Dear Station Members & Anybody,
Further to our Station Mail of yesterday giving details of the TCHK Training & Activities of 2008 (which is also on Blog of http://isahkchina.blogspot.com ), please kindly notice that a revision is now given out as per attached to add in :
1. Fundamental Training in Structural Pruning on 14 June, 2008
2. Aerial Rescue Certificate Training on 21 & 28 of June, 2008
It is also added that trainees can borrow the Climbing Equipment provided by TCHK during training, but anyone taking TCHK exams must bring in their own approved PPE & Climbing Equipment for compliance.
Such is the major revision in this Schedule from the original. Please discard the original Schedule & replace it with this 1st Revised Schedule.
Thank you for your kind attention on this matter indeed.
best regards,
Sammy Au
ISA HK/China Station Manager
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
ISA HK/China --- TCHK training modules/exams of 2008
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
After much consideration & planning, TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) finally can issue the promised Training Modules as per the attached files (all in Chinese only) to show the public. The Station Manager himself has been pursued several hundred times in the past few years for local arbor training programs & this is how TCHK can answer this call at least partially.
TCHK is now a legally registered society under the Society Ordinance CAP 151 in HK & is currently the leading training facility of ISA HK/China in our territory. The modules now delivered primarily focus on Tree Climbing, with other training such as Nursery Practice, Structural Pruning, Tree Inspection, Risk Assessment & Management, Tree Bio-mechanics, Certified Arborist exam preparation, CTW exam preparation, etc. to be provided once TCHK can gather adequate resources & facilities locally.
TCHK also aims to set Industry Standards in its training modules & exams with each level independent from another & all training & exams open to public, other than participants of TCHK training. This is to ensure the TCHK qualifications are open, fair & justified, & to invite anyone trained anywhere to take part in the qualification assessment. In fact, the training design has followed the ISA CTW exam requirement with the upper levels going beyond this requirement to ensure our territory can get competent tree climbers to do the work & sport properly & safely on a tree.
Since TCHK has designed qualifications to become benchmark in the tree climbing industry for HK, Govt Depts & public are welcomed to compare TCHK training with their own, or even consider to send staff or contractors to be trained by TCHK, so that tree work in HK can be performed safely & efficiently for the benefit of our public. Ordinary gardening institutes in HK currently can not provide this form of training & TCHK is one of the very few institutes which can porovide this kind of unique training.
For those who are interested, please study carefully the files attached for administration or specification purposes, & contact TCHK in accordance with the information contained.
TCHK looks forward to advance proper tree & practice in our territory, one tree at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)
攀爬一族 --- 族群訓練和考試大綱
「攀爬一族」本體分成多個族群，每個族群都各有特式，每一族級向上調升時都必須經過訓練和考試去厘定其水平，每個考試合格的人均可獲發証書。每個族群也各設教練牌，方便日後大量訓練教練去擴張各族群。為迎合社會目前需要，「攀爬一族」將首先大量發展‘修行族’及‘康體族’的訓練，當此兩族群的人員達到一定數量之後，其他專業訓練例如‘精英族’、‘長老族’、流纜技術、鏈鋸使用、樹上救援等等訓練將會陸續推出。
此外，‘康體族’的訓練基本銜接職業攀爬，為進入‘精英族’及ISA‘攀樹師’牌照而鋪路。細觀其中，其實‘康體族’的部份訓練已經超越ISA‘攀樹師’的考試要求，皆因本族志在培育真正攀爬人才，希望其畢業後真正能夠達到某個程度水平及要求，而並非只為提供証書及牌照而已。
所有成功出席本族訓練的人仕均會獲發 ‘出席証書’，參加族級考試合格的人仕將會另外獲發 ‘族級考試合格証書’。為保迎合科技進步需要，每級証書均設年限，與國際走向接軌。
1 修行族
所有沒有受過正當攀樹訓練的人，當加入「攀爬一族」之時，都會被放入此族群的‘初級’類別，其訓練也考慮到能夠合適兒童、婦女、年長、畏高或體弱人仕。所有修行族的考試証書有效期為10年。
初級：所有不懂攀爬的族人都會放在此級，不須要參加或接受任何訓練，並無証書發出。
中級訓練：
1. 學習檢查個人防護裝備 (PPE) 。
2. 學習檢查攀樹器材 (Climbing Equipment) 。
