State Licensing (mine is pathetic/non existent). Ideas?

[TreeVB]

Looking for ideas of what works and doesn’t work for those who have state licenses, or some sort of regulation, in order to “practice” arboriculture. My state is pathetic when it comes to this and joe blow, hobo with a chainsaw can get a business license and “cut” trees. I am sick of seeing the local FB page whining about all of the bad work they see being done so I want to present some ideas to the city forester. I brought the idea to the old forester and I got flames about how that is just absurd. Any ideas or links to your state or city’s requirements would be useful and much appreciated. Thanks heaps!

 

[Basswood]

Better education for public of what to look out for and what questions to ask.

required apprenticeship under qualified individuals or companies.

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

I’m sorry to say that I’d prefer the government to just stay out of it. You can educate your clients that you sell to and help them understand that you get what you pay for.

 

[oldoakman]

ISA virtual conference presentation by the City Arborist of Austin TX had some good info on their program. you may be able to sit down with your city forester and glean some things that may work. The City I work for has a licensing requirement that I administer but I am the only enforcement officer and a lot fall through the cracks. Still, it is better than nothing. Good luck in turning the tide of opinion.

 

[TreeVB]

I’m sorry to say that I’d prefer the government to just stay out of it. You can educate your clients that you sell to and help them understand that you get what you pay for.

I totally get that, and I am good at educating clients and the general public where possible. Im thinking along the lines of some kind of tree protection plan. Even when schools are built here there is zero protection plan and the trees get annihilated

 

[Wrangler]

New Jersey has a state license like a plumber or electrician needs to have. The overseeing body is a division of the DEP I believe. You can find out all about it on state website: njtreeexperts.org

 

[TreeVB]

Thanks for that. I’ll check it out!

 

[oldoakman]

I’m sorry to say that I’d prefer the government to just stay out of it. You can educate your clients that you sell to and help them understand that you get what you pay for.

I think we all would like that to happen, but lets face it, not all people doing tree work have the same sense of integrity. Just yesterday I observed a contract climber who was working for a licensed tree company make a serious mistake that could have been much worse that it was. The climber was removing a pine tree that was situated between two mobile homes and was about 4 feet from one and 8 feet from the other. He was using a tagline to pull the 300# piece into his rigging except he forgot to tie off his rigging line after he made his face cut. The piece fell about 45 feet just kissing the edge of the mobile home causing some minor damage that now has to be fixed. Had the peice been12-18 inches further from its path, it would have gone through the mobile home roof and probably the floor as well, possibly killing the occupant. This happened twice with the same climber on the same tree. Would licensing help avoid this situation? Probably not, but it would possibly help the business owner who now has to pay for repairs, select a better qualified contract climber. This is just one of several similar incidents I have had to investigate this past year. Fortunatelly no one was injured or killed, but there was substantial property damage that occured.

 

[Flying~Squirrel]

Here in WA you need to go to school and get a permit to be a flagger, but absolutely anyone can get hired to prune a 500 year old tree over a daycare center. I understand the desire to have the government stay out of our business affairs, and similar ideas have been seriously mishandled in the past (i.e. wtf is happening in the UK?) but there are some serious discrepancies in what people can do within the parameters of the law. Personally I think erring on the side of keeping hacks out is a better solution for everyone. But then again, I'm not a hack, and I would feel pretty cool about being certified by the state to do tree work the right way.

 

[Rusticus]

In your search for comparables, look into San Antonio as well, and perhaps Miluakee. In a couple I've been privy to, it helps to have/start a separate group of interested parties, like an urban forestry council, that can provide input, legwork and even spearhead the movement. Unfortunately, city government is in the best position to regulate it and have the teeth behind it, but they don't always understand the view from the folks performing the work. A united front will make the best case to your city council.