resources to get to the bottom of what is going on. In this interactive talk, we will review some “Diagnostics 101” topics such as signs vs. symptoms, biotic vs. abiotic, etc., spend time working through key questions, and practice the diagnostic process together.
Bio: Alison Herrell is a Community Assistance Forester with the Urban & Community Forestry Program at Oregon Department of Forestry where she provides technical, educational, and financial support to community partners. She is also Part-Time Instructor at Portland Community College where she teaches Integrated Pest Management & Plant Healthcare and Disease, Insects, & Weeds Identification in the Landscape Technology Program. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Valparaiso University and an M.S. in Environmental Science from Indiana University. She is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, TRAQ holder, and pesticide applicator in OR and WA with over 13 years of experience including tree climbing, PHC applications, sales, research, and education.
Bio: As a former ecology educator turned mechanical engineer, arboriculture brings all of Nicky Dunbar's passions together. Nicky owns and manages Foster Trees, LLC and leads company operations. Nicky has a BS in Environmental Studies from University of Oregon and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Portland State University. Nicky worked in ecology education for over a decade before transitioning into engineering, and has been working in the field of arboriculture since 2019. Nicky can often be found talking about fruit trees or discussing how reintroducing beavers is a key ecological strategy for resilience while the climate is changing. She can’t seem to say no to wayward chickens and currently cares for a flock of 7.
Level 2 - Basic Tree Risk Assessment Practice by Ryan Gilpin
Monday, October 7, 2024 Tree Academy 1pm – 5pm 3.5 CEUs A,T,M,Bm
Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) is one of the most widely demanded credentials in the tree care industry. In the process of becoming qualified, arborists learn most everything they need to complete a Level 2 - Basic Tree Risk Assessment. The only thing that they need afterwards is practice. Many arborists likely haven't filled out an ISA Tree Risk Assessment form since they took their test at the end of their TRAQ course.
This 4-hour Tree Academy will give arborists an opportunity to practice assessing trees for risk and seeing how their results compare to others. We will spend approximately 2 hours in the field assessing the risk of several trees and entering the results of our risk assessment into our smart phones. We will then return to the classroom to review everyone’s results and learn from one another.
While this session is designed for arborists with the TRAQ credential, those without a TRAQ credential are welcome and will likely learn even more than those of us who have the qualification. Participants will be expected to walk from the classroom as a group, separately perform level 2 risk assessments on 3-8 trees, enter data into a webform on their smart phone, and submit those data in real time in the field. Data may be used for a scientific study or other analysis to share with the chapter/arborists more broadly.
Bio: Ryan Gilpin is the Principal Consultant at Nidus Consulting in Portland, Oregon. Ryan specializes in risk assessment and management of trees in urban areas. Ryan is an apprentice to become an instructor for the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification program. Ryan is co-author of two Best Management Practices: Tree Care for Bird’s Wildlife BMPs with Western Chapter Appendix and ISA’s Managing Tree During Construction BMPs.
Introduction to Wildfire Risk Reduction
Monday, October 7, 2024 Tree Academy 1pm – 5pm 3.5 CEUs A,U,T,M,Bm
Wildfire risk in the Pacific Northwest is an ever-increasing threat to ecosystems and communities. As arborists how can we help our clients living within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) to mitigate these risks? Gordon, Joseph and Robin introduce some of the concepts from the new Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification (WRRQ) credential. This session provides information on fire behavior, steps home owners within the WUI can take to reduce risks, and how you as an arborist can provide this as an additional service to your clients. This session is a subset of the information provided in the full two-day WRRQ and is intended to introduce concepts that are covered more extensively in the full WRRQ course that will be rolled out across the region next year.
FIELD DAY EVENTS – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2024
8:00am-4:00pm rotation 4 times – 90 minute presentations
Building Your Tree Identification Toolbox: Utilizing References, Contextual Cues and Latin Taxonomy to Advance Your Arboriculture Skillset by Drue Morris
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 8:00am-4:00pm 1.5 CEUs A,T,U,Bs
Proper tree identification is fundamental to becoming proficient in more advanced arboriculture skills such as rigging, pruning, plant health care, and risk assessment. Tree identification can be especially challenging in winter and spring when reference features are limited. By leaning on good reference guides, contextual clues and knowledge of common plant Latin terms arborists can elevate their overall skillset in the field. We will discuss developing species profile references tailored to your area, common Latin terms found in binomial nomenclature, and how tree identification can elevate other aspects of your work. The arborist will leave with a better understanding of tree identification and possess the skills to better determine classification with resources when encountering a new species. Theses skills are essential to many other aspects of arboriculture and aid in raising the professionalism of the industry as a whole. This relates to the theme loosely through incorporating indigenous wisdom and references to species profiles as you build them for your community.
Bio: Drue Morris is an Urban Forest Planner with the City of Lake Forest Park in Washington with 8 years of experience in the green industry. She has worked in many factions of municipal arboriculture including nursery operations, ROW risk assessment, tree board advisement, development plan review and tree permitting. Before entering the municipal realm, Drue worked as a production climber in private arboriculture giving her insight to both sides of municipal regulation. Drue is a Board Certified Master Arborist and holds an A.A.S. in Arboriculture from Milwaukee Area Technical College.
