Seminar #101 from Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists
January - March 2024
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
January - March 2024
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
Note: Click on green text in each section for more information and photos.
Gothenburg, Sweden
Edited by Len Phillips
Located on Sweden’s scenic west coast, the City of Gothenburg was formerly an industrial port town. It was not always environmentally conscious. That changed in the mid-1980s when Sweden’s minister of the environment, Birgitta Dahl, toured Gothenburg and declared the decaying and dirty blue-collar city “a courtyard to hell”. Properly chastened, the City's political and business leaders vowed to transform the gritty 17th-Century city into a beacon of urban sustainability. Today, Gothenburg is the country's second-largest city and has been declared the world's most sustainable city for three years in a row by the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Gothenburg is located on the country's west coast and is an important seaport. It is known for its Dutch-style canals and leafy boulevards like the Avenyn, the city's main thoroughfare, lined with many cafes and shops among the street trees.
The city has made significant efforts to transform itself from an industrial port city into a beacon of urban sustainability. This transformation was the result of widespread community participation and the commitment from political and business leaders.
Gothenburg is a city with towering exotic palms and plants, blue-and-white electric trams, and locals riding bicycles. The city offers roasted coffee, craft beer, some of the world's best seafood, and a dozen varieties of vegan "milk". It has Dutch-built canals, lush urban parks, and cobblestone streets where you can walk from your hotel to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. Gothenburg has also made significant efforts to clean up its once-grungy harbor. In 2011, the port received the Shipping Award for Regional Environmental Contribution and was the first in the world to provide onshore power to vessels at berth, thereby reducing carbon emissions from the vessels.
Many of Gothenburg's forest tree species are relatively rare, since coniferous forests with Norway spruce and Scots pine dominate in Sweden. Some mixed forests with oaks are used for timber harvesting, some have been left to develop without any intervention by the forest owner who may not need to harvest. Many other forests have been defined as "woodland key habitats" by the Swedish Forest Agency because there are more than 20,000 mixed oak forests, and some are protected in the form of national parks, nature reserves, biotope protection areas, or through conservation agreements or deals between the forest owner and the government.
All these efforts have resulted in Gothenburg being named a European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2020 by the European Commission.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Located on Sweden’s scenic west coast, the City of Gothenburg was formerly an industrial port town. It was not always environmentally conscious. That changed in the mid-1980s when Sweden’s minister of the environment, Birgitta Dahl, toured Gothenburg and declared the decaying and dirty blue-collar city “a courtyard to hell”. Properly chastened, the City's political and business leaders vowed to transform the gritty 17th-Century city into a beacon of urban sustainability. Today, Gothenburg is the country's second-largest city and has been declared the world's most sustainable city for three years in a row by the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
Gothenburg is located on the country's west coast and is an important seaport. It is known for its Dutch-style canals and leafy boulevards like the Avenyn, the city's main thoroughfare, lined with many cafes and shops among the street trees.
The city has made significant efforts to transform itself from an industrial port city into a beacon of urban sustainability. This transformation was the result of widespread community participation and the commitment from political and business leaders.
Gothenburg is a city with towering exotic palms and plants, blue-and-white electric trams, and locals riding bicycles. The city offers roasted coffee, craft beer, some of the world's best seafood, and a dozen varieties of vegan "milk". It has Dutch-built canals, lush urban parks, and cobblestone streets where you can walk from your hotel to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife. Gothenburg has also made significant efforts to clean up its once-grungy harbor. In 2011, the port received the Shipping Award for Regional Environmental Contribution and was the first in the world to provide onshore power to vessels at berth, thereby reducing carbon emissions from the vessels.
Many of Gothenburg's forest tree species are relatively rare, since coniferous forests with Norway spruce and Scots pine dominate in Sweden. Some mixed forests with oaks are used for timber harvesting, some have been left to develop without any intervention by the forest owner who may not need to harvest. Many other forests have been defined as "woodland key habitats" by the Swedish Forest Agency because there are more than 20,000 mixed oak forests, and some are protected in the form of national parks, nature reserves, biotope protection areas, or through conservation agreements or deals between the forest owner and the government.
All these efforts have resulted in Gothenburg being named a European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2020 by the European Commission.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Supercharged Hurricanes
Arbor Day Foundation
Climate change is making storms last longer and become more intense. For example, when Hurricane Ida rolled in like a military tank through Lafitte, Louisiana in August 2021, its 150-mile per hour winds were the first strike. It was followed by several feet of catastrophic saltwater flooding. In terms of worst storms to ever hit Louisiana, Ida is surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina. Ida settled over the City of Lafitte for 12 hours, destroying most of the homes in the city and taking out the community’s entire tree canopy. The community was devastated and it looked like a war zone.
In Lafitte, some residents reported several feet of water on their property. The intensity of flooding lifted some homes from their foundations entirely. The day Ida hit, the ocean water was 85 degrees F, a few degrees hotter than average.
Extreme storms like Ida are happening more often and it all comes back to climate change. Most hurricanes begin in the ocean, where warming waters feed the storms with extra heat that intensifies the storms. Then the heat strengthens wind speeds, sets off large storm surges, and allows hurricanes to intensify quickly before hitting land. Hurricane Ida graduated from a Category 1 to Category 4 storm in only 24 hours. By the time it hit Lafitte, it had already reached its peak strength at a speed that left many people unable to prepare for the storm.
A major culprit of climate change and global warming is excess carbon dioxide. Trees pull carbon dioxide from the air, converting it into harmless compounds that feed the tree, releasing oxygen. As trees grow, half of their dry weight is from carbon absorption.
Trees can be used as a tool to slow climate change and are the most efficient and affordable nature-based solutions to slow the change. A year after Hurricane Ida, thanks to a partner the Nola Tree Project, Lafitte families lined up for free native trees to plant in their yards.
However, trees are not a silver bullet to climate change. Humanity must reduce its dependence on fossil fuels to lessen the impact on emissions. Planted in the right place and managed properly, trees can lessen the need for heating and air conditioning.
Trees act like umbrellas during storms, intercepting rainwater to potentially prevent flooding. By slowing the water down, trees buy time for evaporation to do its job and release some moisture back into the atmosphere as well as gradually releasing more water into the soil. Meanwhile, tree root systems bind the soil to prevent erosion. Roots also absorb quantities of water that would otherwise become damaging runoff.
Many public agencies, organizations, and private stakeholders are already finding value in trees as a solution to combat natural disasters and lessen the impact of extreme weather. Cities are more thoughtful than ever about how to plant trees, where to plant, and even what species to plant. What trees are best to sustain and protect against these types of disasters while creating more resilient, healthy, and vibrant communities.
After a hurricane, essential needs like food, water, and shelter come first. But when the flood waters recede and communities are ready to rebuild, the city and local planting organizations need to replant trees for the community’s canopy. Long-term tree recovery efforts should include a combination of multiple community tree planting efforts. Replacement trees will definitely beautify the community, and the trees provide a sign of life, hope, and recovery.
