The field of arboriculture is broad and there are many different types of Arborists. Most people are familiar with Tree Climbers/Workers (also known as Commercial Arborists) as they are the most visible day to day. There are also Municipal Arborists who work in municipalities to ensure the health and safety of Urban trees. A consulting Arborist is another classification that we will explore in this post.
What is a Consulting Arborist
Consulting Arborists are defined as “the authoritative experts on trees and bring an objective, comprehensive viewpoint to their clients – ensuring the safety, health, and preservation of trees” (ASCA). In other words, Consulting Arborists play a critical role in decision-making with respect to trees and their landscape. They have knowledge and experience, which helps to provide the best possible solutions to complex questions.
Why would I need a Consulting Arborist?
There are many different functions that a Consulting Arborist is able to perform. Some of these include:
- Diagnosis of tree and landscape problems
- Tree risk assessments
- Development of plant health care programs
- Tree and landscape appraisals
- Tree inventories
- Tree protection for construction projects
Homeowners, business owners, municipalities and many others can make use of the services provided by Consulting Arborists. Sometimes local municipalities will require arborist reports written by a Consulting Arborist for development or construction projects. These will typically include a tree inventory and protection plan with the objective to preserve as many trees as possible. Other times, a Consulting Arborist is retained by a client to help diagnose problems and develop solutions for single trees or a group of trees. All in all, there are many different circumstances in which you may need a Consulting Arborist. If you require any of the services above, or if you have any questions about our services, please contact us here.
Who makes final decisions for projects?
When using the services of a Consulting Arborist, final decisions are typically made by either the property owners or local municipalities. This is true for many of the services mentioned above, but one notable exception is when a tree appraisal is performed. Tree appraisals and their importance is discussed further in the next section. The role of the Consulting Arborist is to obtain and analyze all relevant information and to provide recommendations based on their findings. It is important to have a discussion with the Arborist prior to making a final decision as they will be able to explain why they feel certain recommendations are more appropriate than others.
What is a tree appraisal?
Tree appraisals are more unique than many of the other services provided by a Consulting Arborist. Like all appraisals, a tree appraisal simply estimates a monetary value for a tree or group of trees. These are often completed when trees have been damaged or are expected to incur damage; most often because of construction.
Why would I need one?
Having an appraisal completed allows clients to see the monetary value of their trees and provides a good baseline for compensation should their trees be badly damaged or killed. In situations like these, your Consulting Arborist may be able to serve as an expert witness if a dispute goes to court. In this case, having the knowledge and experience of an Arborist qualified to conduct tree appraisals can be very beneficial. Of course, this is not the only scenario in which a tree appraisal is done. Sometimes homeowners may have an appraisal done to help understand the value of their home and the surrounding landscape. Whatever your reason may be, make sure your Arborist is knowledgeable and qualified to complete tree appraisals.
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