Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday
Spinning with Integrity: Improving Public Perception of ROW Corridors
Summary
With millions of acres of ROW in North America and an ever-increasing need for more corridors, it is important to assure the public that the presence of a well-managed ROW corridor is not necessarily a liability. Research and demonstration projects have shown the value of corridors as open space, recreational land, and valuable habitat for wildlife. ROW corridors also can be aesthetically pleasing. Subtle changes in management specifications—such as adoption of the wire-zone border-zone method, release of cover seed, or leaving vegetative screens—can significantly change the environmental function and appearance of the corridor, with minimal effect on cost or functionality. However, stakeholders outside the industry are often unaware of the potential benefits and frequently oppose maintenance of existing ROW corridors, or the creation of additional corridors. Stakeholders inside the industry are often reluctant to implement alternative, more environmentally-friendly management methods due to initial costs or a lack of understanding of the long-term benefits. This presentation will review existing research and provide examples of projects that have successfully communicated the benefits of utilizing environmentally sound management methods.
Presenters
Geoff Kempter is Manager of Technical Services for Asplundh.He currently serves on the ISA Board of Directors, the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Committee and the Right-of-Way Steward Technical Advisory Committee. He served on the TREE Fund Board, and is a Past President of the Penn-Del Chapter. He is author of the ISA Best Management Practices Guide for Utility Pruning, and numerous articles in various publications. Geof
f is a 1981 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources.
Climbers' Corner • Tree Academy
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday