FLOOD06155 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . . . TREE em USA . BUL~~TIN Friends of1ree City USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bulletin No. 15 James R. Fazio, Editor How to Recognize and Prevent Hazard Trees Worrying about hazards has resulted in the unnecessary removal of many trees. Although the problem of hazard trees needs to be addressed by every landowner and land manager, removal should be an act of last resort. Instead. some technical knowledge and Q lot of common sense are the keys to preventing injuries, property damage and lawsuits due to unsafe trees. There once was a young arborist who was placed in charge of the trees on a beautiful college campus. Most of the trees under his care had been planted decades before, then carefully nurtured over the years to provide shade and lend grace to the academic setting. Not long after the new arborist arrived, trees began being felled and a "hit list" of others \vas presented to the faculty committee that oversaw such matters. Soon. the arborist was known as The Grim Reaper, a title out of character in a profession dedicated to prolonging the lives of trees! After some investigation, it was learned that the arborist had been to a training session about hazard trees, The course had done such a good job in some respects that the man's sharpened eye saw potential trouble in nearly every tree. The course had frightened him so badly about potential injuries, property damage and, above all, liability suits, that he viewed tree removals as the only course of action. Old poplars in a park, a pear tree by a dorm and dead snags in the arboretum were viewed the same-and all were sched- uled for removal. In this issue of the Bulletin, some of the signs that warn about dangerous trees are presented, as well as a reminder that those of us who own or manage trees are, indeed, re- sponsible for the safety of people and property in the vicinity of our trees. But you will find no photos of dented cars or smashed houses. Scare tactics \..rill backfire. The better approach is to learn to analyze the setting, consider the risks and benefits, and carefully plan for actions that prevent or correct hazards whenever possible. It is toward that end that this issue is dedicated.