Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday
"Trees Are Good" --- Making the Tree Message Relevant for the 21st Century
Summary
The “Trees Are Good” message was developed by ISA because it evokes
a deep seated, visceral reaction by most people, appealing to their
emotional ties with trees. Most will agree with arborists that “Trees Are
Motherhood” and are an easy sell to residents and industry alike. Industries in
particular are increasingly demonstrating their portability in seeking to
locate in jurisdictions where labor may be cheap and the political regime
stable, but also where the environment is clean and green. But as “good”
as trees are, they do require maintenance, can be subject to insects and other
pests, and can stand “in the way” of urban infrastructure and development. In
some cases trees are also easily scapegoated for any number or infrastructure
ailments – from foundation damage to roof deterioration by those who seek the
tree as “the culprit.”
Over the years, Tree Canada – a relatively small but influential NGO – has
developed a number of communication tools to help convey the “good” but complex
message of trees including:
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Basic information on the species of trees that grow in
Canada
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The benefits of trees to society to both citizens,
politicians and the corporate sector,
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The benefits of utilizing professionals including ISA
Certified Arborists to take care of this resource
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The use of new technology to best convey these
messages as widely as possible.
Presenters
Michael Rosen is the President of Tree
Canada - a national not-for-profit who develops programs in partnership with
the private and public sectors, communities and individual Canadians to
maintain a healthy environment through sustaining urban and rural forests. He led
Tree Canada’s transition to private sector support, facilitated its first Forest and Urban Tree Carbon Project
Protocol, participated in its first international project in Armenia and successfully
advocated for federal recognition for a National
Tree Day for Canada. Previously, he was a Forester and a Stewardship
Coordinator with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
A long time member of the ISA
and a Certified Arborist, Michael participated in the National Capital
Commission’s Dutch Elm Disease control programs as a student in the National
Capital Region. He has been a strong advocate for the inclusion of urban
forests in the Canadian forestry world and is on many Boards including: Faculty
of Forestry U of T,Ottawa’s Cité Collégiale,
Ottawa Valley Chapter of the Canadian Institute of Forestry, Ontario Forestry Association,
and the Ontario Professional Foresters Association. He is a member of various historical and
forest history societies.
Michael graduated with a B.A.
in History from Trent University, a B.Sc.F. from the University of Toronto and
a Diploma in the Ontario Advanced Forestry Program from U of T and Lakehead
University.
He is an avid canoeist and cross-country skier and has
visited both Finland and Armenia. He lives with his family on one acre of
“paradise” in Cantley, in the Gatineau Hills of Québec. One of his favourite
trees is yellow birch.
Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday