The ISA UK+I Perspective
23rd April 2007
If the subject of our endeavors was something that engaged our imaginations less, I suggest that this industry would be rather different and the people involved far less colourful and interesting. We are all, to a greater or lesser degree, living out our vocations and it's the passion behind this that makes everything we do intense and fulfilling.
The support that the two main tree associations enjoy shows the enthusiasm within the profession. Some choose to support the AA, some the ISA (UK/I) and many support both. The AA is long standing in this country and the conferences that I have attended have been some of the most memorable events of my professional life. I have been, am and will remain a member and supporter of the AA. But I'm President of the ISA UK+I Chapter so you would expect me to be a flag waving supporter and advocate for that organisation
The AA carries its popular support through good works, good networks and some degree of nationalistic pride. At least, those are some of my main reasons for being a member, but the ISA being international represents an outward looking opportunity for arboriculture in the UK, and it is this benefit specifically for UK arboriculturists that I really believe in.
So what does ISA (UK/I) offer UK arborists? Well, I believe we are more focused on the individual working Arborist. The Certified Arborist scheme is a classic example and it's an easily attainable, inclusive scheme. However, it is also comprehensive as a candidate has to show good depth of knowledge in all fields. That's good training which turns out good arborists with appropriately broad knowledge that they can build on throughout their careers wherever in the world their careers takes them. Think of it as international professional currency. I am a Certified Arborist and I am as proud of that as any of my qualifications. I will maintain the required 30 continuing education units every three years to keep up to date with international advances in arboriculture.
The UK + I has Professional Affiliations (PAs). For example, the Consulting Arborist Society is the PA that handles all aspects of Tree Consultancy on behalf of the ISA UK+I Chapter. The only requirement is that a PA must have a constitution that does not conflict with that of ISA international. CAS fulfils the UK/I Chapter's role to deal with issues relating to tree consultancy. I interpret that to mean that CAS has to be active. It has to be clear on what it is trying to do. With my experience I know that CAS focuses on the areas of commercial application of Consulting Arboriculture and is active in developing or importing more. In setting out ways to protect and support innovative ideas from practical research, CAS is potentially the ideal vehicle for people developing practical applications of Arboricultural research, and as such I hope that it becomes the delivery vehicle of choice for developers of applied tree consulting products and the incubator for tomorrow's tree report procedures. Above all else, CAS tries to promote member services to the general public.
A popular aspect of ISA is the annual Tree Climbing Championships (TCC). Just like motor racing drives product development, the TCC's have been responsible for driving skills development, equipment design and working techniques for over a decade. That process is ongoing and is creating a specialist climbing community that is again open to all. All you need is the desire to compete and improve the techniques that you use every day commercially.
Since I persuaded Trans World Sport to cover the International TCCs in Birmingham in 1998, I have had a dream to take the TCCs into the natural medium for such a visual spectacle: the alternative sports TV networks. I feel it could become as watchable as climbing artificial rock walls or the forestry x games and what better way to publicise the Arboricultural industry.
Two other influential PAs are the Student Activities Committee (SAC) and the British Utility Arborist Association (BUAA). Students are the future of the industry and the increasingly rigorous standards of qualification that Utility Arborists must accumulate is fast making that area of Arboriculture the most exacting, and rightly so.
ISA UK+I have a simple and efficient committee structure within which members can explore their particular aspects of arboriculture. There is also international exchange of ideas and research. With 20,000 members, ISA is truly a global organisation with resources to match. Those influences find their way directly to members via the international publications. Arborist News carries much practical news and articles of direct significance to working and evolving arborists. The Journal Of Arboriculture is a technical publication second to none.
ISA UK+I has its own publications distributed free to members, all of which help our members keep their fingers on the pulse of our profession. The UK/I Chapter emphasises innovation and its benefits to its members.
The greatest challenge facing UK Arboriculture is also its greatest opportunity. Genuine close relations between AA and ISA are important for the future of our profession. There are issues to resolve but to do so, the industry needs to speak as one. Restructuring pension arrangements for arborists is essential to make a more viable career progression structure, then there is the need to establish the word "Arboriculture" in the public psyche. Getting our own product heading in Yellow Pages would be a real barometer of the status of this industry in my opinion.
One step at a time is a winning strategy. Define the goal then define the sequential steps backwards from that goal to where you are now. Applying that principle, I arrive at Step 1… get the AA and the ISA actively talking and co-operating.
The UK/I Board of Directors supported my practical offer to the AA last September at The AA conference for an AA liaison officer to 'join us at' UK/I meetings. We hope the AA will reciprocate and our offer stands.
I had hoped to be able to report another step forward: the acceptance of my proposal that we scrap the caveat in the original joint press release relating to the merger talks saying we would not report the progress of those talks. I am disappointed that the AA has refused to agree to that proposal.
I think UK arborists need to read about these issues and see the differences in how the meetings are being reported. In short, a reporting restriction denies you the opportunity to become fully aware of the issues. If you are like me, the feeling of being kept in the dark, even with the best of intentions, is unacceptable. I intend to report the developments as they happen, to my Chapter members. To promote openness, I will give my counterparts in the AA sight of my draft reports and I will consider their comments and/or give them the right to reply within Treeline. UK/I members will be kept up to date with progress.
I consider that in this way our industry will really move forward, and with these two proposals agreed and in action, the differences between the two organisations will quickly become irrelevant. The common thread in my proposals is communication between the AA and the ISA and communication between elected representatives and their members. After all, one day we will all surely vote on those issues and the results will affect the industry as a cohesive whole.
David Lloyd-Jones
ISA UK+I Chapter President 2006-2008
CAS Chairman 2003-2007