Build Confidence in Risks and Defects Detection by Alby Thoumsin
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 8:00am-4:00pm 1.5 CEUs A,T,U,M,Bm
This presentation will help unseasoned and veteran Arborists to build or maintain confidence in the detection of potential risks and defects in trees. As the interest for the TRAQ Qualification increases, this field workshop is a great way to sharpen the skills of those who plan on becoming TRAQ qualified.
Bio: Alby Thoumsin was born and raised in the Belgian Ardenne in 1963. A degree in Forestry obtained in 1983 lead him to work early on with trees but timber production was not his call so after working in all aspects of Forestry for two years, he continued his career creating and maintaining landscapes. Alby moved in Oregon in 1992 and worked in landscaping until 99. He became an ISA Certified Arborist and his first love for trees came back to bite him quickly so he changed career and joined Sperry Tree Care or Eugene in March of 99 where he still works as Consultant and Sales. Alby became an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist in 2007 and was part of the first group who became TRACE Certified and holds the TRAQ Qualification. Past Education chairman then President of Eugene Tree Foundation (Now Friends Of Trees Eugene) he was also the recipient of the Oregon Community Trees Professional Award. He and Becky his wife have a daughter called Raven and they live in Springfield, OR. Alby loves to relax in Nature, play the Native American Style Flute, carving and crafting. His favorite tree is the Yew.
Tiny Wonders; Mosses and Lichens of the Pacific Northwest by Ruth Williams
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 8:00am-4:00pm 1.5 CEUs A,M,Bs
Lichens and mosses are ecologically important in the Pacific Northwest as food, shelter, and home-making material for wildlife, and historically, for people. Let's discuss these often overlooked forest organisms and what they can tell us about the trees in our community. Their lifecycles, adaptations to epiphytic life, and natural histories will be shared. This talk touches on hydrology, taxonomy, and biology through extraordinary examples sourced from Bruce McCune's Microlichens of the Pacific Northwest and Robin Wall Kimmerer's Gathering Moss.
Bio: Ruth Williams is a consulting arborist and ecology enthusiast with degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from University of California, Davis. She teaches and guides interpretive hikes on a wide variety of ecological subjects, and supports her clients with tree preservation plans and risk assessments. She lives in Portland, Oregon where she swims year-round in the Willamette River.
Efficiency Tips and Tricks for Every Aspect of Treework by Dan Holliday & Sam Muskus
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 8:00am-4:00pm 1.5 CEUs
The focal point of this discussion is "Efficiency"! This presentation will explore a variety of invaluable tips and tricks to enhance your productivity and leave you feeling accomplished when you apply these effective techniques. We'll cover essential areas of tree work such as throwline techniques, climbing strategies, rigging methods, and equipment selection—all aimed at optimizing efficiency. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional, you'll find these techniques straightforward and beneficial.
Tree work is both enjoyable and physically demanding, often requiring labor in challenging environmental conditions—hot, wet, or windy. Therefore, it's crucial to work as efficiently as possible.
Efficiency is key—accomplishing tasks with minimal time and effort expended.
Bio: Dan Holliday, like many arborists, possesses a deep passion for the outdoors, an affinity for physical activity, and a knack for tackling challenges and solving problems, which naturally drew him to the profession of arboriculture. With a career spanning since 2001, Dan embarked on his journey in the tree service industry in the UK, later expanding his expertise across Australia before settling in Vancouver, B.C., where he currently operates Grizzly Tree Experts, a thriving small business.
As the founder of ClimbingArborist.com, Dan established this platform to share valuable industry insights and knowledge, reflecting his commitment to advancing the field.
Safety and efficiency are central to Dan's ethos, guiding his practices within his team and advocating for industry-wide safety standards.
Dan's enthusiasm extends to competitive tree climbing, culminating in his achievement as the B.C. Tree Climbing Champion in 2016. His dedication and expertise were further recognized when he was honored as the PNW-ISA Tree Worker of the Year in 2018, an accolade bestowed by his peers in the PNW chapter.
Dan continues to embody a passion for arboriculture, combining innovation, safety, and skill, with a real enjoyment for passing along his gained knowledge to the next generation of arborists.
Bio: Sam Muskus has been in the Arb industry for around 7 years and currently works for Silverback Treeworks in Squamish. His favourite part of the job is technical rigging and crane removals.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
Keynote Address - Syilx Indigenous Land Care: A Whole System View by Jeannette Armstrong
Wednesday 8:30 am – 9:30 am 1 CEU A,M,Bm
Armstrong’s expertise is in environmental ethics from a Syilx culture and language knowledge perspective, which takes a whole system and within that a kincentric understanding to caretaking different habitats. This touches on Indigenous Knowledge that helps us as professionals get back to our roots in the why and how we care for trees.
