PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Zillmer, Ronald E. AU - Boeder, Jeffrey L. AU - Genich, Kevin G. TI - A Productivity Timing System for Tree Climbing Training AID - 10.48044/jauf.2000.012 DP - 2000 Mar 01 TA - Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) PG - 97--105 VI - 26 IP - 2 4099 - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/26/2/97.short 4100 - http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/26/2/97.full SO - JOA2000 Mar 01; 26 AB - The City of Milwaukee Forestry Division manages more than 200,000 street trees and 120 mi (193 km) of landscaped boulevards. Tree pruning is a major operation that accounts for the pruning of more than 58,000 trees per year, with a majority of such work done by rope and saddle. Our program for current and newly hired employees consists of intense training during a 6-month probationary period. The cornerstone of this training program is based on building climbing proficiency and demonstrating the ability to prune a predetermined number of trees per day within certain size classes. To refine our climbing training program, we developed a unique productivity timing system utilizing a pruning study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1992. Over 50% of our current urban forestry specialists (arborists) have been trained under this timing system. A detailed account of the evolution of our system of tree climbing training and productivity assessment will be presented and should be applicable to other urban forestry programs around the world.