Source
Arbor Day Foundation, Community Forestry Newsletter, September 2023
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Arbor Day Foundation
Climate change is making storms last longer and become more intense. For example, when Hurricane Ida rolled in like a military tank through Lafitte, Louisiana in August 2021, its 150-mile per hour winds were the first strike. It was followed by several feet of catastrophic saltwater flooding. In terms of worst storms to ever hit Louisiana, Ida is surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina. Ida settled over the City of Lafitte for 12 hours, destroying most of the homes in the city and taking out the community’s entire tree canopy. The community was devastated and it looked like a war zone.
In Lafitte, some residents reported several feet of water on their property. The intensity of flooding lifted some homes from their foundations entirely. The day Ida hit, the ocean water was 85 degrees F, a few degrees hotter than average.
Extreme storms like Ida are happening more often and it all comes back to climate change. Most hurricanes begin in the ocean, where warming waters feed the storms with extra heat that intensifies the storms. Then the heat strengthens wind speeds, sets off large storm surges, and allows hurricanes to intensify quickly before hitting land. Hurricane Ida graduated from a Category 1 to Category 4 storm in only 24 hours. By the time it hit Lafitte, it had already reached its peak strength at a speed that left many people unable to prepare for the storm.
A major culprit of climate change and global warming is excess carbon dioxide. Trees pull carbon dioxide from the air, converting it into harmless compounds that feed the tree, releasing oxygen. As trees grow, half of their dry weight is from carbon absorption.
Trees can be used as a tool to slow climate change and are the most efficient and affordable nature-based solutions to slow the change. A year after Hurricane Ida, thanks to a partner the Nola Tree Project, Lafitte families lined up for free native trees to plant in their yards.
However, trees are not a silver bullet to climate change. Humanity must reduce its dependence on fossil fuels to lessen the impact on emissions. Planted in the right place and managed properly, trees can lessen the need for heating and air conditioning.
Trees act like umbrellas during storms, intercepting rainwater to potentially prevent flooding. By slowing the water down, trees buy time for evaporation to do its job and release some moisture back into the atmosphere as well as gradually releasing more water into the soil. Meanwhile, tree root systems bind the soil to prevent erosion. Roots also absorb quantities of water that would otherwise become damaging runoff.
Many public agencies, organizations, and private stakeholders are already finding value in trees as a solution to combat natural disasters and lessen the impact of extreme weather. Cities are more thoughtful than ever about how to plant trees, where to plant, and even what species to plant. What trees are best to sustain and protect against these types of disasters while creating more resilient, healthy, and vibrant communities.
After a hurricane, essential needs like food, water, and shelter come first. But when the flood waters recede and communities are ready to rebuild, the city and local planting organizations need to replant trees for the community’s canopy. Long-term tree recovery efforts should include a combination of multiple community tree planting efforts. Replacement trees will definitely beautify the community, and the trees provide a sign of life, hope, and recovery.
Source
Arbor Day Foundation, Community Forestry Newsletter, September 2023
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Need a New Chain Saw?
by Len Phillips
If you need a new chain saw and are smart, there are only two choices – electric or battery powered. Electric chain saws do require an extension cord from a building or portable generator. Battery powered chain saws require a couple of fully charged interchangeable and rechargeable batteries.
Given the limitations of the electric chain saw, it is strictly for homeowners or a firewood producer. If the wood is being cut up for firewood, the electric saw is the best way to go. But if you expect to trim trees outdoors, then the only option is the portability of the battery powered chain saw.
Without the tug on a rope to start the chainsaw, the benefits of the battery power are clearly visible. Battery power tools typically have a simple trigger button to start and hold, making these saws easy to use. The battery power is available on cold winter days, the same as on hot summer days and no tugs on the rope, just the push of a button. The saw requires less maintenance and less wear and tear on the operator. When dealing with hard to reach limbs, there is no need to stabilize the operator, just grab the saw and cut. The light weight allows one hand on the saw and one hand on a stable branch.
The exhaust fumes from the gasoline engine are no longer a problem with the electric motor. This is a most obvious benefit when trying to flush cut the stump or other times such as in a tree when your head is close to the saw. The lack of inhaling exhaust is the best benefit of using a battery powered chainsaw. When working indoors, the lack of exhaust and a quieter operating saw are major advantages. There is also the potential of fuel spillage when refilling the gas tank that has been replaced with a simple battery exchange.
One of the biggest advantages of the electric/battery is not having to worry about engine fuel. No climbing up or down to refuel or drop the saw to the ground and hoist the saw back up into the tree with the hope that the fuel does not splash out of the tank and become a hazard. An extra battery pack is easily carried on the job and changing the battery is done in less than a minute.
One arborist mentioned that he can remember times when he had to take multiple breaks while flush cutting a large stump because his eyes were burning and he was holding his breath the whole time the gasoline powered saw was running. Another bonus is the lack of noise from the electric motor, compared to the noisy gasoline engine. It means better communication between the team on the ground and the person in the tree even when the saw is running. It also means less neighborhood complaint and fewer chances of potential accidents.
Another advantage is working in places that have emissions restrictions and working indoors. There is less worry about making the switch of a battery than refueling a hot gasoline engine. Another advantage of the battery is when the work is being done in a fire risk area. There are now charging stations that allow multiple batteries to be charged at the same time, even at a job site.
Some battery powered equipment manufacturers are developing other battery-operated tools such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, lawn edgers, etc. The list is very long especially for battery powered carpenter tools like hand saws, electric table saws, sanders, nailers, drills, etc. Just about any tool that has a moving part can have an electric motor providing the work.
Another major advantage of battery power is the very low noise level. The battery powered chain saw allows communication with the team while the saw is operating. This feature enhances efficiency, safety, and reduces noise complaints from team members and surrounding neighbors. The lower noise level is also an advantage where there are noise ordinances that limit when work can be done.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
by Len Phillips
If you need a new chain saw and are smart, there are only two choices – electric or battery powered. Electric chain saws do require an extension cord from a building or portable generator. Battery powered chain saws require a couple of fully charged interchangeable and rechargeable batteries.
Given the limitations of the electric chain saw, it is strictly for homeowners or a firewood producer. If the wood is being cut up for firewood, the electric saw is the best way to go. But if you expect to trim trees outdoors, then the only option is the portability of the battery powered chain saw.
Without the tug on a rope to start the chainsaw, the benefits of the battery power are clearly visible. Battery power tools typically have a simple trigger button to start and hold, making these saws easy to use. The battery power is available on cold winter days, the same as on hot summer days and no tugs on the rope, just the push of a button. The saw requires less maintenance and less wear and tear on the operator. When dealing with hard to reach limbs, there is no need to stabilize the operator, just grab the saw and cut. The light weight allows one hand on the saw and one hand on a stable branch.
The exhaust fumes from the gasoline engine are no longer a problem with the electric motor. This is a most obvious benefit when trying to flush cut the stump or other times such as in a tree when your head is close to the saw. The lack of inhaling exhaust is the best benefit of using a battery powered chainsaw. When working indoors, the lack of exhaust and a quieter operating saw are major advantages. There is also the potential of fuel spillage when refilling the gas tank that has been replaced with a simple battery exchange.