3. 學習6 個CTW 考試用繩結 (半結、秤人結、活動秤人結、双套結、双套結加半結、接繩結) 。
4. 學習使用 ‘手腳推行法’ (Modified Body Thrust, MBT) 爬樹至5米高度上及落。
此級主要針對體弱，怕高或婦女兒童而設，課程可一日完成，歡迎任何人仕參加。
中級考試：
1. 能夠在15分鐘内完成PPE及攀樹器材的檢查達至考牌官滿意為止。
2. 能夠完全打綁上述6個中級繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
3. 能夠於15分鐘内利用MBT 技術攀爬至離地5米以上達到指定點及完成下降。
高級訓練：
1. 學習基本檢查樹木及場地是否適合攀爬。
2. 學習基本如何選擇合適樹椏掛繩。
3. 學習3個攀樹繩結 (双漁夫結、迫力結及八字結)
4. 學習使用投擲袋引繩上樹。
5. 學習安裝MBT系統攀樹。
6. 學習利用 MBT系統攀爬至7米高以上樹椏企穏。
此級訓練針對攀爬人員能夠選擇合適樹木、場地、器材和系統去攀樹達到7米高度及能夠安全下降，課程須時兩日。
高級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述3個高級繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
2. 能夠於15分鐘内完成樹木及場地檢查，達至考牌官滿意為止。
3. 能夠於30分鐘内利用投擲袋引繩上樹，設立及利用MBT系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏，並安全下降。
修行族教練牌：
申請人必須已加入本族，有1年以上攀樹經驗，已通過修行族高級考試，對以上三級都能完全掌握技術，持有合格急救証書及由本族發出的‘空中拯救’(Aerial Rescue)証書，已被本族邀請參與助教活動2次以上，通過本族族長和副族長考核合格的族人，則可獲發此牌照，有效期為3年。
2 康體族
康體族會是日後攀爬一族最大之族群，可以發展到學校、社團、園藝公司或任何機構。康體族對體能、技術及裝備的要求較高，合適熱愛攀樹活動及需要學習基本攀樹技能到樹上工作的人仕參與。所有康體族的考試証書有效期為5年。
初級訓練：
1. 學習更多攀樹繩結 (抛繩結、錨結及双八字結)。
2. 學習使用單繩結綁摩擦結及使用分叉繩打綁攀爬系統。
3. 學習使用拋繩結掛繩上樹。
4. 學習使用微型滑輪收鬆繩、吊物上落樹和推動摩擦結。
5. 學習使用安全繩 (Lanyard) 於樹上作出固定。
6. 學習設立 ‘身体推行法’ (Body Thrust) 攀樹系統及如何檢查安全。
7. 學習使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹達5米以上樹椏，及利用安全繩固定自己。
8. 學習 ‘枝上行走’ (Limb Walking) 離開主幹約2米，及返回主幹重新固定。
9. 學習正確量度攀樹繩回到地上長度及安全下降。
此級課程開始進入職業攀爬領域，學習材料針對ISA的‘攀樹師’ 考試，完成此課程的人仕應可獨立攀爬至5米高度運動和工作，此課程須時2日。
初級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述3個攀樹繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
2. 能夠在5分鐘内完成綁打拋繩結，將其拋上5米高樹椏及掛好繩。
3. 能夠設立整套 ‘身体推行法’ 攀爬系統並能在離地1.5米高度完成安全測試。
4. 能夠在15分鐘内，使用‘身体推行法’到達離地5米以上的樹椏，使用安全繩固定及能夠做出 ‘枝上行走’ 離開主幹約2米，及返回主幹重新固定。
5. 能夠正確量度攀樹繩回到地上長度及安全下降。
中級訓練：
1. 學習安裝及拆除大細圈 (Cambium Saver)。
2. 學習使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹到7米以上樹椏。
3. 學習使用抛繩結及長柄鋸 (Pole Saw) 去做出 ‘轉支點’ (Rope Advancement) 到15米以上樹椏。
4. 學習 ‘枝上行走’ (Limb Walking) 最少離開主幹5米及返回主幹。
5. 學習 ‘定向搖擺’ (Controlled Swing)。
6. 學習建立 ‘双支點’ (Double-Crotch Tie-In) 攀爬系統。
7. 學習使用 ‘吊索’ (Sling’) 去作出固定。
8. 學習 ‘主繩轉向’ (Redirect)。
此課程混入職業攀爬原素，使學習者的攀爬技術更進一步。此課程須時2日。
中級考試：
1. 能夠安裝及拆除大細圈。
2. 能夠建立攀爬系統，使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹到7米以上樹椏，使用抛繩結或長柄鋸去做出 ‘轉支點’ 到15米以上樹椏， 整個過程必須在20分鐘内完成。
3. 能夠做出 ‘枝上行走’ 最少離開主幹5米及返回主幹。
4. 能夠做出 ‘定向搖擺’ 大約2米。
5. 能夠使用 ‘吊索’ 去做出 ‘主繩轉向’。
6. 能夠建立 ‘双支點’ 攀爬系統及使用此系統安全下降。
高級訓練：
1. 學習及使用4個 ‘高級攀爬摩擦結’ (Advanced Friction Hitches)，包括Knut, Vt, Prusik及Klemheist。
2. 學習 ‘單點腳鎖’ (Double Rope Footlock) 攀爬系統。
3. 學習如何在樹上自由地由 A 點往 B 點之 ‘高級枝上行走’ (Advanced Limb Walk)。
4. 學習 ‘人工輔助攀爬’ (Belayed Climb) 系統。
5. 學習使用 ‘双繩腳鎖’ (Secured Footlock)系統攀爬離地5米及使用8字扣下降。
6. 學習在樹上使用 手鋸 (Hand Saw) 及 長柄鋸 (Pole Saw) 去切割3吋 (75mm) 以下枯枝。
此課程教授各種高級攀樹技術，亦為銜接 ‘職業攀爬’ 和考取ISA攀樹師牌照作出準備，課程須時2日。
高級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述4個高級攀爬繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時2分鐘。
2. 能夠使用 ‘單點腳鎖’ 攀爬系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏，並由考牌官指定的A點成功到達B點，整個過程在20分鐘内完成。
3. 能夠使用 ‘人工輔助攀爬’ 系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏。
4. 能夠使用 ‘双繩腳鎖’ 系統攀爬離地5米及使用8字扣下降。
5. 能夠在樹上使用手鋸及長柄鋸去切割3吋 (75mm) 以下枯枝。
康體族教練牌：
申請人必須已加入本族，有2年以上攀樹經驗，已通過康體族高級考試，對以上三級都能完全掌握技術，持有合格急救証書及由本族發出的‘空中拯救’ 証書，亦必須曽參加過攀樹比賽最少一次（無須獲獎）去確定其表現，已被本族邀請參與助教活動3次以上，通過本族族長和副族長考核合格的族人，方可獲發此牌照，有效期為3年。
注意事項：
1. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
2. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練 、考試或其他活動負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
3. 本族有權因應天氣、場地、參與人員水平質素等等理由，臨時對活動計畫作出適應調整，所有參與人仕不得異議。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
攀爬一族 訓練及活動 2008年時間表
日期
訓練及活動
地點
參加人數
教練：學員
人數
費用HK$
(本族族人)
費用HK$
(其他人仕)
3月15日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 -15 人
1：5
600
700
3月29日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
600
700
4月5日
攀爬復習班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400
500
4月12日
攀爬考試班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
400
500
4月20日
第二屆香港攀爬同樂日
A
不限
---
0
0
4月26日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
800
900
