Tuesday Speakers

Biography

In 2000 Gathright, founded Japan’s first Technical Tree Climbing School dedicated to helping people of all abilities climb large trees for recreation, rehabilitation and nature education. TCJ, is a Nation Wide organization with over 6,000 Certified TCJ tree climbers 400,000 participants.

He later founded Japan’s first Arborist Training Institute (ATI) with over 7,000 participants and Trainers through out Japan. These organizations lead to the establishment of Japan’s Largest Arborist Gear Import and Manufacturing company in Japan.

Gathright, believes that as an industry we under sell the benefit of our tree care services and our role in society. That we also under value our trees and the enhanced benefits that we can provide society. During this presentation he will share a business discovery that they are pioneering in Japan. It utilizes science based purpose specific tree climbing programs to increase the economical and societal value of the trees. It also increases the financial benefits for the companies that care for them. They have also documented the enhanced health and well-being benefits to employees and arborists who participate in their programs.

Abstract

When most people look up at a tall tree, they see a beautiful living thing, a source of shade, or even an obstacle. When Dr. John Gathright looks up at a tree, he sees hope, freedom and courage. Dr. John Gathright, is a Social Entrepreneur who believes trees are our friends, our teachers and emotional doctors. John’s doctorate is in creating Purpose Specific Tree Climbing Programs that Benefit Trees and Society. He has focused his businesses and organizations on partnering with trees to build healthier communities for Trees and People. By reaching across a diversity of professions and focusing on innovative ways of enhancing the benefits of trees he has transformed the arboriculture industry in Japan.

Biography

Janani is an urban forest and plant photobiology researcher, educator and consultant. As an interdisciplinary researcher and a Ph.D. candidate, her dissertation evaluates the environmental services of urban trees for human well-being. Her focus lies on UV protection and mediation of ultraviolet exposure and skin cancer risks by trees in urban environments, at the Thomas & Smith Lab, Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto. She is a lecturer at the University of Toronto, an active member of the Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition, Shade Policy Steering Committee, Board of Director on the Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) and engaged with various community groups. 

Abstract

Human exposure to green space and vegetation is widely recognized to result in physical and mental health benefits; however, to date, the specific effects of tree cover, diversity, and species composition on student academic performance have not been investigated. We compiled standardized performance scores in Grades 3 and 6 for the collective student body in 387 schools across the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and examined variation in relation to tree cover, tree diversity, and tree species composition based on comprehensive inventories of trees on school properties combined with aerial-photo-based assessments of tree cover. Analyses accounted for variation due to socioeconomic factors using the learning opportunity index (LOI), a regional composite index of external challenges to learning that incorporates income and other factors, such as students with English as a second language. As expected, LOI had the greatest influence on student academic performance; however, the proportion of tree cover, as distinct from other types of “green space” such as grass, was found to be a significant positive predictor of student performance, accounting for 13% of the variance explained in a statistical model predicting mean student performance assessments. The effects of tree cover and species composition were most pronounced in schools that showed the highest level of external challenges, suggesting the importance of urban forestry investments in these schools. 

Abstract

Trees and people have been connected over the many millennia we have been present on this Planet, facilitating our very existence. “Throughout human history, trees have enabled us in a very tangible way... We live in trees via building materials and furniture. We ingest trees – food and medicinal sustenance. We share our thoughts and knowledge using paper made from their pulp. We wear trees’ fiber for clothing. Trees convey us via canoes, wagons, bridges. They warm us in winter and shade us in summer. But these same tangibles have also inspired the intangibles – shelter can also be viewed as protection and sustenance can be of the spirit and the mind as well as for the body.” (Zurcher, N. In review. Connecting Tree with People: Synergistic Strategies for Growing the Urban Forest.

If one analyzes the intangibles – the myths, the art - one can see the effect trees have on our individual and collective psyche. How then do we turn ancestral connections into today’s actionable stewardship? How do we, the professional choir, get back to those basics that Dr. Alex Shigo was so fond of sharing – what makes a tree a tree - biologically, structurally, genetically.? How can the built environment accommodate trees’ needs, enabling all those remarkable capacities, so critical in a changing climate? How do we expand the stakeholder circle to create and include an informed citizenry?

This Urban Forester/Consulting Arborist’s observations from the field will offer insight into innovative strategies for the planning and management of the Urban Forest - strategies that not only provide beneficial outcomes for our urban trees but facilitate community empowerment, cross cultural collaboration and informed advocacy, resulting in a more sustainable urban ecosystem and a healthier, more connected human population.

Biography

Mark Roberts is a former President of the ISA and the New Zealand Arboricultural Association. He has been honoured nationally and internationally for his services to arboriculture and the profession. His relaxed and approachable presenting style has seen him talk on varied topics across the world stage. Mark has written industry articles for over 20 years, he currently writes for various industry organisations, associations and for green industry publications.

Mark is a consulting arborist based in Dunedin New Zealand.

Abstract

What is a Tree? A tree is greater than the sum of its parts, and in this presentation, I don’t plan to talk about any of them.

When someone is hurt or killed by a falling tree there is shock, followed by anger and outrage. The situation becomes emotional, logic goes out the window and the demands start to flow in. Trees are dangerous, trees are bad.

Big trees, small trees, healthy trees, all trees – trees are bad when the community is frightened. As arborist’s we need to calm the waters, we need to manage the outrage and de- catastrophise the situation. But how? In this presentation I shall introduce the concept of outrage management and decatastrophising.