One of the biggest advantages of the electric/battery is not having to worry about engine fuel. No climbing up or down to refuel or drop the saw to the ground and hoist the saw back up into the tree with the hope that the fuel does not splash out of the tank and become a hazard. An extra battery pack is easily carried on the job and changing the battery is done in less than a minute.
One arborist mentioned that he can remember times when he had to take multiple breaks while flush cutting a large stump because his eyes were burning and he was holding his breath the whole time the gasoline powered saw was running. Another bonus is the lack of noise from the electric motor, compared to the noisy gasoline engine. It means better communication between the team on the ground and the person in the tree even when the saw is running. It also means less neighborhood complaint and fewer chances of potential accidents.
Another advantage is working in places that have emissions restrictions and working indoors. There is less worry about making the switch of a battery than refueling a hot gasoline engine. Another advantage of the battery is when the work is being done in a fire risk area. There are now charging stations that allow multiple batteries to be charged at the same time, even at a job site.
Some battery powered equipment manufacturers are developing other battery-operated tools such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, lawn edgers, etc. The list is very long especially for battery powered carpenter tools like hand saws, electric table saws, sanders, nailers, drills, etc. Just about any tool that has a moving part can have an electric motor providing the work.
Another major advantage of battery power is the very low noise level. The battery powered chain saw allows communication with the team while the saw is operating. This feature enhances efficiency, safety, and reduces noise complaints from team members and surrounding neighbors. The lower noise level is also an advantage where there are noise ordinances that limit when work can be done.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
How to Plant Bare Root Trees
By Len Phillips
Bare Root (BR) trees are dug and stored without any soil around their roots. BR trees are available for sale as deciduous dormant trees typically 2-inch (5 cm) trunk diameter or less. BR trees are very sensitive to drying if not properly stored and shipped. Based on my personal experience, if provisions are made to keep roots in the shade and moist during storage and transport, and they are regularly watered after planting, they perform better than trees from other production methods. Evergreens however, are seldom moved BR.
Rules for Success
In the 1980s and 90's, bare root tree production declined due to increasing demand for year-round planting and the greater flexibility of container production. BR tree production focused primarily for liner production in the nursery business. In the past 10 years however, there has been a reversal of this trend as arborists rediscover the benefits of BR trees for municipal tree planting. Their low cost to purchase and light weight for shipping are reducing planting costs and allowing more trees to be planted within the limited municipal budget.
Planting
Before planting, examine BR trees and prune away any diseased, broken, or damaged roots and branches. Dig the planting hole with enough space to hold all the roots horizontally and plant the tree with the root flare at or slightly above the finished grade. Center the tree in the hole with the largest branches facing southwest on thin-barked trees such as maple, birch, and beech. This orients the tree the same as it was in the nursery and reduces the need for wrapping the trunk to prevent bark sunburn later in the heat of summer. Straighten the roots and spread them evenly to prevent kinking, crowding, and crossing. Unusually long roots may be pruned back to the standard minimum spread.
Next, work the soil firmly under and around the lower roots. The tree may be raised and lowered gently during the filling process to eliminate air pockets and to bring the roots in close contact with the soil. Tree staples should hold the roots and trees in place and are then lightly covered with soil and watered. Cover the roots with more soil, add water, let the soil settle, finish filling the hole with soil to finished grade, and then fill a saucer made at the top of the hole with water.
Use any technique possible to reduce the time the bare tree roots are exposed. Order the trees to be dug within 24 hours before delivery. If this is not possible, be sure they are stored in a cool place. Make sure the trees are delivered in covered, temperature-controlled trucks or shipping containers, and that the roots are packed in moist straw, sawdust or wood chips. The best nurseries dip the tree roots in hydrogel and place the roots in a plastic bag for shipping.
Tell all the planting crews, "every 30 seconds the tree's root hairs are exposed to wind and sun cuts the tree's life expectancy in half". While this may not be completely true, it encourages the planting crew to pay attention to the exposed bare roots. Let the planting crew know that it is the very tiny root hairs that are the most fragile and susceptible to death and from the sun and drying winds. The key to success is to preserve as many lateral roots and root hairs as possible because they are critical to maximizing shoot growth after transplanting.
Packaged trees and shrubs are BR trees with their roots packed in moist material such as moist peat moss, straw, wood shavings, or shingle tow. These trees should be treated as BR trees when planting.
The Pros of BR Tree Planting
The Cons of BR Tree Planting
Bare root trees deserve a second look by municipal arborists and urban foresters.
Sources:
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
Bare Root (BR) trees are dug and stored without any soil around their roots. BR trees are available for sale as deciduous dormant trees typically 2-inch (5 cm) trunk diameter or less. BR trees are very sensitive to drying if not properly stored and shipped. Based on my personal experience, if provisions are made to keep roots in the shade and moist during storage and transport, and they are regularly watered after planting, they perform better than trees from other production methods. Evergreens however, are seldom moved BR.
Rules for Success
- BR trees are dug from nursery fields after autumn leaf drop. During winter the roots are kept in sawdust or mulch in the field or a cold storage building until they are removed for spring planting. Autumn-dug trees require humidity and temperature-controlled storage just above freezing.
- The fine root hairs are the critical factor for success. They must be kept moist and out of the wind and sun until they are planted.
- BR trees must be planted in the spring before growth begins. The large woody roots are moved with the tree and new fine root hairs should develop before the leaves emerge. Trees have to rely on old roots for water uptake until new roots are growing, which is usually after bud break.
- BR stock, if not handled properly, can have high mortality rates. To ensure success when handling or transporting BR stock, keep the roots and root hairs moist and protected from sun and wind at ALL times.
- A critical factor for success of the BR method is a short time period from digging to planting and proper root protection in-between.
In the 1980s and 90's, bare root tree production declined due to increasing demand for year-round planting and the greater flexibility of container production. BR tree production focused primarily for liner production in the nursery business. In the past 10 years however, there has been a reversal of this trend as arborists rediscover the benefits of BR trees for municipal tree planting. Their low cost to purchase and light weight for shipping are reducing planting costs and allowing more trees to be planted within the limited municipal budget.
Planting
Before planting, examine BR trees and prune away any diseased, broken, or damaged roots and branches. Dig the planting hole with enough space to hold all the roots horizontally and plant the tree with the root flare at or slightly above the finished grade. Center the tree in the hole with the largest branches facing southwest on thin-barked trees such as maple, birch, and beech. This orients the tree the same as it was in the nursery and reduces the need for wrapping the trunk to prevent bark sunburn later in the heat of summer. Straighten the roots and spread them evenly to prevent kinking, crowding, and crossing. Unusually long roots may be pruned back to the standard minimum spread.
Next, work the soil firmly under and around the lower roots. The tree may be raised and lowered gently during the filling process to eliminate air pockets and to bring the roots in close contact with the soil. Tree staples should hold the roots and trees in place and are then lightly covered with soil and watered. Cover the roots with more soil, add water, let the soil settle, finish filling the hole with soil to finished grade, and then fill a saucer made at the top of the hole with water.
