ISA HK/China --- Updated news on Tree Risk Assessment "樹木評估" 的最新指示

国内朋友请查閱 "百度博客 --- 国际树木学会" (http://hi.baidu.com/%B9%FA%BC%CA%CA%F7%C4%BE%D1%A7%BB%E1/blog  ) 以取得其他文章。本分会的发表文章都已放弃版权, 任何人都可以自由转载作为教育目的, 但不能作为商业目的盈利。 任何人仕都可以申请免費加入本分会, 本分会员名单从不公开, 有意者请将真实姓名、年龄、单位、职衔、最高学历、电邮和手机号传真到 +852-2679-5338 便可. 如有查询, 请电邮至 egc@netvigator.com  。本分会的一切发表内容, 谨供参考。


会员们:

附上的是最近 ISA 已发表的有关最新 "树木风险评估" (TRA) 的研究报告, 重点在于以下几个大方向:

1. 在2013年3月份开始推广一个全球性的 "树木风险评估师" 的牌照，简称 TRAQ, 来厘定评估树木风险的资格。 牌照有限期是5年, 必须重考续 牌, 以保证质量。 在此之前, 暂由 PNW 分会的 TRACE 牌照代理。

2. 取消过往使用 "计分制" 来评定风险，改用 "断落机会率 + 中的机会率" 来评定风险。

3. 把评估水平分成:

a. 有限度目测

b. 基本评估

c. 进阶评估

TRA 是一项严肃的专业工作，不能交由外行人仕进行。 树艺学本身就是一门独立专业, 有过百年的历史, 并非其他绿色行业能够代替，详情请看 http://isahkchina.blogspot.hk/2011/04/isa-hkchina-domains-of-arboriculture.html  。 目前有本地区出现的一、两天 "TRA 速成斑"，"TRA 研习斑", 其成效备受国际质疑， "树木评估师" 是 "注冊树艺师" 的进阶，两天就可以训练出来吗？

本分会也建议，不同水平的树木评估, 该由不同级别的树艺师来进行。 本分会不同意利用 "牌照 + 工作经验" 作为人选方法, 因为众所周知, 所谓 "工作经验" 往往只靠单位写个证明， 在我地区是不难拿到, 至于国际牌照就难很多：

a. 有限度目测 --- 最少由 "注冊树艺师" 来执行

b. 基本评估 --- 最少由持有 "注冊树艺师" + TRACE 牌照者来执行

c. 进阶评估 --- 最少由持有 "资深树艺师" 或 "顾问树艺师" 者来执行

目前除了香港以外, 国内和台湾的六百多个城市里的 TRA 尚未开始, 走好第一步是非常重要。 TRA 不是闹著玩的, 是有它的法律责任存在, 不当的评估会令无辜人仕糟秧, 会令社会受害, 所以绝不能调以轻心。

但愿见到 TRA 能在中华地区正当发展，本分会也会全尽绵力。

谨此致意!

国际树木学会 中华地区分会 会长 暨 创办人

欧永森

美洲顾问树艺师学会 顾问树艺师号 RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-rac-in-asia.html )

澳洲顾问树艺师学会 顾问树艺师号 ACM 0412011 (http://www.iaca.org.au/ )

资深树艺师/注册攀树师号 HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-frist-bcma-in-asia.html )

执业树艺师号 IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-tree-news-1441-report.html )

专业调解及谈判学会 注册调解员号 CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html )

“如果树木在设计和种植时犯错，其护养必然昂贵，而最终也会变成 "不定时炸弹" 。 ”

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。 大自然会决定成败。 ”



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Dear Station Members,

Upon the success of the Certified Tree Risk Assessor (TRACE) program of the PNW Chapter several years ago, ISA is now turning it into an international qualification called the Tree Risk Assessor Qulification (TRAQ), which would probably be launched around March 2013. The new qualification is likely to be of a five year term, & the holder would need to re-take new exam to re-qualify to ensure the updated knowledge.

Before the launching of TRAQ, the TRACE remains the only Tree Risk Assessor credential in the ISA system. TRACE holders are said to automatically transfer without exam to the TRAQ for the remaining time of the credential. After that, the candidate would need to take the exam to re-qualify.

ISA HK/China has been following the development of the TRACE & TRAQ, since Tree Risk Assessment (TRA) has just started in HK .  We are encouraging it to begin in Taiwan & China. Many of the mature trees in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China in the 600+ cities, have simply never been assessed by Arborists before. The market potential is huge, but the attitudes & knowledge towards trees must change, before TRA can begin in this vast territory.

There appears to be some major changes in the new TRAQ system from the traditional TRACE as follows:

1. Levels of Assessment are mentioned from Limited Visual (Level 1), Basic (Level 2) to Advanced (Level 3). See attached.

2. The Numeric Rating System is replaced by a Qualitative Method of aligning the Likelihood of Failure to match the Likelihood of Impacting Target.

The new TRAQ is developed by a panel of international experts (see p.4 of the Best Management Practices on Tree Risk Assessment of ISA). Their authorities are highly credible & respectful. The TRAQ can be regarded as a further development of the TRACE program.

In our territory, ISA HK/China would recommend different levels of credential holders to meet the different levels of assessment required. We do not believe in just "credential + working experience" as the only selection process, as we have seen too many times that the "working experience" can be "produced" easily by the employers. This has even happened in our application for CA/CTW exams. Therefore, relying on the credential types & years of certification may be more trustworthy in our territory.

As for the Levels of Assessment, We would recommend:

1. Level 1 of Limited Visual --- minimum to be Certified Arborist.

2. Level 2 of Basic --- minimum of Certified Arborist + TRACE (TRAQ when available in future)

3. Level 3 of Advanced --- minimum of Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), or Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA)

Please note that here we speak for ISA only. It would be up to the other credential holders to match their own with we have given above.

TRA is a specialist work. Especially for Level 2 & 3 Assessment, it cannot be given to the hand of an amateur, or Mother Nature makes the Rules. We have seen "crash courses" in our territory of a day or two to turn laymen into "Tree Assessor" to even file reports of an official magnitude. Such practice is unprecedented anywhere in the world. The credibility of such reports may subject to technical scrutiny if challenged in Court. Arborists are Tree Doctors. Can we produce a qualified doctor in 2 days?

May we see TRA develop properly in our territory as it should to save lives & minimize social convenience. If not, it will be up to the famous saying once again: "Mother Nature make she Rules".

best regards,


Sammy Au

Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China

Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-first-rca-in-asia.html )

Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists Accredited Member no. ACM 0412011 (http://www.iaca.org.au/ )

ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Certified Tree Worker no. HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-first-bcma-in-asia.html )

Independent Practicing Arborist no. IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-hk-tree-news-14410-report.html )

Society of Certified Mediators and Negotiators Certified Mediator no. CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html )

"Providing treatment without in-depth diagnosis & research support is professional misconduct. "

"Casual tree assessor delivers wanton tree assessment. Mother Nature makes the rules."