Bio: Jeannette Armstrong is Syilx Okanagan, a fluent speaker and teacher of the Nsyilxcn Okanagan language and a traditional knowledge keeper of the Okanagan Nation. She is a founder of En’owkin, the Okanagan Nsyilxcn language and knowledge institution of higher learning of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. She currently is Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Okanagan Philosophy at UBC Okanagan. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Ethics and Syilx Indigenous Literatures. She is the recipient of the Eco Trust Buffett Award for Indigenous Leadership and the BC George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a published author whose works include poetry, prose, children’s literary titles and academic writings. She currently serves on Canada’s Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
Changing the Culture by Adam Edwards
Wednesday 10:15am – 11:15 am Fundamental 1 CEU A,M,Bm
This presentation will focus on improving the opportunities for more diverse and underrepresented groups in the arborist work force. Doing so would allow for improvements in overall culture and also contribute to diversifying and increasing the presence of new ideas and perspectives in tree culture. By showing arborists how to create opportunities and better support their employees that don't fit the mold will create a significantly better work environment. Many times this benefit is missed due to sexism, racial bias and preconceived notions of individuals and groups. It is necessary a framework and information on how to avoid these traps and resolve these issues. The presentation will cover the following: how to improve management styles and understanding through language and actions; how to improve crew cohesion and moral through acknowledgement of skills; areas for mentorship and teaching opportunities
A Possible Municipal Response to Emerald Ash Borer and Other Invasive Pests for Pacific Northwest Communities by Jennifer Killian & Matt Mills
Wednesday 10:15am – 11:15 am Intermediate 1 CEU A,U,M,Bp
In the face of increasing threats from invasive pests like the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), cities across the Pacific Northwest must proactively develop management strategies to safeguard their urban forests. This presentation aims to equip municipal partners with practical approaches to combatting EAB and similar threats while fostering collaboration across organizational boundaries. Drawing from lessons learned in the Midwest, this session will explore proactive measures for early detection, monitoring, and management. By fostering partnerships among city governments, arborists, researchers, and community organizations, attendees will gain insights into building robust response frameworks. The presentation will also delve into the potential of urban wood waste management and utilization as part of a comprehensive response strategy. By repurposing affected trees and utilizing urban wood products, cities can mitigate the economic and environmental impacts of invasive pests while promoting resilient urban forestry practices. Join us as we navigate the complexities of invasive pest management, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions tailored to the needs of cities. Together, we can cultivate resilient urban forests that thrive in the face of emerging threats.
Bio: Jennifer Killian (she/her) is a Community Assistance Forester for the Urban & Community Forestry Program at Oregon Department of Forestry. In her home state of Wisconsin, Jennifer’s interest in municipal forestry was sparked while working for the state Department of Agriculture’s Emerald Ash Borer team, which discovered the beetle for the first time in 2008. Jennifer has a master's degree from Oregon State University focused on long-term strategic urban forestry management, using the Village of Mount Prospect Illinois as a case study. After finishing her master's degree, Jennifer worked with Friends of Trees in Eugene where she was the volunteer program coordinator and learned invaluable lessons about urban forestry management and communities. In her most recent role as Urban Forester for the City of Corvallis, Jennifer further developed a robust understanding of municipal forestry management, and the importance of building community through urban forestry. Jennifer is a member of the PNW-ISA and is looking forward to being more active in the organization. She is an ISA Certified Arborist and is a Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys being a semi-professional cake baker, triathlete, heart attack survivor, and her favorite role, new mom.
Bio: Brittany Oxford (she/her) is a Community Assistance Forester for the Urban and Community Forestry Program at the Oregon Department of Forestry. She is an ISA Certified Arborist and a member of the Pacific Northwest chapter. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and is a recent graduate of the Municipal Forestry Institute through the Urban and Community Forestry Society. Previous to her current role with ODF she has worked with the city of Portland’s Urban Forestry department collecting data for their street tree inventory, as a plant specialist for a local nursery, and as a research assistant on several conservation projects throughout the Western United States. In her free time you can catch her with her nose in a book or slowing friends down on a trail to identify plants and insects on the trail. She enjoys creating botanical illustrations, collecting tree cones, and drinking coffee.
To Kill a Tree: Diagnosing the Common Tree Killing Methods by Alexander Martin
Wednesday 10:15am – 11:15 am Advanced 1 CEU A,T,U,M,Bs
It is well appreciated amongst arborists and urban foresters that trees are not always the apple of one's eye. Trees can impede development, coat a car in pollen, and cover a yard in leaves. When the offending trees cannot simply be removed, some resort to poisoning their trees. Proper diagnoses of the common tree killing methods are important for litigation and, hopefully, improving the health of the tree. This presentation includes a review of the common tree killing methods from online sources and prior court cases, as well as the diagnostic approaches for these methods. From field tests to high-performance liquid chromatography, this presentation dives into the forensic methods for detecting those increasingly common agents of tree death.
Bio: Alexander Martin is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and holds a Bachelor of Urban Forestry with Honours from the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Forestry. He is currently an MSc student at the University of Toronto where he conducts research on urban forest management. He was a former chair of the Canadian TREE Fund, and currently sits as a member of the boards of directors of AREA and the Manitoba Urban Forest Council. He is chair of the Industry Trends Committee of the UCFS. He is a former recipient of the ISA's Millard F. Blair Award for Exceptional Contribution to Practical Arboriculture.
