Resouces for Trees and Climate change

Trees and Climate Change- An Irish Perspective

Is this beautiful Irish landscape a thing of the past?

Here are some links to recent seminars, workshops and information on climate change. Some of them are taken from the Tree council Website, a reliable resource for information. I will update this post as I find more resources. Please add any you find by leaving comments below:

Climate change effects us all and we all have a responsibility to find a solution!

Click on the highlighted title 

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  The Climate Of Ireland: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

Text of a talk delivered by Brendan McWilliams to the Climate Change Conference in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, during Tree Week, 2005.

Notes for this talk can be downloaded here

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  Climate Change Insects and Trees

Roy Anderson, Queen's University, Belfast.
Word document can be downloaded  here

• Irish National Climate Change Strategy

This is the National strategy for Ireland (if that wasn't already apparent!)

• What is the Kyoto Protocol?

An explanation

ISA Certified Arborist Exams

Kevin Birchall from Tree Care Ireland is now the registered ISA Examination Proctor for Ireland and is hoping to be running Examinations at regular intervals throughout 2010. Dates will be posted on the Treecareireland training calender and on this blog.

The great benefit to anyone considering the qualification is the instant recognition that this qualification provides. It is an internetional standard. All Cert Arbs have a code of Ethics, which can be shown to customers as part of your tendering information and each cert arb has a listing on the ISA website.

The ISA Certified Arborist Exam is a level 2 qualification which provides the holder with a basic but comprehensive understanding of arboricultural practices and solid under pinning knowledge of subject areas such as:

Tree Biology
Tree Identification
Soil Science
Water Management
Tree Nutrition and Fertilization
Tree Selection
Installation and Establishment

Pruning

Tree Support and Protection Systems
Diagnosis and Plant Disorders
Plant Health Care
Tree Assessment and Risk Management
Trees and Construction
Urban Forestry
Tree Worker Safety
Climbing and Working in Trees

A workbook is available from the ISA and candidates can work through each chapter to gain some of the necessary theory. The third edition of the study guide(now in colour) is now available. Each Topic chapter contains the following:

• learning objectives
• key terms
• text with illustrations and photos
• workbook section
• challenge questions
• sample test questions
• other sources of information

Additional study and practical knowledge is also recommended to assure an adequate understanding of some of the subject matter and gain the required pass mark!

Tree care Ireland will be providing focused preparation sessions for the ISA Exam on all subjects including Tree identification. Dates are available now on the online training calender

Please share this blog post with anyone you think might like to become a Certified Arborist.......

Chainsaw rescue! Horse with head stuck in a tree.

I found this photo a few weeks ago whilst researching trees that are dangerous for horses. The story read that someone had to cut it out with a chainsaw after being stuck for a couple of days.

I know it is a little cruel but I just can't stop laughing!

Professional Attributes

Do you call yourself a Professional Arborist?
Do you have the skills, experience and attitude?

YES, YES, YES! I like to think that I can call myself a professional.

But does it actually make any difference?

Most of the time my tree care customers wouldn't know the difference between a professional and a 'Cowboy' and along as the price is right they don't care!

This is a common belief, but I have recently done a little research and started to ask people what they really want from an Irish Tree Care professional. Read: The 5 star qualities here and tell me what you think.

Another important thing I learnt was that my customers crave knowledge and that as professionals the MOST powerful tool we have for raising the image of our Industry is EDUCATION.

We must educate our customers on what constitutes a professional tree care company and hopefully begin to seperate ourselves from the numerous rogue traders that devalue our industry. ...