Use any technique possible to reduce the time the bare tree roots are exposed. Order the trees to be dug within 24 hours before delivery. If this is not possible, be sure they are stored in a cool place. Make sure the trees are delivered in covered, temperature-controlled trucks or shipping containers, and that the roots are packed in moist straw, sawdust or wood chips. The best nurseries dip the tree roots in hydrogel and place the roots in a plastic bag for shipping.
Tell all the planting crews, "every 30 seconds the tree's root hairs are exposed to wind and sun cuts the tree's life expectancy in half". While this may not be completely true, it encourages the planting crew to pay attention to the exposed bare roots. Let the planting crew know that it is the very tiny root hairs that are the most fragile and susceptible to death and from the sun and drying winds. The key to success is to preserve as many lateral roots and root hairs as possible because they are critical to maximizing shoot growth after transplanting.
Packaged trees and shrubs are BR trees with their roots packed in moist material such as moist peat moss, straw, wood shavings, or shingle tow. These trees should be treated as BR trees when planting.
The Pros of BR Tree Planting
- Cost can be from one-third to one-half that of B&B stock. This reduced cost results mainly from the reduced shipping weight, bulk, and handling costs.
- A BR tree without soil weighs little, so it is easy to move and inexpensive to plant.
- Major root damage during nursery lifting operations is far less on BR trees.
- BR trees can have considerably more roots than B&B trees.
- The planting procedure needed for tree establishment is less demanding. Although BR trees require the same planting-hole diameter, the hole depth can be much shallower.
- The root system can be thoroughly inspected for defects.
- BR planting can be just as effective as B&B planting for species that tolerate BR planting, if the tree has a small caliper and the roots have been kept moist and pruned early.
- Proper planting depth is easily observed and soil interface problems are avoided.
- BR harvesting does not deplete the nursery of field soil.
- Due to their smaller size and more roots, BR trees recover from transplant shock much faster than other planting techniques.
The Cons of BR Tree Planting
- Only small trees, 2" (5 cm) diameter or less, are typically transplanted bare root.
- Once they leave the nursery, BR trees need to get in the ground within a week at the longest. With no soil, the roots can dry out and die if left exposed any amount of time. Fortunately, most nurseries dealing with bare root trees know the proper way to treat these trees for survival.
- BR trees need lots of soil moisture, so early spring (before bud break) and late autumn (after leaf drop) are the best planting times, unless irrigation is available.
- Some species may not be available BR and some nurseries may not have BR trees available for sale.
- Some trees transplant poorly via bare root as compared with B&B, although many more trees are being successfully transplanted bare root than was previously thought possible.
- Most people planting trees have limited experience with BR tree planting.
Bare root trees deserve a second look by municipal arborists and urban foresters.
Sources:
- Bassuk, Nina, "Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method", Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University, 2009.
- Gilman, Edward F., "Planting trees in landscapes", Environmental Horticulture Department, IFAS, University of Florida, 2011.
- Tilt, Ken, et al, "Bare Root Shade Tree Liner Production in Containers", SNA Research Conference, Ornamental Horticulture Substation, Vol. 45, 2000.
- Watson, Gary W. and E. B. Himelick, "Principals and Practice of Planting Trees and Shrubs"', International Society of Arboriculture, Savoy, IL 1997.
- Watson, G. and Dan Neely, "The Landscape Below Ground", International Society of Arboriculture, 1993.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
The Best Trees for Bare Root Planting
Compiled by Len Phillips
Trees Recommended for Bare Root Planting are:
Hedge maple (Acer campestre)
Amur maple (Acer ginnala)
Miyabei maple (Acer miyabei)
Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Tartaricum maple (Acer tartaricum)
Shantung maple (Acer truncatum)
Hybrid Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii)
Red horsechestnut (Aesculus x carnea)
Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus foemina)
Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas)
Ash (Fraxinus spp. In non-EAB areas)
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Goldenraintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Amur Maackia (Maackia amurensis)
Crabapples (Malus spp.)
Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica)
Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia)
Flowering Cherry (Prunus 'Accolade')
Sargent Cherry (Prunus sargentii)
Canada Red Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Callery Pear (Pyrus spp.)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Black Locust cultivars (Robinia pseudoacacia cultivars)
Korean Mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia)
Swedish Mountain ash (Sorbus intermedia)
Oak leaf Mountain ash (Sorbus x hybrida)
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Linden (Tilia spp.)
Elm hybrids (Ulmus hybrids except 'Frontier')
Siebold Viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii)
Trees of moderate difficulty for bare root planting are:
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Birch (Betula spp.)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Turkish Filbert (Corylus colurna)
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Hardy Rubber Tree (Eucommia ulmoides)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
English Oak (Quercus robur)
Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
Trees not recommended for bare root planting are:
Hornbeam (Carpinus spp.)
Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)
Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Frontier Elm (Ulmus 'Frontier')
Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
All evergreens
Source
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Compiled by Len Phillips
Trees Recommended for Bare Root Planting are:
Hedge maple (Acer campestre)
Amur maple (Acer ginnala)
Miyabei maple (Acer miyabei)
Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Tartaricum maple (Acer tartaricum)
Shantung maple (Acer truncatum)
Hybrid Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii)
Red horsechestnut (Aesculus x carnea)
Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus foemina)
Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas)
Ash (Fraxinus spp. In non-EAB areas)
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos inermis)
Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Goldenraintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Amur Maackia (Maackia amurensis)
Crabapples (Malus spp.)
Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica)
Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia)
Flowering Cherry (Prunus 'Accolade')
Sargent Cherry (Prunus sargentii)
Canada Red Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Callery Pear (Pyrus spp.)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Black Locust cultivars (Robinia pseudoacacia cultivars)
Korean Mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia)
Swedish Mountain ash (Sorbus intermedia)
Oak leaf Mountain ash (Sorbus x hybrida)
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Linden (Tilia spp.)
Elm hybrids (Ulmus hybrids except 'Frontier')
Siebold Viburnum (Viburnum sieboldii)
Trees of moderate difficulty for bare root planting are:
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Birch (Betula spp.)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Turkish Filbert (Corylus colurna)
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Hardy Rubber Tree (Eucommia ulmoides)
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
English Oak (Quercus robur)
Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
Trees not recommended for bare root planting are:
Hornbeam (Carpinus spp.)
Smoketree (Cotinus obovatus)
Washington Hawthorn (Crataegus phaenopyrum)
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Frontier Elm (Ulmus 'Frontier')
Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
All evergreens
Source
- Bassuk, Nina, "Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method", Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University, 2009.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Stormwater Retention in Oklahoma City
Edited by Len Phillips
Over 2,000 trees are flourishing in one of the most ambitious downtown renovation projects in the United States. Oklahoma City has completely transformed their downtown shopping district by planting hundreds of trees in the city and this has resulted in revitalizing the local downtown economy.