Maintaining Compliance with WorkSafeBC Regulatory Requirements by Chris Miller
Wednesday 1pm-2pm Fundamental 1 CEU A,T,M,Bm
This presentation is intended to explain the regulatory requirements for arboriculture work in BC. The presentation will focus on a prevention officer’s approach to ensuring compliance with the requirements under part 26 of the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Regulation with the intent of ensuring that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day. The presentation will highlight the importance of good planning to identify the hazards and risk associated with the work and identifying how they will be mitigated. The importance of being qualified for the work and the difference between qualified and certified will also be explained. The presentation will then discuss some of the loads that can be imposed on a tree by the work and the development of a tree climbing plan. The tree climbing plan will be broken down into the key steps that need to be considered. This starts with a visual assessment of the main parts of a tree to identify any hazards and risks. With these identified, the climbing plan can then be developed using safe work procedures that will eliminate or minimize those hazards and risks to the lowest level practicable. Documentation of the plan will then be explained and the minimum information that must be included and why. The specific tree climbing procedure that must be followed under the Regulation will also be explained along with tree climbing equipment requirements. The last part of the presentation will cover the certification requirements for falling trees.
Bio: Chris is an Occupational Safety Officer with Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia (WorkSafeBC) residing in British Columbia, Canada. Chris grew up in the UK with a keen interest in trees from an early age. After leaving school he worked in both the forestry and arborist industries before obtained a degree in Forestry in 1998. Chris emigrated to Canada in 2002 and worked in the forest industry before establishing and running a successful company focusing on off grid construction and tree management. Chris joined WorkSafeBC in 2013 as an Occupational Safety Officer. In this role, Chris used his forestry and construction experience to work with industry to reduce risk, keep workplaces healthy and safe. Chris background led to him playing a key role on several WorkSafeBC projects including from 2017-2021 the development of a new regulation addressing safe practices for arborists and tree climbing. Chris is also a member of the WorkSafeBC’s hand falling team. Chris continues to work closely with both the forestry and arborist industries regarding the BC Faller Training Standard and the training and certification of hand fallers and promoting safe work practices.
Centering Tribal Communities in Urban and Community Forestry By Brittany Oxford & Evan Elderbrock
Wednesday 1pm-2pm Intermediate 1 CEU A,M,Bm
Tribal forestry and communities are an integral component of land management, yet historically and currently there is little precedent for centering these communities with meaningful and explicit engagement. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Urban and Community Forestry Program is working to fill these gaps. In 2023, the program was awarded $10M from the Inflation Reduction Act through the U.S. Forest Service to offer grant money exclusively for Oregon’s 9 Federally Recognized Tribes (one of the only Urban Community Forestry Grant programs of its kind across the entire country). In this interactive discussion, ODF will share its experiences in intentional Tribal engagement including successes, limitations, and opportunities for growth and invite others to come to an open forum for conversations, ideas, and feedback.
Bio: Scott Altenhoff is the Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Prior to assuming this position in 2022, Scott spent 18 years working as an urban forester with the City of Eugene. Scott currently serves as a past president and ISA Liaison on the Board of the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA), as Chair of the Board of Canopy Watch International. He is also a Steering Committee member for the Urban Wood Network at the state, regional, and national levels. Scott has a long-standing interest in promoting urban sustainability via trees and green infrastructure.
Bio: Evan Elderbrock grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and developed a fascination with nature while canoeing the quiet waters of Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. After earning a BA in Geology from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, Evan worked briefly for the Minnesota Geological Survey and then spent four years as a field ecology instructor in Maine and California. He moved to Eugene in 2016 to pursue a master’s degree in Environment Studies from the University of Oregon (UO), developing research to assess stakeholders’ ecosystem service priorities and identify pathways to increase the delivery of ecosystem services at the neighborhood scale. Evan completed his PhD in Landscape Architecture at UO in 2023, where he investigated relationships between urban green space access, physical activity, mental well-being, and environmental justice. Evan joined the Oregon Department of Forestry Urban & Community Forestry team in March 2023 and works as Community Assistance Forester to advance equity, well-being, and resilience through urban forest planning and management.
Moving Past Pesticides to Manage Root Disease: creating suppressive soils and use of the phosphonates fungicides, fertilizers, or magic potion? by Drew Zwart
Wednesday 1pm-2pm Advanced 1 CEU A,T,U,M,Bs
In our changing and challenging climate, arborists and other green industry professionals are looking for novel ways to reduce stress on mature trees, and improve growth of younger trees. The use (and marketing) of phosphonate products as fertilizers, fungicides, and stress-reducing amendments is increasing. Well known as a management tool for Phytophthora diseases, their use has expanded to include mitigation of other biotic and abiotic issues. Many are labeled as non-pesticide nutrient amendments despite limited data to support use as a nutrient source. This presentation will clarify some of the basic questions such as what is a “phosphonate” and how they work. Recent research regarding disease suppression, stress tolerance, and application method will be presented. In addition, research on creating soils that are suppressive to root disease without the use of pesticides will be discussed. At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to understand the differences or lack thereof in different phosphonate or phosphite products, and how they could take advantage of these materials to improve tree resistance to environmental and biotic stress factors. Data from several relevant research experiments will be included and should qualify for BCMA science credits.
Bio: Dr. Drew Zwart is a plant pathologist and physiologist and has been on staff at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories for 18 years. He conducts research and provides training and scientific support throughout Bartlett’s western operations, including California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Drew conducts research on plant stress physiology, and plant disease and insect concerns, with a focus on sustainable practices and climate resilience. Dr. Zwart earned his PhD at the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture, studying the interaction of plant stress and disease susceptibility. Drew is an ISA-certified arborist and an ASCA - Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA).