5月24日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 高級
A/B
5月31日
攀爬復習班：修行族 中/高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500
500/600
6月7日
攀爬考試班：修行族 中/高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500
500/600
6月14日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 初級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
1200
1300
7月12日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 初級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
7月19日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800
500/600/900
7月26日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800
500/600/900
8月2日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
1800
1900
8月16日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 中級
A/B
8月23日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900
500/600/900/1000
8月30日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900
500/600/900/1000
9月13日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
2100
2200
9月20日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
9月27日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
10月11日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
11月8日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
600
700
11月15日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
11月22日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
12月29日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
2100
2200
12月13日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
12月20日
攀爬考試班：修行/康/體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
註：
a. 上述地點 A = 上水馬會道17號鳳溪第一中學, B = 上水金錢村金錢路22B歐亞園藝9090 6719, 活動地點可按實際要求而自由更換或改變，詳情會於報名後，及開班前三天左右個別通知。
b. 活動時間均為9am至5pm，除非因特别原因而需另行通告。
c. 報名截止時間在活動日期前5天，如因滿額或人數不足未能開班之時，已付款者可選擇退款，或 報讀 / 報考 另一班。
d. ISA樹藝師可於參加本族訓練班時取得相應CEU。
e. 本族可以按照市場要求而另外設計上述或其他訓練課程來滿足個別要求。
f. ‘結構性修剪’, ‘樹木檢查’,‘樹木風險評估’, ‘空中拯救’, ‘鏈鋸使用’, ‘初、中、高級流纜’ 、‘攀樹師牌照’、‘樹藝師牌照’ 及其他樹藝知識訓練將會於合適時間推出。
注意事項：
1. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
2. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練和考試負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
3. 本族有權因應天氣、場地、參與人員水平質素等等理由，臨時對活動計畫作出適應調整，所有參與人仕不得異議。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
(請參閱下列報名表)
TCHK 攀爬一族 訓練班及考試報名申請表
(請 加入資料 或 刪除不適用者)
1
中文姓名：
2
英文姓名：
3
出生日期：
年
月
日
4
族號(如有)：
5
工作機構：
6
職位：
7
電郵或傳真：
8
手提電話：
9
訓練/考試日期：
10
現報讀班別：
修行族 / 康體族 / 精英族 --- 初級 / 中級 / 高級 之 訓練 / 復習
其他：
11
現報考級別：
修行族 / 康體族 / 精英族 : 初級 / 中級 / 高級
其他：
12
緊急聯絡人：
姓名： 手提電話：
12
已考獲的TCHK証書或其他樹藝專業資格：
13
如因滿額或人數不足未能開班之時，我選擇：
1. 退款。我的銀行是： (銀行名稱)
賬號：
2. 轉為報讀 / 報考 於 年 月 日 所舉行的課程 / 考試。
14
填表日期：
15
聲明：
本人已細閱本表的下述條款，並同意所有有關細節，並無異議。
報名辦法：
請於填妥上述申請表後，在報名截止日期之前將有關費用轉賬至:
中國銀行賬號: 019 - 590 - 1 - 063827 - 1
然後將收據寫上姓名、參加項目及項目開始日期，再電郵至egc@netvigator.com ，或傳真至 2679 5338，本會將會回答通知。
查詢電話：9090 6719 歐先生 或 電郵至egc@netvigator.com
注意事項：
1. 如因天氣、人數不足、場地、教練或其他人力不可抗拒的問題出現之時，以上的活動安排可能會因應當時情況而另作安排。
2. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
3. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練、考試或其他活動負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
本會專用欄：
1. 表格編號：T / E no.
2. 訓練/考試日期：
3. 批准：Y / N
4. 其他：
Dear Station Members,
After much consideration & planning, TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) finally can issue the promised Training Modules as per the attached files (all in Chinese only) to show the public. The Station Manager himself has been pursued several hundred times in the past few years for local arbor training programs & this is how TCHK can answer this call at least partially.
TCHK is now a legally registered society under the Society Ordinance CAP 151 in HK & is currently the leading training facility of ISA HK/China in our territory. The modules now delivered primarily focus on Tree Climbing, with other training such as Nursery Practice, Structural Pruning, Tree Inspection, Risk Assessment & Management, Tree Bio-mechanics, Certified Arborist exam preparation, CTW exam preparation, etc. to be provided once TCHK can gather adequate resources & facilities locally.