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city in the State of Oklahoma. It is known for its cowboy culture and the State Capitol complex. The City is also known for having working oil wells surrounding the city.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial recalls the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A park on the site of the building contains a reflecting pool and an empty glass and bronze chair for each person who died that day. The Survivor Tree, an American elm that was nearly destroyed in the attack, has completely recovered and is also part of the National Memorial.
Eight years later, a 2008 study named Oklahoma City as the least walkable city in America. The following year, the City initiated one of the most aggressive downtown renovations in recent memory: Project 180, named for the $180 million price tag in which 180 acres of land was being transformed in an effort to rotate the City's pedestrian-hostile reputation a full 180 degrees. The roads themselves were entirely re-imagined, with one-way street traffic being largely eliminated and biking, walking, and parking spaces re-prioritized.
The landscaping was also overhauled, led by the design team at the Office of James Burnett: Thousands of trees were added along the sidewalks and new medians, offering safe delineations between parking spaces in addition to welcoming shade. The trees were planted in an uncompacted soil with an environment for healthy root expansion. As a result, the urban forestry element of this ambitious, award-winning Oklahoma City project is alive and flourishing.
The City parks and trees are maintained by the Parks Forestry crews to create tree care plans including preventative pruning, irrigation and nutrient intervention.
The City spends about $2.89 per resident on trees. It shows that the citizens care about their trees, and they are doing everything they can to protect them and plant more trees every year.
Source:
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Over 2,000 trees are flourishing in one of the most ambitious downtown renovation projects in the United States. Oklahoma City has completely transformed their downtown shopping district by planting hundreds of trees in the city and this has resulted in revitalizing the local downtown economy.
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city in the State of Oklahoma. It is known for its cowboy culture and the State Capitol complex. The City is also known for having working oil wells surrounding the city.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial recalls the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A park on the site of the building contains a reflecting pool and an empty glass and bronze chair for each person who died that day. The Survivor Tree, an American elm that was nearly destroyed in the attack, has completely recovered and is also part of the National Memorial.
Eight years later, a 2008 study named Oklahoma City as the least walkable city in America. The following year, the City initiated one of the most aggressive downtown renovations in recent memory: Project 180, named for the $180 million price tag in which 180 acres of land was being transformed in an effort to rotate the City's pedestrian-hostile reputation a full 180 degrees. The roads themselves were entirely re-imagined, with one-way street traffic being largely eliminated and biking, walking, and parking spaces re-prioritized.
The landscaping was also overhauled, led by the design team at the Office of James Burnett: Thousands of trees were added along the sidewalks and new medians, offering safe delineations between parking spaces in addition to welcoming shade. The trees were planted in an uncompacted soil with an environment for healthy root expansion. As a result, the urban forestry element of this ambitious, award-winning Oklahoma City project is alive and flourishing.
The City parks and trees are maintained by the Parks Forestry crews to create tree care plans including preventative pruning, irrigation and nutrient intervention.
The City spends about $2.89 per resident on trees. It shows that the citizens care about their trees, and they are doing everything they can to protect them and plant more trees every year.
Source:
- DeepRoot Green Infrastructure, 1032 Irving Street, #614, San Francisco, CA 94122-220
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Planting Trees With Federal Funds
Edited by Len Phillips
Over the next five years, leaders in many cities will spend millions of Federal dollars to green up their neighborhoods that lack trees. As cities and their surrounding suburbs deal with more frequent extreme heat events, city residents are starting to view trees as more than a luxury.
The conversation around the urban forest has hit a high degree of urgency because of climate change. What has really shifted in the last couple of years is the idea that trees are an important part of climate infrastructure, and existing trees are really suffering for the worse because of the climate.
As cities across the country brace for more extreme weather, a new federal grant program is helping them use trees as a partial solution to moderate climate change especially in neighborhoods with little tree canopy. Urban forests provide shade that significantly lower the temperature during heat waves. They also absorb stormwater runoff and air pollution. But communities of color and low-income areas are far less likely to share in these benefits.
Trees are a good investment in the vision of trees being considered true living infrastructure and not just something that’s available for wealthy cities. Many communities have been suffering the consequences of not having any investments in trees.
The Federal government announced $1 billion in grant awards to 385 cities, towns, nonprofits, tribes and other entities. The funding was passed by Congress in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. These funds will give communities five years to carry out projects that grow and protect their urban tree cover. Meanwhile, environmental groups and politically connected organizations, such as the Arbor Day Foundation received millions more to administer their own grant programs.
Municipal arborists say the program won’t be as simple as buying $1 billion worth of seedlings. Cities will need to coordinate with nurseries to grow more trees, plan collaboratively with community leaders and build a workforce to get them planted. They also need to spend years caring for the vulnerable saplings to ensure they survive, with regular watering, mulching and pruning.
Many Challenges
Amid the unprecedented momentum to grow the urban canopy, foresters across the country say they still face many challenges. For nonprofit groups that plant trees, slow-moving city bureaucracies may be a hurdle to doing more. All the new demand for tree planting could overwhelm nurseries if they’re not prepared with a labor force to grow the varieties needed in the quantities cities want.
While city leaders are excited to put shovels in the dirt, foresters in many cities say planting new trees is only a small part of their project costs. It’s a lot cheaper to plant, but the aftercare can be costly.
American Forests received $10 million to fund its own forestry work, along with $40 million that it will be awarded to applicants well connected to American Forests. U.S. Forest Service leaders said the pass-through grants overseen by environmental groups will expand the program’s capacity to process more applications and reach more communities.
In Chicago, local leaders received $15 million to support the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, a partnership of communities and organizations working to expand the area’s urban forest. Lydia Scott, the initiative’s director, said that because the grant does not require applicants to match the funds they receive, many under-served communities will be able to access the money. The grant’s five-year span also will give the partnership time to conduct inventories, plan and get trees in the ground. The initiative requires the communities to commit to maintaining plantings for at least three years. As more cities and towns receive funding through the grant program, forestry leaders hope to see them bring certified arborists on staff.
Source
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or 0.25 BCMA Management credits & 0.25 BCMA Practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Over the next five years, leaders in many cities will spend millions of Federal dollars to green up their neighborhoods that lack trees. As cities and their surrounding suburbs deal with more frequent extreme heat events, city residents are starting to view trees as more than a luxury.
The conversation around the urban forest has hit a high degree of urgency because of climate change. What has really shifted in the last couple of years is the idea that trees are an important part of climate infrastructure, and existing trees are really suffering for the worse because of the climate.
As cities across the country brace for more extreme weather, a new federal grant program is helping them use trees as a partial solution to moderate climate change especially in neighborhoods with little tree canopy. Urban forests provide shade that significantly lower the temperature during heat waves. They also absorb stormwater runoff and air pollution. But communities of color and low-income areas are far less likely to share in these benefits.
Trees are a good investment in the vision of trees being considered true living infrastructure and not just something that’s available for wealthy cities. Many communities have been suffering the consequences of not having any investments in trees.
The Federal government announced $1 billion in grant awards to 385 cities, towns, nonprofits, tribes and other entities. The funding was passed by Congress in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. These funds will give communities five years to carry out projects that grow and protect their urban tree cover. Meanwhile, environmental groups and politically connected organizations, such as the Arbor Day Foundation received millions more to administer their own grant programs.