Arborists & Birds: What Professionals Need to Know by Cayla Naumann
Wednesday 2:15pm-3:15pm Fundamental 1 CEU A,T,U,M,Bm
Migratory and nesting birds are protected at federal and/or provincial levels. Recent changes to the Migratory Bird Regulations protects certain nests (whether currently active and occupied or not) for 3 years or more. Contraventing the Migratory Birds Convention Act and Regulation and the BC Wildlife Act can result in fines and/or disciplinary action through your professional body. What do arborists need to know? How can arborists look after their clients and our feathered friends. This talk will cover a variety of topics related to laws and regulations governing birds and bird nests (a focus on British Columbia and Canada) including how to avoid disturbing birds and bird nesting, what to do if you find a bird nest, when to call another professional, and some examples of how arborists and biologists can work together to protect the birds and the public during hazard tree removal.
Bio:Cayla is a wildlife Biologist and Project Manager with 10 years of experience in terrestrial and aquatic biology in urban, rural and forested areas. She has specialist expertise in birds, including nest monitoring and management. She is also the western lead at Dillon on implementing eDNA techniques on projects and is involved with the iTrack eDNA grant project at the University of Victoria. She has been working at Dillon for 6 years, with extensive experience working with municipal clients to identify environmental hazards, complete associated permitting, and provide construction monitoring related services. Cayla has worked with many municipalities in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, District of North Vancouver) and southern Vancouver Island (Capital Regional District). Her experience includes assessments of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, species-at-risk and invasive species, on-site environmental monitoring and supervision, implementation of projects to protect biological resources, habitat enhancement and restoration and invasive species management. Cayla has experience in field sampling, salvages for fish and amphibians, data compiling, data reviewing, report writing and providing recommendations for mitigation measures and impact avoidance for a variety of projects and species (e.g., species at risk assessments, in-stream works, construction projects, environmental management plans). She has a background that includes lab and field work, including nuisance wildlife management, and is familiar with the application of provincial and federal legislation relevant to her work (e.g., Species at Risk Act, Water Sustainability Act, Fisheries Act, Wildlife Act). Cayla continues professional development through the board of directors of the BC Chapter of The Wildlife Society and engagement through other groups such as Environmental Managers of British Columbia and volunteering with WildResearch doing bird banding and other bird monitoring projects.
Starting from the bottom: Applying ISA's second edition of Root Management Best Practices by Brandon Namm
Wednesday 2:15pm-3:15pm Intermediate 1 CEU A,T,M,Bp
The International Society of Arboriculture released the second edition of Root Management Best Management Practices (BMP) in 2023. Tree’s root systems are poorly understood compared to their aboveground counterparts due to their variable distribution in the soil and difficulties involved in studying roots, including destructive sampling. However, research has given us insights into roots and how they should be managed. We have gained information about root system architecture, often thanks to development of new sampling and surveying technology. We also better understand the different physiological structures and roles roots have compared to stems and branches. As a whole, arborists have more professional experience addressing belowground conflicts between trees infrastructure. In Brandon Namm’s presentation, he will bring the audience back to their roots, providing a grounded foundation for the additions and changes in the new BMP publication. Specifically, he will discuss the new root management BMP’s recommendations for root inspection, root pruning, and minimizing conflicts with infrastructure. The presentation will also provide specific case studies where root management issues were encountered and addressed through creative and practical preservation methods. Additionally, Brandon will review current science around management of root systems not only in urban forestry, but their role in carbon sequestration and ecosystem health.
Bio:Brandon Namm is based in Portland, Oregon. He is the Principal Consultant of Laurelin Tree Consulting LLC where he consults on climate ready tree planting palettes, designs tree protection plans, oversees construction projects, and provides tree risk assessments. Specifically, he collaborates with architects and contractors to design infrastructure that maximizes tree preservation. He holds a Masters Degree from Cal Poly Humboldt (formerly Humboldt State University) where he studied belowground biomass allocation in tanoak trees. When not at work, he spends his time backpacking and gardening with his daughter and wife.
Climate Change and Its Role in the Pacific Northwest Extreme Events by Elizaveta Malinina-Rieger
Wednesday 2:15pm-3:15pm Advanced 1 CEU A, M, Bs
In this talk, the up-to-date information on global and regional climate change, including future climate projections from the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is presented. One of the consequences of rising global temperatures is the increase in the number and severity of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, floods, wildfires and droughts. Recent examples in the Pacific Northwest include the June 2021 heatwave, one of the rarest extreme events globally, and the November 2021 floods, the costliest natural disaster in British Columbia. This presentation will quantify the role of human-induced climate change in the probability of these events. This information can serve as a valuable tool to help the industry adapt to climate change.
Bio:
Dr. Malinina’s current research focuses on attribution of extreme weather events and temperature changes in Canada. She is involved in developing the Canadian Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution System and is a member of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) 7 Model Benchmarking Task Team. For the upcoming Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2025 she serves as a Lead Author on the chapter on climate extremes. Previously, she contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group I 6th Assessment Report as a chapter scientist and a contributing author for the chapter on human influence on the climate system.
Elizaveta received her PhD in Environmental Physics in 2019 from the University of Bremen, Germany.
