Profession arboriculturist

Arboriculturists carry out specialised tasks related to observation, health and maintenance of trees.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Realistic
• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Plant species

  The variety of plants, trees and shrubs and their special characteristics. 

• Tree preservation and conservation

  Environmental requirements for tree preservation and conservation.

• Forest ecology

  The ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.

• Health and safety regulations

  Necessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.

Skills

• Perform tree thinning

  Remove some trees from a stand in order to improve tree health, timber value and production.

• Plant green plants

  Plant seeds manually or by using ground equipment.

• Carry out aerial tree rigging

  Calculate the expected loads the rigging will be exposed to. Select compatible components to make up the rigging system and choose the position of anchor points for rigging components. Take into account the expected load and the positions of the ground crew, other anchor points, equipment, planned drop zone, and processing area. Remove lower tree sections using suitable cuts, minimising shock loading in the rigging system.

• Monitor tree health

  Monitor trees for pests and diseases, aiming to improve their health.

• Assess hazards implied in tree operations

  Evaluate risks and hazards, perform efficient actions in order to minimize risks and to restore the trees to their orginal state or to replant new ones.

• Execute disease and pest control activities

  Execute disease and pest control activities using conventional or biological methods taking into account the climate, plant or crop type, health and safety and environmental regulations. Store and handle pesticides in accordance with recomandation and legislation.

• Climb trees

  Ascend and descend from trees in a safely manner.

• Lop trees

  Retract trees and big branches complying with health and safety regulations

• Spray pesticides

  Spray pesticide solutions to keep insects, fungus, weed growth, and diseases under control.

• Advise on tree issues

  Provide advice to organisations and private persons on planting trees and tree safety. Investigate current conservation and tree management projects.

• Handle geospatial technologies

  Use geospatial technologies which involve GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing) in the daily work.

• Conserve forests

  Strive to conserve and restore forest structures, biodiversity and ecological functions.

• Estimate damage

  Estimate damage in case of accidents or natural disasters.

• Protect biodiversity

  Sustain biodiversity of the species by observing the ecosystem.

• Inspect trees

  Carry out tree inspections and surveys.

• Protect trees

  Preserve trees taking into account the health and conditions of the tree(s) and plans for preservation and conservation of the area. This includes the cutting of trees or branches on trees applying knowlege of the biology of the tree.

• Nurse trees

  Plant, fertilise and trim trees, shrubs and hedges. Examine trees to assess their condition and determine treatment. Work to eradicate insects, fungus and diseases which are harmful to trees, assist with prescribed burning, and work on preventing erosion.

• Monitor grounds

  Monitor grounds during special events to insure protection of the system, report condition of the grounds and loss of water or plants due to system malfunction.

• Control tree diseases

  Identify diseased or undesirable trees. Remove them using power saws or hand saws.

• Operate chainsaw

  Operate mechanical chainsaw powered by electricity, compressed air or gasoline.

• Execute fertilisation

  Carry out fertilisation tasks by hand or using appropriate equipment according to fertilisation instructions taking into account the environmental, health and safety regulations and procedures.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB