Community Level Tree Risk Management webinar presented by Mark Duntemann

Webinar description: Managing risk is a complex undertaking when a large number of public trees is the consideration. Adding to this complexity is the unique town system found in Vermont, where public trees can be found along roads and town greens in villages and along densely wooded roads that connect these communities. Our understanding of tree risk has been primarily informed through litigation and tree biomechanics. The former has more than likely skewed our perception of liability, and the latter addresses only one of the three elements that determine tree risk. Perhaps due to these factors, the arboriculture profession tends to emphasize the extreme consequences of a tree part failure. Risk is about uncertainty and it is managed over time by implementing long-term, non-reactive, policies. Using Vermont-based examples, Mark will discuss the management of tree risk at the community level. He will provide strategies that have the goal of maintaining a healthy, expanding and safe community forest system while reducing the potential for harm occurring.

Presenter bio: Mark Duntemann founded Natural Path Urban Forestry Consultants in 1988. The firm’s area of expertise is arboricultural maintenance and management policy development, with an emphasis on tree risk assessments and tree risk management. Through this specialization, Mark has been an expert witness in dozens of tree-related injury and fatality cases. This experience informs his understanding of tree risk issues. Besides North America, his experiences have included work in Europe, South America and Asia. Mark has a Bachelor’s of Science in Forest Resources from the University of Montana and a Master’s in Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Mark is an ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification instructor and a former Tree Warden for the Town of Worcester and the City of Montpelier. He was recently appointed to represent the ISA on the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers in the development of the 10th edition of Tree and Landscape Appraisal Guide.

The Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program is a collaborative program of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation and University of Vermont Extension. We strive to lead citizens, businesses, and governments in understanding the value of urban and community forests and to promote civic responsibility for and participation in the stewardship of these resources for this and future generations.