Do You Know Your Trees? by Jim Barborinas
Wednesday 3:30pm-4:30pm Fundamental 1 CEU A,T,M,Bs
Do You Know Your Trees? As an arborist, you likely get this question all the time, what kind of tree should I plant? If you preach Right Tree in the Right Place, do you know which tree or trees are best for that location? If you are an arborist, then you should know your trees. This program will discuss some common popular varieties and expose you to lots of newer varieties and cultivars that you may want to try. Tree selection continues to evolve, and improved cultivars continue to be discovered. If you have not reviewed and edited your approved street tree selection list in the last five years, then that list is likely out of date. Would you like to consider more tree species than oaks, maples, and plane trees? Would you like to know why one cultivar is better than another, or even better than the species? Would you like to hear what other cities are using and why some are better than others? This session will solicit feedback and comments from others in the audience about their experience with trees being planted so that we all benefit from our collective knowledge and experience. As the climate changes, we will need more tree diversity to meet our future tree-planting challenges. Why repeat the mistakes of others when we can share, learn, and have all our trees perform better? Arborists who know their trees can help spread the knowledge.
Bio: Jim Barborinas, President and Founder of Urban Forestry Services, Inc., over 30 years ago, now acquired by Bartlett Tree Experts as Urban Forestry Services | Bartlett Consulting, has worked throughout the Puget Sound Region, with communities, landscape architects, engineers, developers, and private citizens on many urban forest issues. He has planted, grown, and managed urban trees his whole career. His experience and knowledge guide his tree selection and growing methods. For 25 years, Jim, and his wife Annie have also run Urban Forest Nursery, Inc., a 32-acre wholesale tree nursery, in the Skagit Valley, WA state, specializing in growing high-quality street and landscape trees grown in-ground in fabric grow bags. Trees are specifically selected and grown for characteristics that complement the limited planting spaces and adverse conditions typical of urban planting sites today. From his knowledge of growing trees, he is particularly adamant about root development, soil preparation, and proper tree selection. Jim continues to test many of the newest tree cultivars that appear to meet the demanding urban tree environments to find the best candidates for our city streets.
Urban Forest Sustainability: Long-Term Objectives for Long-Lasting Benefits by Meagan Hanna
Wednesday 3:30pm-4:30pm Intermediate 1 CEU A,M,Bm
Our understanding of the benefits trees provide to communities continues to grow. Urban and community forest management seeks to optimize these benefits while minimizing risks. In 2024, people across sectors recognize the importance of trees and their associated benefits being available and accessible to all. Nevertheless, urban trees face numerous pressures to their health and long-term development, which can affect how these benefits are distributed. Sustainable management seeks to ensure that the needs of present populations are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard offers a road map for organizations and communities committed to long-term management goals in the pursuit of long-lasting benefits for all. This presentation will address questions on the scope and guiding principles of this new standard along with tangible ways in which it can be used in the creation, tracking and communication of urban and community forestry initiatives. This will be a instructive opportunity to become familiar with SFIs non-profit work fostering sustainably managed forests through forest-focused collaboration, including our collaborative projects with Indigenous communities. By October 2024, the team anticipates being able to share some case studies of the organizations that we are currently working with. This includes showcasing best practices best urban forest sustainability practices and walkthroughs of the certification process. Presentation goals and objectives are the following: Understand the guiding principles and scope of the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard; Learn about how this standard proposes long-term objectives to foster long-lasting and accessible tree benefits for all; Recognize how this standard can be used to establish, track, and improve urban and community forest initiatives throughout Ontario and Canada; Get familiar with SFI’s non-profit resources in community grants and environmental education to support the sustainable management of urban and community forests for present and future generations
Bio: Meg is working with a network of urban and community forestry leaders to establish the new SFI Urban and Community Forest Improvement Program. Part of her work involves implementation of the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard across communities in Canada. Meg also supports the SFI Career Pathways Program in Canada to increase green job opportunities for all in the urban forestry and forestry sectors. Meg holds a joint honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from McGill University as well as a certificate in horticulture and green space management from Laval University. She is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist, has completed the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and has been volunteering for over a decade for the ISA and its local chapter in Quebec. Meg served on the standards committee for the complete revision of Quebec’s standards in arboriculture and horticulture BNQ 0605.
Climate Ready Conifer Selection by Robin Hastings
Wednesday 3:30pm-4:30pm Advanced 1 CEU A,M,Bp
This presentation is based upon research done for the author's Master of Urban Forestry Capstone project. The project was based on the question; 'Can 'climate ready' coniferous trees suitable for Metro Vancouver be identified using climate projections and a Species-Suitability-Matrix?'.
It explores the methodology for assessing climate suitability and provides an overview of which conifer species may be most suited to a hotter and drier climate in Metro Vancouver. While the presentation focuses on conifer trees, and the Metro Vancouver region, the principles can be universally applied. The presentation also reviews the overarching principles of tree selection for the urban environment and makes a case for the increased consideration of conifer tree types.
Bio: Robin Hastings is an arborist and urban forest planner who has recently completed UBC’s Master of Urban Forestry Leadership program. Having worked in both the public and private sectors for many years, he went back to school in 2023 to pursue further education in the field of urban forestry. The research for which provides the basis for the presentation. Passionate about ongoing education and professional development for our industry, Robin also serves on the PNW ISA board of directors as the Continuing Education Director.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024 CLASSROOM
General Session - The Arborist & the Ego by Trevor Coey
Thursday 8:10-8:50am
Trevor will be sharing how the arborist and the ego can effect decision making and how it helped navigate a life altering injury. He shares his account and experience of what led up to a tree climbing accident that should have ended his life, the recovery and getting back to the career he loves.