TCHK also aims to set Industry Standards in its training modules & exams with each level independent from another & all training & exams open to public, other than participants of TCHK training. This is to ensure the TCHK qualifications are open, fair & justified, & to invite anyone trained anywhere to take part in the qualification assessment. In fact, the training design has followed the ISA CTW exam requirement with the upper levels going beyond this requirement to ensure our territory can get competent tree climbers to do the work & sport properly & safely on a tree.
Since TCHK has designed qualifications to become benchmark in the tree climbing industry for HK, Govt Depts & public are welcomed to compare TCHK training with their own, or even consider to send staff or contractors to be trained by TCHK, so that tree work in HK can be performed safely & efficiently for the benefit of our public. Ordinary gardening institutes in HK currently can not provide this form of training & TCHK is one of the very few institutes which can porovide this kind of unique training.
For those who are interested, please study carefully the files attached for administration or specification purposes, & contact TCHK in accordance with the information contained.
TCHK looks forward to advance proper tree & practice in our territory, one tree at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)
攀爬一族 --- 族群訓練和考試大綱
「攀爬一族」本體分成多個族群，每個族群都各有特式，每一族級向上調升時都必須經過訓練和考試去厘定其水平，每個考試合格的人均可獲發証書。每個族群也各設教練牌，方便日後大量訓練教練去擴張各族群。為迎合社會目前需要，「攀爬一族」將首先大量發展‘修行族’及‘康體族’的訓練，當此兩族群的人員達到一定數量之後，其他專業訓練例如‘精英族’、‘長老族’、流纜技術、鏈鋸使用、樹上救援等等訓練將會陸續推出。
此外，‘康體族’的訓練基本銜接職業攀爬，為進入‘精英族’及ISA‘攀樹師’牌照而鋪路。細觀其中，其實‘康體族’的部份訓練已經超越ISA‘攀樹師’的考試要求，皆因本族志在培育真正攀爬人才，希望其畢業後真正能夠達到某個程度水平及要求，而並非只為提供証書及牌照而已。
所有成功出席本族訓練的人仕均會獲發 ‘出席証書’，參加族級考試合格的人仕將會另外獲發 ‘族級考試合格証書’。為保迎合科技進步需要，每級証書均設年限，與國際走向接軌。
1 修行族
所有沒有受過正當攀樹訓練的人，當加入「攀爬一族」之時，都會被放入此族群的‘初級’類別，其訓練也考慮到能夠合適兒童、婦女、年長、畏高或體弱人仕。所有修行族的考試証書有效期為10年。
初級：所有不懂攀爬的族人都會放在此級，不須要參加或接受任何訓練，並無証書發出。
中級訓練：
1. 學習檢查個人防護裝備 (PPE) 。
2. 學習檢查攀樹器材 (Climbing Equipment) 。
3. 學習6 個CTW 考試用繩結 (半結、秤人結、活動秤人結、双套結、双套結加半結、接繩結) 。
4. 學習使用 ‘手腳推行法’ (Modified Body Thrust, MBT) 爬樹至5米高度上及落。
此級主要針對體弱，怕高或婦女兒童而設，課程可一日完成，歡迎任何人仕參加。
中級考試：
1. 能夠在15分鐘内完成PPE及攀樹器材的檢查達至考牌官滿意為止。
2. 能夠完全打綁上述6個中級繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
3. 能夠於15分鐘内利用MBT 技術攀爬至離地5米以上達到指定點及完成下降。
高級訓練：
1. 學習基本檢查樹木及場地是否適合攀爬。
2. 學習基本如何選擇合適樹椏掛繩。
3. 學習3個攀樹繩結 (双漁夫結、迫力結及八字結)
4. 學習使用投擲袋引繩上樹。
5. 學習安裝MBT系統攀樹。
6. 學習利用 MBT系統攀爬至7米高以上樹椏企穏。
此級訓練針對攀爬人員能夠選擇合適樹木、場地、器材和系統去攀樹達到7米高度及能夠安全下降，課程須時兩日。
高級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述3個高級繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
2. 能夠於15分鐘内完成樹木及場地檢查，達至考牌官滿意為止。
3. 能夠於30分鐘内利用投擲袋引繩上樹，設立及利用MBT系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏，並安全下降。
修行族教練牌：
申請人必須已加入本族，有1年以上攀樹經驗，已通過修行族高級考試，對以上三級都能完全掌握技術，持有合格急救証書及由本族發出的‘空中拯救’(Aerial Rescue)証書，已被本族邀請參與助教活動2次以上，通過本族族長和副族長考核合格的族人，則可獲發此牌照，有效期為3年。
2 康體族
康體族會是日後攀爬一族最大之族群，可以發展到學校、社團、園藝公司或任何機構。康體族對體能、技術及裝備的要求較高，合適熱愛攀樹活動及需要學習基本攀樹技能到樹上工作的人仕參與。所有康體族的考試証書有效期為5年。
初級訓練：
1. 學習更多攀樹繩結 (抛繩結、錨結及双八字結)。
2. 學習使用單繩結綁摩擦結及使用分叉繩打綁攀爬系統。
3. 學習使用拋繩結掛繩上樹。
4. 學習使用微型滑輪收鬆繩、吊物上落樹和推動摩擦結。
5. 學習使用安全繩 (Lanyard) 於樹上作出固定。
6. 學習設立 ‘身体推行法’ (Body Thrust) 攀樹系統及如何檢查安全。
7. 學習使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹達5米以上樹椏，及利用安全繩固定自己。
8. 學習 ‘枝上行走’ (Limb Walking) 離開主幹約2米，及返回主幹重新固定。
9. 學習正確量度攀樹繩回到地上長度及安全下降。
此級課程開始進入職業攀爬領域，學習材料針對ISA的‘攀樹師’ 考試，完成此課程的人仕應可獨立攀爬至5米高度運動和工作，此課程須時2日。
初級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述3個攀樹繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時1分鐘。
