Stressed urban forests to benefit from new tree experts

16 Dec 2011
Since the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme was introduced, urban trees have become valuable for their major role in reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, now a new course will train experts in managing urban forests facing environmental stresses, pests and diseases.

The new course, the ’Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture’ at the University of Melbourne is an Australian first and was devised to address the shortage of qualified experts required to assess and preserve urban and rural trees.

Denise Johnstone form the Melborne School of Land and Environment sais that by signing up to international carbon reduction targets, governments have issued a challenge to everyone involved in urban space design to preserve our urban forests.

"Trees have a major role to play in city climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, increasing the need for qualified practitioners," said Johnstone.

The 2011 Skills Australia Report noted that ’the imminent introduction of some form of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme by the Federal Government will change the focus on tree preservation and dramatically increase the value of trees. This will exacerbate the skill shortage of qualified and experienced people in the industry to conduct tree assessments.’

The Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture has been designed for professionals currently managing, or planning to manage urban trees.

"The new course is designed to provide an increased understanding of current issues in urban tree management via studies in tree growth and function, tree identification and selection, pests and diseases of trees, and environmental stresses on urban trees, By maintaining the health of urban forests we can maximize their potential to reduce atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases," Johnstone said.

Course subjects include sustainable tree management strategies and issues, biological functioning of trees and their benefits to the environment and urban life. Each subject involves the intensive delivery of lectures, workshops, practical exercises and field visits over six days and participants can choose to complete these subjects over one to four years. There will be a 12-week online component following the intensive teaching period.

Graduates will be qualified to conduct tree risk assessments and to be engaged as expert witnesses for local government or consumer and trade tribunal proceedings. They may progress to a career in landscape policy and management, vegetation restoration or research in private businesses and government agencies.

The first subject ’Urban Tree Growth and Function’ runs between Monday 20 February - Saturday 25 February, 2012, enrolments close January 20, 2012.

See http://www.land-environment.unimelb.edu.au/arboriculture/