Bio: Born and raised in Victoria, Trevor has always enjoyed the outdoors. When a job opportunity presented itself in 1999 to climb and care for trees, it was a perfect fit. Starting his career with Mt. View Tree Service as a grounds person, he worked his way up to climber, crew foreman, and finally to Arborist Representative with Bartlett Tree Experts. Trevor is a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture and a certified tree care safety professional. "What I enjoy about this job is that there is always something new to learn. I am outside rain or shine, and I can pass on valuable information to help people keep their trees and landscapes healthy."
Practical Strategies for Improving Organizational Equity by Nicole Dunbar
Thursday 9am-10am Fundamental 1 CEU A,M,Bm
As the arboricultural industry grows, leaders need to be able to create and provide a workplace that values equity and inclusiveness. The overall culture of an organization plays a critical role in creating a workplace that attracts employees from different backgrounds and makes them want to stay. Creating a more equitable workplace begins with understanding the way that workplace culture can either help or hinder equity. This session will focus on Equity (the E in DEI) to show the overall value in creating a more equitable workplace and provide specific tools and strategies that can be implemented in any workplace. This session will provide a foundation for understanding equity, describe some tools and strategies that participants can use, and provide opportunity for open communication about challenges participants face in creating more equitable workplace culture.
Bio: As a former ecology educator turned mechanical engineer, arboriculture brings all of Nicky’s passions together. Nicky owns and manages Foster Trees, LLC and leads company operations. Nicky has a BS in Environmental Studies from University of Oregon and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Portland State University. Nicky worked in ecology education for over a decade before transitioning into engineering, and has been working in the field of arboriculture since 2019. Nicky can often be found talking about fruit trees or discussing how reintroducing beavers is a key ecological strategy for resilience while the climate is changing. She can’t seem to say no to wayward chickens and currently cares for a flock of 7.
An Introduction to Culturally Modified Trees by Alexandra Peck
Thursday 9am-10am Intermediate 1 CEU A,M,Bm
This presentation examines culturally modified trees (CMTs) in Coast Salish territory, generally defined as southern British Columbia and western Washington. Dozens of Coast Salish Native nations in this region historically altered red cedar trees, namely for burial reasons. “Tree burials” proved popular during the early colonial period, where this mortuary practice served a twofold purpose: to discourage non-Native grave interference and to reflect socio-economic changes in Coast Salish societies. However, CMTs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with other trees modified for use as trail markers, stripped for cedar bark, or utilized for wooden longhouse planks and artistic carvings. After exploring the unique history of CMTs, we will then learn how to identify such trees, including common “clues” to distinguish CMTs from naturally occurring trees. We conclude by discussing legislation (or lack thereof) and case studies related to the protection of CMTs from real estate development, commercial logging, and other threats in Canada and the United States. How can arborists, archaeologists, and cultural heritage specialists collaborate with tribal nations to locate and preserve CMTs, while being sensitive to the delicate funerary nature of some CMTs? How can governmental policies improve to protect CMTs, and how have past and current policies both failed and succeeded?
Bio: Dr. Alexandra M. Peck is the Audain Chair in Historical Indigenous Art and a professor at the University of British Columbia’s Art History, Visual Art, & Theory Department in Vancouver. She is an anthropologist trained in archaeology and Native Studies, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Her research explores cultural change and landscape in Native societies in Washington and British Columbia. She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Brown University. Previously, she served as Visiting Scholar of Indigenous Studies through the Mellon Environmental Stewardship, Place, & Community Initiative at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Her work has been featured in a variety of academic publications, and has been funded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research and the Reed Foundation. In addition, she serves as co-editor of the journal Archaeology in Washington.
IPM: history, principles, and new research investigating aphid biocontrol on lindens by Thomas Whitney
Thursday 9am-10am Advanced 1 CEU A,M,Bs
Pesticides are usually the focus of arboricultural pest management programs for their convenience to deploy and their often acceptable, timely results. A preferred IPM strategy that has lacked research on ornamental plants in urban landscape environments is augmentative biocontrol, the release of natural enemies to introduce new or bolster existing populations. If effective, biocontrol products would provide arborists with safer pest management tools for humans and the environment. Aphids are a ubiquitous and annual pest of many urban tree species (including those that are bee-attractive), decreasing tree vigor through their sap-feeding behavior and creating a nuisance with their sticky honeydew. Augmentative biocontrol has proven effective in greenhouses and agricultural monocultures for managing aphids, but its usefulness in complex urban environments is unclear. This research presentation will review results from two years of data collection investigating the ability of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (the aphid midge) augmentative releases to maintain low aphid population densities and honeydew volumes on single trees. In collaboration with the city of Portland, this study has been carried out on over 60 linden street trees and has received TREE Fund support to continue through 2025. Results so far are promising. The midges, released early in the growing season, appear successful in (1) undergoing multiple life cycles on single linden trees where vials of pupae were hung and (2) maintaining a relatively low level of aphid densities and honeydew volume throughout the summer. As a potential new aphid management service for arborists (pending a second year of data collection), the release of this predator would be a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and equally convenient alternative to traditional insecticides.