2. 能夠在5分鐘内完成綁打拋繩結，將其拋上5米高樹椏及掛好繩。
3. 能夠設立整套 ‘身体推行法’ 攀爬系統並能在離地1.5米高度完成安全測試。
4. 能夠在15分鐘内，使用‘身体推行法’到達離地5米以上的樹椏，使用安全繩固定及能夠做出 ‘枝上行走’ 離開主幹約2米，及返回主幹重新固定。
5. 能夠正確量度攀樹繩回到地上長度及安全下降。
中級訓練：
1. 學習安裝及拆除大細圈 (Cambium Saver)。
2. 學習使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹到7米以上樹椏。
3. 學習使用抛繩結及長柄鋸 (Pole Saw) 去做出 ‘轉支點’ (Rope Advancement) 到15米以上樹椏。
4. 學習 ‘枝上行走’ (Limb Walking) 最少離開主幹5米及返回主幹。
5. 學習 ‘定向搖擺’ (Controlled Swing)。
6. 學習建立 ‘双支點’ (Double-Crotch Tie-In) 攀爬系統。
7. 學習使用 ‘吊索’ (Sling’) 去作出固定。
8. 學習 ‘主繩轉向’ (Redirect)。
此課程混入職業攀爬原素，使學習者的攀爬技術更進一步。此課程須時2日。
中級考試：
1. 能夠安裝及拆除大細圈。
2. 能夠建立攀爬系統，使用 ‘身体推行法’ 攀樹到7米以上樹椏，使用抛繩結或長柄鋸去做出 ‘轉支點’ 到15米以上樹椏， 整個過程必須在20分鐘内完成。
3. 能夠做出 ‘枝上行走’ 最少離開主幹5米及返回主幹。
4. 能夠做出 ‘定向搖擺’ 大約2米。
5. 能夠使用 ‘吊索’ 去做出 ‘主繩轉向’。
6. 能夠建立 ‘双支點’ 攀爬系統及使用此系統安全下降。
高級訓練：
1. 學習及使用4個 ‘高級攀爬摩擦結’ (Advanced Friction Hitches)，包括Knut, Vt, Prusik及Klemheist。
2. 學習 ‘單點腳鎖’ (Double Rope Footlock) 攀爬系統。
3. 學習如何在樹上自由地由 A 點往 B 點之 ‘高級枝上行走’ (Advanced Limb Walk)。
4. 學習 ‘人工輔助攀爬’ (Belayed Climb) 系統。
5. 學習使用 ‘双繩腳鎖’ (Secured Footlock)系統攀爬離地5米及使用8字扣下降。
6. 學習在樹上使用 手鋸 (Hand Saw) 及 長柄鋸 (Pole Saw) 去切割3吋 (75mm) 以下枯枝。
此課程教授各種高級攀樹技術，亦為銜接 ‘職業攀爬’ 和考取ISA攀樹師牌照作出準備，課程須時2日。
高級考試：
1. 能夠完全打綁上述4個高級攀爬繩結至考牌官滿意為止，每個打結時間限時2分鐘。
2. 能夠使用 ‘單點腳鎖’ 攀爬系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏，並由考牌官指定的A點成功到達B點，整個過程在20分鐘内完成。
3. 能夠使用 ‘人工輔助攀爬’ 系統攀爬至7米以上樹椏。
4. 能夠使用 ‘双繩腳鎖’ 系統攀爬離地5米及使用8字扣下降。
5. 能夠在樹上使用手鋸及長柄鋸去切割3吋 (75mm) 以下枯枝。
康體族教練牌：
申請人必須已加入本族，有2年以上攀樹經驗，已通過康體族高級考試，對以上三級都能完全掌握技術，持有合格急救証書及由本族發出的‘空中拯救’ 証書，亦必須曽參加過攀樹比賽最少一次（無須獲獎）去確定其表現，已被本族邀請參與助教活動3次以上，通過本族族長和副族長考核合格的族人，方可獲發此牌照，有效期為3年。
注意事項：
1. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
2. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練 、考試或其他活動負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
3. 本族有權因應天氣、場地、參與人員水平質素等等理由，臨時對活動計畫作出適應調整，所有參與人仕不得異議。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
攀爬一族 訓練及活動 2008年時間表
日期
訓練及活動
地點
參加人數
教練：學員
人數
費用HK$
(本族族人)
費用HK$
(其他人仕)
3月15日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 -15 人
1：5
600
700
3月29日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
600
700
4月5日
攀爬復習班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400
500
4月12日
攀爬考試班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
400
500
4月20日
第二屆香港攀爬同樂日
A
不限
---
0
0
4月26日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
800
900
5月24日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 高級
A/B
5月31日
攀爬復習班：修行族 中/高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500
500/600
6月7日
攀爬考試班：修行族 中/高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500
500/600
6月14日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 初級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
1200
1300
7月12日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 初級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
7月19日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800
500/600/900
7月26日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800
500/600/900
8月2日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
1800
1900
8月16日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 中級
A/B
8月23日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900
500/600/900/1000
8月30日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900
500/600/900/1000
9月13日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
2100
2200
9月20日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
9月27日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
10月11日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
11月8日
攀爬訓練班：修行族 中級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