Municipal arborists say the program won’t be as simple as buying $1 billion worth of seedlings. Cities will need to coordinate with nurseries to grow more trees, plan collaboratively with community leaders and build a workforce to get them planted. They also need to spend years caring for the vulnerable saplings to ensure they survive, with regular watering, mulching and pruning.
Many Challenges
Amid the unprecedented momentum to grow the urban canopy, foresters across the country say they still face many challenges. For nonprofit groups that plant trees, slow-moving city bureaucracies may be a hurdle to doing more. All the new demand for tree planting could overwhelm nurseries if they’re not prepared with a labor force to grow the varieties needed in the quantities cities want.
While city leaders are excited to put shovels in the dirt, foresters in many cities say planting new trees is only a small part of their project costs. It’s a lot cheaper to plant, but the aftercare can be costly.
American Forests received $10 million to fund its own forestry work, along with $40 million that it will be awarded to applicants well connected to American Forests. U.S. Forest Service leaders said the pass-through grants overseen by environmental groups will expand the program’s capacity to process more applications and reach more communities.
In Chicago, local leaders received $15 million to support the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, a partnership of communities and organizations working to expand the area’s urban forest. Lydia Scott, the initiative’s director, said that because the grant does not require applicants to match the funds they receive, many under-served communities will be able to access the money. The grant’s five-year span also will give the partnership time to conduct inventories, plan and get trees in the ground. The initiative requires the communities to commit to maintaining plantings for at least three years. As more cities and towns receive funding through the grant program, forestry leaders hope to see them bring certified arborists on staff.
Source
- Alex Brown – Stateline, October 5, 2023
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or 0.25 BCMA Management credits & 0.25 BCMA Practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Humus
Edited by Len Phillips
How does humus relate to the many components of soil?
Humus, sometimes called soil organic matter, is the most stable form of compost. Humus is the final result of the natural composting process for leaves, plants, and other organic matter. Humus is seen as the bottom of the forest topsoil profile.
Humus itself has no nutritional value, but it greatly contributes to soil fertility from its physical and chemical properties. Humus particles can store positively charged forms of essential potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Humus also stores large quantities of carbon for years. Humus binds to heavy metals such as mercury and lead, making them less readily to be absorbed by plants or leached into the groundwater.
Humus not only provides the soil with good aeration, it also provides water holding capacity essential for tree growth. In other words, humus greatly contributes to the storage and uptake of some fertilizer elements but is not a fertilizer itself.
Organic Soil Conditioners
Organic matter serves as a reservoir for nutrients and improves soil structure, drainage, aeration, cation exchange capacity, buffering capacity, and water-holding capacity. It also provides a source of food for beneficial microorganisms. Generally speaking, soils high in organic matter have better physical conditions compared to soils low in organic matter.
Organic matter is usually less than 10% of the total weight of mineral soils. To actually change the organic matter content of a soil, very large amounts of organic materials must be applied. Research has shown that it takes 5 - 15 pounds (2 - 7 kg) of fresh plant residue to produce 1 pound (½ kg) of stable humus.
Soil Microorganisms
Soil microorganisms consist of tiny animals such as algae, viruses, insects, protozoa, arthropods, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. They carry out numerous biological functions such as creating humus. The microorganisms also decompose organic matter, suppress pathogens, improve soil properties, and convert soil nutrients from organic matter into tree-available forms. They also improve the soil structure, produce enzymes and hormones that help plants grow, and decompose pollutants in the soil. Microorganisms also suppress disease organisms and reduce the potential for temperature and moisture stress.
As we all know, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and convert it to sugar and energy via photosynthesis. The oxygen in the CO2 molecule is released back to the air and the carbon becomes part of the plant tissue. The carbon is later released from the plant tissue when the plant dies and falls to the ground. There it is consumed by soil microorganisms. The soil microorganisms produce humus and glomalin which are loaded with carbon. Glomalin, an organic glue, acts to bind organic matter to mineral particles in the soil as tiny clumps that actually improve soil structure, and the carbon is deposited on the surface of these particles. This process locks carbon into the soil.
Bacteria
Humus relates to bacteria as one of the main microorganisms in the soil that decompose organic matter and creates humus. Nitrogen gas from the air is chemically bound by bacteria into soluble or insoluble organic compounds that degrade in time, releasing soluble nitrogen compounds like ammonia. Most bacteria convert nitrogen into a form that is available to plants. Bacteria will also convert insoluble mineral phosphorus and iron into soluble products that plants can use. Bacterial waste products become humus.
Fungi
Fungi is another main organism in the creation of humus. It decomposes dead plants, pine needles, bark, wood, and animal matter. These saprophytes act as recyclers of dead organic matter, obtaining food from this material. Hyphal tips release enzymes that eventually decompose and release organic materials into the surrounding environment. Fungal waste products that cannot be broken down further become soil humus.
Compost
Compost is the partially degraded organic matter that becomes humus when soil organisms have completed their activities. Leaf compost is the best natural fertilizer on our planet, but there are many other good types of compost like cow manure, kelp and fishmeal, and mixes of organic and inorganic minerals. Compost used as a top-dressing instead of mulch is easy and a fast way to improve the growth of trees and shrubs.
Humus and Humic Acid
Humus contains the remains of plants and organic matter as well as the digestive remains of microorganisms and invertebrates. The soluble pieces of humus are called humic and fulvic acids. Humic and fulvic acids buffer pH swings in the soil. Humic acid slows decomposition reactions in soils. These acids are very complex and easily immobilized by soil mineral matter. They can improve germination of fungi, but the germinated fungus has to rapidly find a root to colonize or it will die.
Commercial Humates
Humates are mineral salts of humic and fulvic acids. Commercial humates are products derived from oxidized lignite, an earthy, coal-like substance associated with lignite outcrops. Humates marketed for agricultural purposes may be soluble or insoluble and may be fortified with commercial fertilizer. Commercial humates contain between 30% - 60% humic acid. Commercial humates do not resemble soil organic matter and therefore cannot be expected to perform the same function. In addition, the low rate of application normally recommended is insignificant in comparison with organic matter already present in most soils. Mixed humates contain 1.2% - 1.5% nitrogen, of which only a small portion of nitrogen is needed by the plant in a given year. At the recommended application rate, commercial humates would add less than 1 pound (0.5 kg) of nitrogen per acre.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
How does humus relate to the many components of soil?
Humus, sometimes called soil organic matter, is the most stable form of compost. Humus is the final result of the natural composting process for leaves, plants, and other organic matter. Humus is seen as the bottom of the forest topsoil profile.
Humus itself has no nutritional value, but it greatly contributes to soil fertility from its physical and chemical properties. Humus particles can store positively charged forms of essential potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Humus also stores large quantities of carbon for years. Humus binds to heavy metals such as mercury and lead, making them less readily to be absorbed by plants or leached into the groundwater.
