Part II

My intention is to bring to the group a report on the situation for arboriculture in Germany. There have been many new and exciting developments in the past year.

The groups who have an interest in tree care practices are presently landscapers, foresters, urban foresters, and consultants. The landscaperswish to regulate all practices related to plants and their maintenance. But they have not established tree care as a special field, and they have no specific education concerning tree care. Tree care is not related to forestry in our country. Presently there is a strong tradition of separation of forestry practices and research and administration from urban tree care. Some cities have made the effort to educate their tree care workers by sending them to the special three-week training sessions of the LVG in Heidelberg. Public opinion is forcing them to improve the maintenance of the trees in their care.

There are some agricultural and gardening consultants who work with tree problems: sometimes to the benefit or detriment of the trees. Of all these groups, not one of them is working exclusively in the area of tree care. Our new ISA group wants to remedy this situation. Education will be the key. Some other groups have attempted to run seminars in tree surgery. In some instances, they have been influenced by special interests. These seminars are not accepted by the government. The only government supported special education over the last 10 years has been offered by the LVG in Heidelberg, with whom we are connected. They offer a special examination and certification to be an Staatliche Gepruefter Baumpfleger.

At the moment, the best public information comes from the tree departments of some cities. The government does not provide educational information on trees as you do, in cooperative extension programs. Some gardening journals report from time to time on special interests. We are seeing more frequently articles on trees. One journal, “Die Baumzeitung” with Dr. Bernatzky as Editor, reported only about trees for many years; however, within the last two years, the magazine has been sold to the Scheidler Company.

In general, when people have problems with their trees, they consult their local nurseryman, landscaper, or fruit tree grower. These are not always the best resources for up-to-date information.

In Germany, tree care depends more and more on public interest in the environment and nature. Our people have a strong emotional connection to the German forest. Forestry science has shown them the increasing damage to forest trees. The result is that the people also now worry more about the proper care of trees along roadsides, in gardens, and in parks. They demand better protection and maintenance of their trees. Unfortunately, because of the low level of good information, these demands are based mostly on emotions.

The greatest pressure for proper tree care will come from the public sector. The Green Party is a political trend setter for environmental protection and maintenance. Other political parties and their government have started to follow their lead as their popularity rises.

In our special field, we wish to create the demand for high quality work. In this way, the green industry can make the greatest profit—for the trees, the customers, and the companies. All of this depends on good education and on strong, accurate public information made available to the broadest possible audience. The information becomes more valuable as our arborists become better educated and better prepared to maintain a high level of awareness of advancing information in their craft.

Immediately, we must raise our standards for education. We must reach the many young people who are well-trained in horticulture, and who are looking to the tree business as an expanding industry. We are seeing many new, small companies beginning to work in arboriculture. This is good. But now we feel that our government should require that only certified arborists may practice. If we wish to get the right action from the government we must have a strong organization to speak in the interests of the trees.

Our young ISA members have formed a society accepted by German law. We have begun to address many of the problems of education and regulation. We have successfully held a seminar for tree care managers from 14 different countries. About 300 people attended. Another seminar is being planned for 1987. We are supporting the LVG in Heidelberg with equipment, teachers, and members of the Board of Examiners. We arrange worker training seminars that are accepted by the LVG as one of the qualifications for acceptance into their program. We teach young gardeners tree care. We have organized a 10-day special information exhibit at a national garden show. We have helped develop a unique research program on soil problems for young, newly planted trees, and soil improvements for older trees.

The University of Mainz will perform the research. The program is financed by the cities of Mainz, Wiesbaden, Koeln, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Heidelberg, and others. Early developmental work is funded at the 100 thousand DM level, and over 10 years the expected level of funding will be 2 million DM. We initiated hearings on safety and ways to legalize climbing with ropes. We have contacts with many arborists all over Europe. For example, we are seeing much activity and good work in the Netherlands and Spain. We have accomplished many of our goals and expect to continue growing and to be very active in the future.

• © 1986, International Society of Arboriculture. All rights reserved.