600
700
11月15日
攀爬復習班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 20人
1：10
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
11月22日
攀爬考試班：修行/康體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
12月29日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
5 - 15人
1：5
2100
2200
12月13日
攀爬訓練班：康體族 高級
A/B
12月20日
攀爬考試班：修行/康/體族 中,高/初,中,高級
A/B
5 - 10人
1：5
400/500/800/900/1000
500/600/900/1000/1100
註：
a. 上述地點 A = 上水馬會道17號鳳溪第一中學, B = 上水金錢村金錢路22B歐亞園藝9090 6719, 活動地點可按實際要求而自由更換或改變，詳情會於報名後，及開班前三天左右個別通知。
b. 活動時間均為9am至5pm，除非因特别原因而需另行通告。
c. 報名截止時間在活動日期前5天，如因滿額或人數不足未能開班之時，已付款者可選擇退款，或 報讀 / 報考 另一班。
d. ISA樹藝師可於參加本族訓練班時取得相應CEU。
e. 本族可以按照市場要求而另外設計上述或其他訓練課程來滿足個別要求。
f. ‘結構性修剪’, ‘樹木檢查’,‘樹木風險評估’, ‘空中拯救’, ‘鏈鋸使用’, ‘初、中、高級流纜’ 、‘攀樹師牌照’、‘樹藝師牌照’ 及其他樹藝知識訓練將會於合適時間推出。
注意事項：
1. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
2. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練和考試負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
3. 本族有權因應天氣、場地、參與人員水平質素等等理由，臨時對活動計畫作出適應調整，所有參與人仕不得異議。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
(請參閱下列報名表)
TCHK 攀爬一族 訓練班及考試報名申請表
(請 加入資料 或 刪除不適用者)
1
中文姓名：
2
英文姓名：
3
出生日期：
年
月
日
4
族號(如有)：
5
工作機構：
6
職位：
7
電郵或傳真：
8
手提電話：
9
訓練/考試日期：
10
現報讀班別：
修行族 / 康體族 / 精英族 --- 初級 / 中級 / 高級 之 訓練 / 復習
其他：
11
現報考級別：
修行族 / 康體族 / 精英族 : 初級 / 中級 / 高級
其他：
12
緊急聯絡人：
姓名： 手提電話：
12
已考獲的TCHK証書或其他樹藝專業資格：
13
如因滿額或人數不足未能開班之時，我選擇：
1. 退款。我的銀行是： (銀行名稱)
賬號：
2. 轉為報讀 / 報考 於 年 月 日 所舉行的課程 / 考試。
14
填表日期：
15
聲明：
本人已細閱本表的下述條款，並同意所有有關細節，並無異議。
報名辦法：
請於填妥上述申請表後，在報名截止日期之前將有關費用轉賬至:
中國銀行賬號: 019 - 590 - 1 - 063827 - 1
然後將收據寫上姓名、參加項目及項目開始日期，再電郵至egc@netvigator.com ，或傳真至 2679 5338，本會將會回答通知。
查詢電話：9090 6719 歐先生 或 電郵至egc@netvigator.com
注意事項：
1. 如因天氣、人數不足、場地、教練或其他人力不可抗拒的問題出現之時，以上的活動安排可能會因應當時情況而另作安排。
2. 本族有權對任何參加本族訓練或考試的人仕，包括身體無法適應是項活動、不聽指示或嚴重違反安全守則的人仕，採取終止其參與或驅逐出場的行動。一切已付費用，不會退還。
3. 參與本族任何活動的人仕，必須自行購買相關保險。本族不會對任何訓練、考試或其他活動負上風險責任，亦不會作出任何賠償。
4. 所有活動費用，包括訓練和考試費用，必須在活動展開前完全交付，方可參與。
5. 所有參加考試的人仕必須自我攜帶合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加考試，否則本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕其參與考試；一切已付費用，不會退還。
6. 本族歡迎所有參加訓練或其他活動的人仕自攜合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加是項活動。本族有權基於安全理由而拒絕任何人仕使用不合乎CE或ANSI規格的PPE及攀樹裝備來參加本族活動。
7. 本族所有考試均是公開試，無需接受本族訓練才能報名，歡迎任何人仕參與。
8. 本族所有考試均可越級自由報考，無需序漸進由低考上。
9. 本族有權於日後任何時間按照當時合理需要而添加其他條款，所有參與人仕必須完全遵守。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
本會專用欄：
1. 表格編號：T / E no.
2. 訓練/考試日期：
3. 批准：Y / N
4. 其他：
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
ISA HK/China --- 2008 Brisbane ISA Conference
Dear Station Members,
Please kindly note the Station Manager has already arranged for the air travel to the Brisbane ISA Conference as per attached. Those who would like to come along please try to follow the same travel schedule as much as possible, although it is already known that direct flight between HK & Brisbane on these two dates are already sold out. One can still fly en-route.
This ISA Inaugural Asia Pacific Conference (http://isaac.org.au/files/event/ISA%20Asia%20Pacific%20Conference%202008%20flyer.pdf) is an event specifically designed for the Asian Region which is growing young on tree care, with selected topics on Tree Survey, Tree Inspection, Risk Assessment, Wood Decay & Tree Failure. All education are appropriate to our knowledge development & can not be obtained locally from such an array of international speakers & workshops gathered in one spot. This opportunity is not to be missed by any Arborist or landscaper who would like to advance their knowledge & network with the world.