Humus not only provides the soil with good aeration, it also provides water holding capacity essential for tree growth. In other words, humus greatly contributes to the storage and uptake of some fertilizer elements but is not a fertilizer itself.
Organic Soil Conditioners
Organic matter serves as a reservoir for nutrients and improves soil structure, drainage, aeration, cation exchange capacity, buffering capacity, and water-holding capacity. It also provides a source of food for beneficial microorganisms. Generally speaking, soils high in organic matter have better physical conditions compared to soils low in organic matter.
Organic matter is usually less than 10% of the total weight of mineral soils. To actually change the organic matter content of a soil, very large amounts of organic materials must be applied. Research has shown that it takes 5 - 15 pounds (2 - 7 kg) of fresh plant residue to produce 1 pound (½ kg) of stable humus.
Soil Microorganisms
Soil microorganisms consist of tiny animals such as algae, viruses, insects, protozoa, arthropods, bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. They carry out numerous biological functions such as creating humus. The microorganisms also decompose organic matter, suppress pathogens, improve soil properties, and convert soil nutrients from organic matter into tree-available forms. They also improve the soil structure, produce enzymes and hormones that help plants grow, and decompose pollutants in the soil. Microorganisms also suppress disease organisms and reduce the potential for temperature and moisture stress.
As we all know, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and convert it to sugar and energy via photosynthesis. The oxygen in the CO2 molecule is released back to the air and the carbon becomes part of the plant tissue. The carbon is later released from the plant tissue when the plant dies and falls to the ground. There it is consumed by soil microorganisms. The soil microorganisms produce humus and glomalin which are loaded with carbon. Glomalin, an organic glue, acts to bind organic matter to mineral particles in the soil as tiny clumps that actually improve soil structure, and the carbon is deposited on the surface of these particles. This process locks carbon into the soil.
Bacteria
Humus relates to bacteria as one of the main microorganisms in the soil that decompose organic matter and creates humus. Nitrogen gas from the air is chemically bound by bacteria into soluble or insoluble organic compounds that degrade in time, releasing soluble nitrogen compounds like ammonia. Most bacteria convert nitrogen into a form that is available to plants. Bacteria will also convert insoluble mineral phosphorus and iron into soluble products that plants can use. Bacterial waste products become humus.
Fungi
Fungi is another main organism in the creation of humus. It decomposes dead plants, pine needles, bark, wood, and animal matter. These saprophytes act as recyclers of dead organic matter, obtaining food from this material. Hyphal tips release enzymes that eventually decompose and release organic materials into the surrounding environment. Fungal waste products that cannot be broken down further become soil humus.
Compost
Compost is the partially degraded organic matter that becomes humus when soil organisms have completed their activities. Leaf compost is the best natural fertilizer on our planet, but there are many other good types of compost like cow manure, kelp and fishmeal, and mixes of organic and inorganic minerals. Compost used as a top-dressing instead of mulch is easy and a fast way to improve the growth of trees and shrubs.
Humus and Humic Acid
Humus contains the remains of plants and organic matter as well as the digestive remains of microorganisms and invertebrates. The soluble pieces of humus are called humic and fulvic acids. Humic and fulvic acids buffer pH swings in the soil. Humic acid slows decomposition reactions in soils. These acids are very complex and easily immobilized by soil mineral matter. They can improve germination of fungi, but the germinated fungus has to rapidly find a root to colonize or it will die.
Commercial Humates
Humates are mineral salts of humic and fulvic acids. Commercial humates are products derived from oxidized lignite, an earthy, coal-like substance associated with lignite outcrops. Humates marketed for agricultural purposes may be soluble or insoluble and may be fortified with commercial fertilizer. Commercial humates contain between 30% - 60% humic acid. Commercial humates do not resemble soil organic matter and therefore cannot be expected to perform the same function. In addition, the low rate of application normally recommended is insignificant in comparison with organic matter already present in most soils. Mixed humates contain 1.2% - 1.5% nitrogen, of which only a small portion of nitrogen is needed by the plant in a given year. At the recommended application rate, commercial humates would add less than 1 pound (0.5 kg) of nitrogen per acre.
Sources
- Dragon, Curtis, "Organic Earth Care", Archive #33 from Online Seminars, July/August 2010.
- Ingham, Dr. Elaine, "The Relationship between Plants and Soil ", Archive #30 from Online Seminars, January/February 2010.
- Phillips, Len "Custom Soils Lock CO2 Away", Archive #28 from Online Seminars, September/October 2009.
- Phillips, Len, "Soil Microorganisms", Archive #24 from Online Seminars, January/February 2009.Phillips, Len, "Urban Soil Updates", Archive #34 from Online Seminars, September/October 2010.
- Smith, Kevin, "Humus and Soil Fertility" Tree Care Industry, September 2010.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Seattle's Urban Forest Management Plan
Edited by Len Phillips
Seattle's newly updated “Urban Forest Management Plan” provides a framework for policy and action that guides the Seattle city government decision-making process. The goal is to help Seattle maintain, preserve, enhance, and restore its urban forest. The core of the plan is a set of outcomes, strategies, actions, and indicators that will guide department staff in supporting a healthy and sustainable urban forest across the city's publicly and privately owned lands.
For example, the canopy cover is an important management tool for the City to understand the extent and distribution of trees in Seattle. The canopy cover is the percent of the city that's covered by trees, as seen in an aerial view. Seattle currently has a 28 percent canopy cover, and a goal to reach 30 percent canopy cover by 2037. The Urban Forest Management Plan guides the City's progress towards this goal.
Trees and green spaces have significant environmental, economic, and social benefits for City residents. This includes improving air and water quality, natural stormwater management, and soil protection that attracts people to local business districts and community spaces.
Trees are fundamental to the character of Seattle and to all the resident's quality of life. In the rapidly changing climate, Seattle's urban forest is an increasingly important asset, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change impacts, including heat island effects, as well as supporting Seattle's public health, providing habitat for wildlife, creating spaces for exploration and enjoyment, cleaning the City's air and water, and reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff.
Extreme heat events have had devastating impacts, especially in low income, Black, indigenous, and People of Color communities. Trees are an effective tool to reduce the impacts of heat events by reducing temperatures in and around homes. The role of trees in mitigating this is significant and provides an increasing impact to the city and underscores how important it is to ensure the urban forest is effectively managed.
“Trees for Seattle” is the umbrella for all of Seattle's urban forestry efforts. Trees for Seattle's commitment is to ensure that Seattle's urban forest is healthy, vital, and growing.
One major effort is the Green Seattle Partnership (GSP). This group is a unique public-private venture dedicated to re-establishing and maintaining healthy urban forests. The partnership was formed in 2004 with a goal to restore 2,500 acres of forested park lands by 2025.
Trees for Seattle is the group that was established to oversee and advise the Mayor and City Council concerning the establishment of policy and regulations governing the protection, management, and conservation of trees and vegetation in the City of Seattle.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Seattle's newly updated “Urban Forest Management Plan” provides a framework for policy and action that guides the Seattle city government decision-making process. The goal is to help Seattle maintain, preserve, enhance, and restore its urban forest. The core of the plan is a set of outcomes, strategies, actions, and indicators that will guide department staff in supporting a healthy and sustainable urban forest across the city's publicly and privately owned lands.