Bio: Dr. Thomas Whitney is a Technical Advisor with the Davey Tree Expert Company, providing support for the Pacific Northwest US and Western Canada. He has a BS in Biology, an MS in Entomology, and a PhD in Forestry & Natural Resources. He specializes in insect pests of trees.
Planning Your Future by Establishing Your Roots by Peter vanOss
Thursday 10:15am-11:15am Fundamental 1 CEU A,Bm
Providing an insight to advance your career in the arboricultural industry. The presentation will be focused on career advancement and the importance of continuing education to ensure a path forward when fieldwork is no longer a desire or an option. I will share my experiences that led to my sudden need for a career change from a climbing arborist to a senior associate consulting arborist and the steps I had taken that allowed me to advance my career. The presentation will be most interesting to people currently working in the field and people wanting to enter the consulting world. Of course all are welcome to attend.
Bio: Peter has 18 years of full-time experience in the arboriculture field. He began his career after earning a BS in Landscape Construction Management and Horticulture and has served in roles including climbing arborist, crew lead, trainer, sales arborist, and arboricultural consultant. As Teragan’s senior associate, Peter utilizes his extensive knowledge of GIS mapping, local municipal codes and alternative construction methods, experience collaborating with project teams, and technical expertise to ensure the successful preservation of trees during construction activities. Peter also performs the expert witness testimony for the court related cases and is a qualified tree and plant appraiser through the American Society of Consulting Arborists.
Trees and Landscaping for the New Norm by Sigrie Kendrick
Thursday 10:15am-11:15am Intermediate 1 CEU A,T,M,Bs
This presentation will discuss the importance of Xeriscape in the face of a changing climate with a focus on better tree selection. With increasingly erratic weather we must consider trees that are both drought tolerant and able to withstand the 60 degrees of temperature fluctuations occurring in any given year. The nursery industry can no longer rely on a handful of trees which have been used historically for reasons which have excluded tree health and sustainability. We must base our selection on the long-term viability of the species selected with an understanding that many of us are faced with increased spatial limitations. We cannot discount the use of large shrubs correctly pruned to offer the benefits traditionally attributed to trees.
Bio: I inherited my passion for gardening from my Australian grandfather, a renowned rose breeder in New South Wales. My interest in water conservation started early after a childhood spent growing up in the desert of Saudi Arabia, when a day of rain was cause for a national holiday.
I completed my Master Gardener course in 2014 during which time I met Gwen Steele, co-founder of the Okanagan Xeriscape Association. Her enthusiasm was infectious; I became passionate about promoting xeriscape and joined the OXA board as a director in 2015, becoming Executive Director in 2019.
I write a bi-monthly column for Castanet called ‘Gardening with Nature’ which is also published by by Black Press in a variety of their newspapers. I have been fortunate to share my xeriscape knowledge province-wide via CBC.
Through my tenure with OXA I have forged strong relationships with the Okanagan Basin Water Board and their Make Water Work campaign, various Rotary and garden clubs throughout the valley, and Interior Health. I give regular xeriscape presentations to municipalities, stratas, and landscape professionals. Throughout the growing season, I lead a weekly opportunity aimed at volunteer and community involvement called ‘Dig with Sig’ in the OXA demonstration gardens.
Getting to the Roots: Using good microbes in conifer disease management by Nicolas Feau
Thursday 10:15am-11:15am Advanced 1 CEU A,M,Bs
Reforestation to mitigate changes to climate is a source of inspiration for a large part of my research program. Local reforestation efforts require an extensive production system of seedlings with improved gains, including enhanced volume growth and adaptation to future climates. However, along this operational system, seedlings are attacked by seed-borne pathogens which threaten the large investment into selecting and producing seeds of higher performance. I will first present the results of a previous project in which we investigated the functional diversity of seed-borne fungi in > 6,000 conifer seeds and have identified the “foes” or pathogens that cause diseases and the “besties” that have the potential to provide benefits to the tree. Among the “besties” two highly competitive strains of Trichoderma that can provide protection to Douglas-fir germinants against pathogenic fungi, are presently under further investigation. We anticipate that the use these strains as a biocontrol agent for the early stage of the Douglas-fir seedling development represents an innovative solution to counteract the negative effects of seed-borne pathogens. These strains constitute a “natural product” of Douglas-fir that is already adapted to this tree, and which should provide better results for stable establishment and long-term pest-control. In the second part of my presentation, I will explain how experimental mycology coupled with cutting-edge technologies such as genomics and bioinformatics can help assessing the potential of these Trichoderma strains as a biocontrol agent and help aiming towards the development of an operational product.
Bio: Nicolas Feau is a research scientist in forest pathology with the Canadian Forest Service at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria, B.C since July 2021. He completed his PhD at the Université Laval in Québec and a post-doc at the INRA (French National Research Institute for Agriculture) of Bordeaux in France. Before joining Natural Resources Canada, he worked at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, as a Research Associate in Pr. Richard Hamelin’s Forest pathology lab. He conducted studies in several tree-pathogen systems, from poplar rusts and cankers to blue stain fungi, tree root rot caused by water molds and oak powdery mildews. He developed a strong interest and expertise in the use of genomics and bioinformatics tools to detect forest pathogens and get a better understanding of their mechanisms of emergence and interaction with trees. A significant part of his research program at CFS focuses on the early stages of the reforestation system, by ensuring that conifer seeds and seedlings will be resilient to pathogens in the context of climate change.