This Station would recommend our Certified Arborists, Tree Climbers, Tree Inspectors, Landscape Designers & anyone wanting to advance their knowledge to the cutting edge, to come along to this conference to share with the world. The same category of experts will be there form other parts of Asia & Australasia to communicate their knowledge. If you think you are up to the challenge, come along.
Please contact this Station if anyone has any queries with regard to this important Inaugural Conference for our region.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Please kindly note the Station Manager has already arranged for the air travel to the Brisbane ISA Conference as per attached. Those who would like to come along please try to follow the same travel schedule as much as possible, although it is already known that direct flight between HK & Brisbane on these two dates are already sold out. One can still fly en-route.
This ISA Inaugural Asia Pacific Conference (http://isaac.org.au/files/event/ISA%20Asia%20Pacific%20Conference%202008%20flyer.pdf) is an event specifically designed for the Asian Region which is growing young on tree care, with selected topics on Tree Survey, Tree Inspection, Risk Assessment, Wood Decay & Tree Failure. All education are appropriate to our knowledge development & can not be obtained locally from such an array of international speakers & workshops gathered in one spot. This opportunity is not to be missed by any Arborist or landscaper who would like to advance their knowledge & network with the world.
This Station would recommend our Certified Arborists, Tree Climbers, Tree Inspectors, Landscape Designers & anyone wanting to advance their knowledge to the cutting edge, to come along to this conference to share with the world. The same category of experts will be there form other parts of Asia & Australasia to communicate their knowledge. If you think you are up to the challenge, come along.
Please contact this Station if anyone has any queries with regard to this important Inaugural Conference for our region.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Thursday, February 14, 2008
CUGE --- Urban Soil Workshop by Dr. James Urban
Dear Station Members,
ISA HK/China is privileged to be invited to attend a professional workshop by the internationally famous Dr. James Urban of USA at CUGE in Singapore. Dr. Urban is an internationally renowned landscape practitioner & he has produced many influential books & lectures in urban soil & tree planting. His rare presence in Asia is a golden opportunity for our practitioners & scholars to learn & share experience with him. This is a rare opportunity not to be missed by the serious.
Please follow the information below to register into this workshop directly at CUGE, for anyone interested.
Thank you for your kind attention.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
----- Original Message -----
From: Fook Chyi YONG
To: egc@netvigator.com
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 8:32 AM
Subject: Fw: CUGE Professional Workshop - Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment by Dr James Urban
Dear Sammy,
We will be engaging Dr James Urban to conduct a Professional Workshop Series on Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment for 2 sessions. The first session is on 17-18 Mar 08 and the second session is on 20-21 Mar 08.
Dr James Urban recalled fondly your conversations with him when both of you met at the ISA Conference in Hawaii and suggested that you be kept informed of this workshop as you and your team had shown interest. Pse see the broadcast mailer on the workshop. We look forward to the participation from the HK/China/Taiwan practitioners. You cld also access the same mailer on the CUGE website:
http://www.cuge.com.sg/component/option,com_eventcal/task,event/date,1205712000/eventid,24/Itemid,1/
Cheers.
Yong Fook Chyi
§ Assistant Director (Manpower Development)/ Industry Division § National Parks Board
§ Tel: +65 646 27301
§ Fax: +65 646 95332
Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this message. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person. Please notify the sender immediately if you receive this in error.
§ Check out our website at http://www.nparks.gov.sg
CUGE-ARB-7005 CUGE Professional Workshop Series -Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment 01/08 and 02/08
Register with: Mr Martin Hoo, T: 6462 7311 E: Martin_Hoo@cuge.com.sg
ABOUT CUGE:
The Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) is managed by the National Parks Board.CUGE is the Lead National Training Institution of the Landscape Workforce.
OUR VISION : To be a Regional Centre for advancing and sharing knowledge and expertise in urban greenery and ecology to enhance urban living environment.
ABOUT Arboriculture Management Programmes:
CUGE provides comprehensive skills training programmes for tree care practitioners, to enhance their knowledge and expertise and to prepare them for the Certified Arborist professional certification accredited with the International Society of Arboriculture.
CUGE provides training and development opportunities for Certified Arborists to seek Continuing Education Units for professional re-certification.
INTRODUCTION:
The specially designed 2-day course is facilitated by Dr James Urban. This course focus on issues and challenges of urban space design and the use of soils. This course incorporates a critique and discussion on site tours to flesh out issues, challenges and resolutions to landscape project implementation.
This course is accredited with the International Society of Arboriculture and Certified Arborists will be accredited with 16 CEU points.
TOPICS:-
Overview of urban trees and soils- Soil Science- Urban soils in Singapore and soils testing and assessment- Field soil investigation techniques- Tree biology- Site tours for critique and discussions in implementation issues and challenges- Up By Roots - Conclusion on healthy soils and trees in urban spaces.
METHODOLOGY:
Facilitated discussions and site tours
WHO SHOULD ATTEND- Certified Arborists- Landscape Project Supervisors and Managers- Landscape Practitioners- Soils Practitioners
TRAINER:
Dr James Urban is an acclaimed expert in landscape architecture, urban architecture and urban soils. He specialises in the design of trees and soils in urban spaces. Dr James Urban has written and lectured extensively on the subject of urban tree planting and has been responsible for the introduction of many innovations including most of the current standards relating to urban tree plantings. He was instrumental in the development of structural cells and structural planting soils for use under sidewalk pavements, micro root paths and macro soil trench technqiues.