For example, the canopy cover is an important management tool for the City to understand the extent and distribution of trees in Seattle. The canopy cover is the percent of the city that's covered by trees, as seen in an aerial view. Seattle currently has a 28 percent canopy cover, and a goal to reach 30 percent canopy cover by 2037. The Urban Forest Management Plan guides the City's progress towards this goal.
Trees and green spaces have significant environmental, economic, and social benefits for City residents. This includes improving air and water quality, natural stormwater management, and soil protection that attracts people to local business districts and community spaces.
Trees are fundamental to the character of Seattle and to all the resident's quality of life. In the rapidly changing climate, Seattle's urban forest is an increasingly important asset, playing a critical role in mitigating climate change impacts, including heat island effects, as well as supporting Seattle's public health, providing habitat for wildlife, creating spaces for exploration and enjoyment, cleaning the City's air and water, and reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff.
Extreme heat events have had devastating impacts, especially in low income, Black, indigenous, and People of Color communities. Trees are an effective tool to reduce the impacts of heat events by reducing temperatures in and around homes. The role of trees in mitigating this is significant and provides an increasing impact to the city and underscores how important it is to ensure the urban forest is effectively managed.
“Trees for Seattle” is the umbrella for all of Seattle's urban forestry efforts. Trees for Seattle's commitment is to ensure that Seattle's urban forest is healthy, vital, and growing.
One major effort is the Green Seattle Partnership (GSP). This group is a unique public-private venture dedicated to re-establishing and maintaining healthy urban forests. The partnership was formed in 2004 with a goal to restore 2,500 acres of forested park lands by 2025.
Trees for Seattle is the group that was established to oversee and advise the Mayor and City Council concerning the establishment of policy and regulations governing the protection, management, and conservation of trees and vegetation in the City of Seattle.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA Management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
World Failing on Pledge to Stop Deforestation
Phys.Org (October 2023)
The world is failing on a pledge to halt deforestation and reversing the trend by 2030. The failure is with global losses of forest land that increased last year, instead of decreasing as was promised by world leaders from over 100 countries last year. The countries and territories representing the vast majority of the world's forests, pledged to stop forest losses and reverse the trend by 2030. But an annual assessment released recently found global deforestation actually increased by four percent last year, and the world remains way off track to meet the 2030 commitment to stop deforestation and global warming.
The 2030 goal is essential to reverse the warming trend and forest loss in order to maintain a livable climate for humanity. Forests are not only key habitats for human and animal life but they also serve as important regulators of the global climate and carbon sponges that suck in the emissions that human activity produces.
However, deforestation last year was over 20 percent higher than it should have been to meet the leaders' pledge, with 6.6 million hectares of forest lost. Much of the loss was primarily forest in tropical regions and forest fires in the US and Canada.
The assessment is overseen by more than two dozen environmental groups and research organizations. The assessment also warns that forest degradation remains a huge problem.
Degradation refers to a wide range of harmful events, including wildfires and biodiversity loss, which affect the overall health of the world's forests. Data from this year does tend to shift but one year is not an indication that Global warming is on a major annual increase. But what is really important is the trend and looking at the baseline of 2018 to 2020, we're going in the wrong direction.
The assessment was not universally gloomy, with about 50 countries deemed on course to end deforestation. In particular, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia saw "dramatic reductions" in forest loss. But those gains are at risk however, depending on a potential political change in leadership.
Indonesia's success was linked in part to a moratorium on deforestation. There are concerns new legislation on job creation could weaken that commitment and in Brazil there has been renewed interest in protecting the Amazon. Another key eco-system is the Cerrado savannah (a region of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil) that has become a target to reduce deforestation.
The report praised new rules introduced by the European Union which was intended to block the imports of commodities that drive deforestation. But it called for stronger global action, including more money to protect forests and the end of subsidies to sectors like agriculture that drive deforestation.
The world is failing forests with devastating consequences on a global scale. Since the global pledge was made, an area of tropical forest the size of Denmark has been lost. The report comes before countries meet for climate talks in January.
But deforestation is likely to take a backseat to January discussions on renewable energy and the future of fossil fuels.
The world leaders want to see nature and forests high on the agenda. They are worried that they are not up there. Several countries fail to stop illegal syndicates that are harvesting forests for profits even with a surplus of logs at ports of entry.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or 0.25 BCMA Management credits & 0.25 BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Phys.Org (October 2023)
The world is failing on a pledge to halt deforestation and reversing the trend by 2030. The failure is with global losses of forest land that increased last year, instead of decreasing as was promised by world leaders from over 100 countries last year. The countries and territories representing the vast majority of the world's forests, pledged to stop forest losses and reverse the trend by 2030. But an annual assessment released recently found global deforestation actually increased by four percent last year, and the world remains way off track to meet the 2030 commitment to stop deforestation and global warming.
The 2030 goal is essential to reverse the warming trend and forest loss in order to maintain a livable climate for humanity. Forests are not only key habitats for human and animal life but they also serve as important regulators of the global climate and carbon sponges that suck in the emissions that human activity produces.
However, deforestation last year was over 20 percent higher than it should have been to meet the leaders' pledge, with 6.6 million hectares of forest lost. Much of the loss was primarily forest in tropical regions and forest fires in the US and Canada.
The assessment is overseen by more than two dozen environmental groups and research organizations. The assessment also warns that forest degradation remains a huge problem.
Degradation refers to a wide range of harmful events, including wildfires and biodiversity loss, which affect the overall health of the world's forests. Data from this year does tend to shift but one year is not an indication that Global warming is on a major annual increase. But what is really important is the trend and looking at the baseline of 2018 to 2020, we're going in the wrong direction.
The assessment was not universally gloomy, with about 50 countries deemed on course to end deforestation. In particular, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia saw "dramatic reductions" in forest loss. But those gains are at risk however, depending on a potential political change in leadership.
Indonesia's success was linked in part to a moratorium on deforestation. There are concerns new legislation on job creation could weaken that commitment and in Brazil there has been renewed interest in protecting the Amazon. Another key eco-system is the Cerrado savannah (a region of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil) that has become a target to reduce deforestation.
The report praised new rules introduced by the European Union which was intended to block the imports of commodities that drive deforestation. But it called for stronger global action, including more money to protect forests and the end of subsidies to sectors like agriculture that drive deforestation.
The world is failing forests with devastating consequences on a global scale. Since the global pledge was made, an area of tropical forest the size of Denmark has been lost. The report comes before countries meet for climate talks in January.
But deforestation is likely to take a backseat to January discussions on renewable energy and the future of fossil fuels.
The world leaders want to see nature and forests high on the agenda. They are worried that they are not up there. Several countries fail to stop illegal syndicates that are harvesting forests for profits even with a surplus of logs at ports of entry.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or 0.25 BCMA Management credits & 0.25 BCMA Science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.