¶ The Role of European Arboricultural Council
Talking Trees with Lillian Jad . Welcome to Talking Trees . It's Friday and every week we'll be diving into various topics from the arboricultural industry . Today , we'll start with an in-depth look at the European Arboricultural Council , eac .
We'll explore the vital role EAC plays in promoting tree care across Europe , its efforts to professionalize the industry and the significance of international collaboration in addressing climate change and urban forestry challenges . Join us as we break down key ideas from the EAC's mission and how they impact arboriculture today , let's get started . Today , let's get started .
Okay , so today we're going deep into urban forestry . Like , have you ever thought about who takes care of all the trees in cities ?
Yeah , it's not like they just thrive on concrete and fumes .
Exactly so we're going to dig into this organization . You might not know about , but they've been quietly making cities greener for over 30 years 30 years is a long time Right . It's the European Arboricultural Council EAC for short , and I got to say their whole deal is kind of cool .
They're all about making sure trees aren't mistreated due to a lack of professionalism , which honestly I feel that yeah , it's a pretty relatable way to put it , and what's interesting is they were saying this back in 92 , when they started , way before climate change , and all that was such a big deal . Yeah , no kidding . So they were ahead of the curve .
They saw the need for professional tree care back then . What were some of the first things they tackled ?
Well , one of the biggies was setting up these really serious training programs and certifications too . Yeah , you've maybe heard of like European Tree Worker .
Okay , european Tree Worker , that has a ring to it .
Or European Tree Technician , even more official .
Oh yeah , like I wouldn't trust anyone LSA with my plants after hearing that . But seriously , why is this certification so important ?
It's all about making sure the trees in our cities are healthy , you know , and that they'll actually live a good long life . These programs . And we're talking how many people here ? Over 12,000 certified professionals all over Europe , so it guarantees that whoever's taking care of those trees knows their stuff . Wow , 12,000 . That's a whole lot of tree guardians .
So , like for every major city , there's someone making sure those urban forests are good . You got it . And these aren't just any tree huggers . They've gone through some serious training , I bet . Everything from pruning right to spotting diseases , you name it . That's reassuring , especially with all the stuff trees and cities have to deal with .
So they're out there fighting pollution pests , maybe even the odd squirrel or two , right ? But it's more than just reacting to problems , you know , right , but it's more than just reacting to problems . You know , the EAC is also about being proactive , shaping how cities think about trees in the first place . Proactive tree planning . Ok , now that's interesting .
Tell me more about that . What does that even look like ? So instead of , like , just dealing with tree emergencies , they're trying to stop them before they start . OK , that makes sense . One of their big things is pushing for trees to be a major part of city planning , not just like an afterthought .
Yeah , yeah , like making sure new buildings don't just pave over every inch of green space .
Exactly . It's about fitting trees in in a way that makes sense , choosing the right types . Of the climate , the climate Making sure they've got room to grow .
Right .
Right , and that's actually where the research comes in . Research , what kind of research are we talking about here ? They're really getting into how different trees handle things like pollution , you know those super hot temperatures cities get just from having so much concrete . Yeah , the heat island effect right .
Exactly . They're figuring out which trees can take the heat the best . So it's kind of like matchmaking for cities and trees , like okay , your city's got smog and not much green space .
This for cities and trees , like okay your city's got smog and not much green space . This oak is the one for you , haha . Yeah , that's the idea , and what's really cool is they're focused on trees that can handle climate change too . We're talking about building urban forests that'll last .
No , that's huge . We can't just keep planting the same trees if the climate's changing . But wouldn't it be easier to just like import some super tough trees from somewhere else ?
It's not always about bringing in exotic species , though sometimes that's needed . One of the experts , glenn Reed from Norway . He said something really interesting about this Sometimes native trees if you choose carefully and take care of them , they can be just as tough .
Hmm , that's a good point . Okay , so we've got the EAC promoting smart planning , researching the toughest trees , training a whole army of experts , but are they also out there like giving awards to the cities doing it right ?
Well , maybe not awards exactly , but they do have something even better . It's called the European City of the Trees Award .
OK , tell me , there's at least a fancy ceremony involved .
Maybe , but seriously , to win this thing , it's not just about having pretty trees , though that helps .
Sure sure .
They look at the whole picture like does the city have a real plan for its trees ?
OK , makes sense .
Are they planting different kinds of trees ? Are they thinking about the future ? Do they get the people who live there involved in taking care of the trees ? It's got to be the whole package .
Wow . So winning that award means a city's really serious about its trees , both now and in the future . Are there any past winners that really stand out ?
Oh yeah , for sure . Vienna's one . They've got these amazing parks and green spaces . And then there's Turin , in Italy . They've got this project going , trying to create a whole ring of forest around the city .
A whole forest ring . Okay that's seriously ambitious . You know this makes me wonder . I mean , I know we do these deep dives to learn stuff , but is there a way for me to actually find out if my Y city is doing this whole tree thing right ?
Oh for sure , the BAC's website . They've got a whole section about that European City of the Trees Award . Really , yeah , you can see who's won before , what the rules are , maybe even get some ideas for how your own city could do better .
I like that . A little competition never hurt anyone , right .
So we've talked about a lot with the EAC their dedication to training people the right way , being proactive with trees , those awards they're really building something cool .
It's impressive , right , especially when you think they started all the way back in 92 . They were talking about how important trees are in cities way before most people were . Totally . And now , 30 years later , with climate change being such a huge deal , their work feels even more important . No kidding .
As things heat up and the weather gets crazier , our cities are going to need those trees more than ever . It's like they're not just planting trees , they're planting solutions for the future , and it goes back to that thing we talked about making sure trees are taken care of professionally . Totally .
And you know what else struck me while I was reading up on them ? The ESC . They call themselves a big family . It's not just business for them , it's a whole community of people who love trees . I love that it's not just about knowing the technical stuff , but also really respecting and appreciating trees for what they are .
Speaking of respect , I remember something Wolfgang Gross said . He's been with the EAC forever and he said he wishes more people understood that trees are living beings that deserve our respect .
So true , they're not just decorations in our cities . They give us oxygen , shade , beauty , all kinds of good stuff . It's true .
We should all take a second to appreciate them , really see them , not just glance at them as you walk by . So here's my challenge for everyone listening Next time you're out and about , take a moment to really look at the trees around you , maybe even give a little thank you to the EAC and all those people working hard to keep our cities green .
¶ Exploring the World of Urban Forestry
On that note , we'll wrap up this deep dive into the world of urban forestry . Until next time , happy tree spotting .
Thanks for tuning in to Talking Trees . We hope you found today's discussion on the European Arboricultural Council insightful . Remember , every Friday we'll explore different topics from the arboricultural industry , so be sure to join us next week for more engaging content .
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