Fear is an emotion and when dealing with frightened clients and members of public using logic, science, and common sense, might not work – in fact often, such things might make matters worse.

Outrage management is about guidance and letting the frightened have their say. As a consulting arborist and tree risk assessor, I shall share what I have learnt over the past 30years. I shall explain what has worked and just as importantly, I shall explain what hasn’t worked. Managing outrage is a skill that I was never taught, but I wish that I had.

Biography

B.S. in forestry, Oklahoma State University 1982.

Worked in traditional forestry in Colorado and California. Self-employed in Oklahoma and Texas as a consultant in urban & community forestry, & arboriculture. Employed at Oklahoma Forestry Services for past 29 years.

Since 1996 Mark and many others in the tree care industry have been involved with the Oklahoma City Memorial and the recovery efforts centering on improving the health the Survivor Tree. This native, American elm is less than a hundred yards from where the bomb was detonated and is the closest living tree that took the full force of the bomb.

Abstract

At the highest point on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial stands a very special tree in the hearts of the victims’ families, survivors and all those impacted by a senseless act of violence that struck the in heart of Oklahoma City 25 years ago. This native American elm has come to represent hope and healing and stands strong as a symbol for all to reflect upon remembering those lives lost and honoring their memories.

Today the Survivor Tree, like the Oklahoma City community, stands strong honoring those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever from the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building.

In 1996 at the request of the Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation Mark Bays an urban forester with Oklahoma Forestry Services was asked to assist with the care for the Survivor Tree and this has continued ever since. Many in the tree care industry in Oklahoma continue to voluntarily give their time, equipment and supplies whenever it’s needed. The National Memorial also wanted to be sure that the legacy and special meaning of this tree would live on and since 1996 volunteers and staff collect seeds to continue the Survivor Tree Seedling Program to grow new generations of trees.

Mark and others worked closely with the designers, engineers and construction crews in all aspects of the construction relating to the Survivor Tree and many innovative designs were considered and implemented.

“I have worked on many construction projects but the feeling here was different.

Bays said.

“Everybody knew it was much more than any one of us and everyone worked together in a spirit dignity and respect”.

Come learn the special story of the recovery of The Survivor Tree and its ongoing care that began in 1996.

Biography

Undergraduate Degree in Forest Science (Sam Ratulangi University, North Sulawesi, Indonesia 2009); Postgraduate Forest Science & Management (Southern Cross University, NWS, Australia, 2016); Community Forest Management, Jayapura, Papua (2009-2014); Lecturer at Faculty Of Forestry Ottow Geissler University, Jayapura, Papua, (2016-Now); Provincial Commission of Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Papua Province, (2017-2020); Junior Technical Specialist at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Eastern Indonesia Program, (2017-2019); Validation team of Strategic Environmental Assessment in Department of Environment, Papua Province; Chair at Green Cities For Papua (GCFP) Project, June 2018-Now; Paul has presented at industry conferences including the World Forum on Urban Forestry in Mantova, in 2018; Research Analyst Consultant at World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia for Cities4Forest project in Jayapura City (2020-Now).

Abstract

This presentation will describe the significant role that trees play in the belief system, culture and traditions of people in Biak, Papua. It will outline how people in Biak value the trees in their surrounding areas in terms of conservation, traditional medicine, culture and socio-economic value, based on their local wisdom. This wisdom is significant in promoting Biak as a tourist destination, particularly for eco-tourism. However, even though the surrounding area is green with trees, in terms of management these trees are not currently being managed properly to maximise their full potential to deliver environmental, economic and social benefits for citizens and visitors. A management plan and guidance are needed to develop urban forest management in Biak. In 2018 Paulus Mandibondibo (Ottow Geissler University, Papua) and John Parker (Arboricultural Association, UK) launched Green Cities for Papua, an initiative intended to assist local government in Papua to promote the importance of urban trees and proper urban forest management in the country. The project is also intended to promote Papua and to assist the local government agenda to find nature-based solutions for climate issues. So far activities have included tree planting, particularly with a view to flood mitigation, and political engagement with a view to developing an urban forest management plan for Biak. 

Biography

TBC

Abstract

“Their shapes, their burrs and branch stumps and rootstocks are a living record of what has happened to them historically. In their maturity trees are so etched with experience that they become recognisable not just as species but as individuals and then yet another kind of grain begins to develop – the accumulating layers of myth and affection that gather round ancient trees”

Richard Mabey (1980)

Archaeologists and historians look to documents, old maps, tree ring chronologies and plant remains (e.g. pollen, charcoal, neolithic trackways) but long-lived trees in their own right also have much to tell us. Arboriculturalists are well placed to learn tree language and help other specialists read a tree like a document to enrich an overall understanding of the past.

It is possible to reach far back in time through analysing the location, ecological requirements and the way trees grow, age or have been managed of individual or groups of trees. In some cases, it’s a question of understanding the body language of the tree or how it has been managed. Alternatively, it maybe through understanding different species demand for light and the natural processes needed for their survival. Interpreting their stories may involve circumstantial or tangential information from associated communities of species such as saproxylic invertebrates or associations with famous people and events.

Historic documents inform us about trees but equally trees can help us better interpret historic documents for example the 32 pollard trees on the Bayeux Tapestry may be helping to revise the historic record of this iconic story.

Using different tree species including those that have exceptionally long ancient life-stages, it is possible to start to read a tree like an historic document and give them a voice.