TRAINING DETAILS :
Training :17-18 March 2008, 20-21 March 2008
Time: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Venue: CUGE Training Rooms at Horticulture Park, Alexandra Road; CUGE Training Rooms at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fees: $1,073.73 (exclusive of GST) per trainee (terms and conditions apply)10% privilege discount for all SLIC Association Members (LIAS, SILA, IPR, Golf Club Managers’ Association, FAS). Fees includes provision of training materials and equipment, and tea-breaks.
Closing Date: 1 March 2008 for training starting on 17 March 2008 and 20 March 2008
ABOUT CUGE CUSTOMISED TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
CUGE can customise skills training and certification programmes to meet the training needs of your organisation and workforce.
Call us at +65 64650288 or email us at ASKCUGE@cuge.com.sg to provide us with more details and to set up a discussion. We will be glad to be of service to you.
Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE)National Parks Board Headquarters (Raffles Building)Singapore Botanic Gardens1 Cluny RoadSingapore 259569Tel: 6465 0288 Fax: 6763 6317 e: AskCUGE@cuge.com.sgWebsite: http://www.cuge.com.sg/
ISA HK/China is privileged to be invited to attend a professional workshop by the internationally famous Dr. James Urban of USA at CUGE in Singapore. Dr. Urban is an internationally renowned landscape practitioner & he has produced many influential books & lectures in urban soil & tree planting. His rare presence in Asia is a golden opportunity for our practitioners & scholars to learn & share experience with him. This is a rare opportunity not to be missed by the serious.
Please follow the information below to register into this workshop directly at CUGE, for anyone interested.
Thank you for your kind attention.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
----- Original Message -----
From: Fook Chyi YONG
To: egc@netvigator.com
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 8:32 AM
Subject: Fw: CUGE Professional Workshop - Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment by Dr James Urban
Dear Sammy,
We will be engaging Dr James Urban to conduct a Professional Workshop Series on Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment for 2 sessions. The first session is on 17-18 Mar 08 and the second session is on 20-21 Mar 08.
Dr James Urban recalled fondly your conversations with him when both of you met at the ISA Conference in Hawaii and suggested that you be kept informed of this workshop as you and your team had shown interest. Pse see the broadcast mailer on the workshop. We look forward to the participation from the HK/China/Taiwan practitioners. You cld also access the same mailer on the CUGE website:
http://www.cuge.com.sg/component/option,com_eventcal/task,event/date,1205712000/eventid,24/Itemid,1/
Cheers.
Yong Fook Chyi
§ Assistant Director (Manpower Development)/ Industry Division § National Parks Board
§ Tel: +65 646 27301
§ Fax: +65 646 95332
Privileged/Confidential information may be contained in this message. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person. Please notify the sender immediately if you receive this in error.
§ Check out our website at http://www.nparks.gov.sg
CUGE-ARB-7005 CUGE Professional Workshop Series -Up By Roots - Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment 01/08 and 02/08
Register with: Mr Martin Hoo, T: 6462 7311 E: Martin_Hoo@cuge.com.sg
ABOUT CUGE:
The Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) is managed by the National Parks Board.CUGE is the Lead National Training Institution of the Landscape Workforce.
OUR VISION : To be a Regional Centre for advancing and sharing knowledge and expertise in urban greenery and ecology to enhance urban living environment.
ABOUT Arboriculture Management Programmes:
CUGE provides comprehensive skills training programmes for tree care practitioners, to enhance their knowledge and expertise and to prepare them for the Certified Arborist professional certification accredited with the International Society of Arboriculture.
CUGE provides training and development opportunities for Certified Arborists to seek Continuing Education Units for professional re-certification.
INTRODUCTION:
The specially designed 2-day course is facilitated by Dr James Urban. This course focus on issues and challenges of urban space design and the use of soils. This course incorporates a critique and discussion on site tours to flesh out issues, challenges and resolutions to landscape project implementation.
This course is accredited with the International Society of Arboriculture and Certified Arborists will be accredited with 16 CEU points.
TOPICS:-
Overview of urban trees and soils- Soil Science- Urban soils in Singapore and soils testing and assessment- Field soil investigation techniques- Tree biology- Site tours for critique and discussions in implementation issues and challenges- Up By Roots - Conclusion on healthy soils and trees in urban spaces.
METHODOLOGY:
Facilitated discussions and site tours
WHO SHOULD ATTEND- Certified Arborists- Landscape Project Supervisors and Managers- Landscape Practitioners- Soils Practitioners
TRAINER:
Dr James Urban is an acclaimed expert in landscape architecture, urban architecture and urban soils. He specialises in the design of trees and soils in urban spaces. Dr James Urban has written and lectured extensively on the subject of urban tree planting and has been responsible for the introduction of many innovations including most of the current standards relating to urban tree plantings. He was instrumental in the development of structural cells and structural planting soils for use under sidewalk pavements, micro root paths and macro soil trench technqiues.
TRAINING DETAILS :
Training :17-18 March 2008, 20-21 March 2008
Time: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Venue: CUGE Training Rooms at Horticulture Park, Alexandra Road; CUGE Training Rooms at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fees: $1,073.73 (exclusive of GST) per trainee (terms and conditions apply)10% privilege discount for all SLIC Association Members (LIAS, SILA, IPR, Golf Club Managers’ Association, FAS). Fees includes provision of training materials and equipment, and tea-breaks.
Closing Date: 1 March 2008 for training starting on 17 March 2008 and 20 March 2008
ABOUT CUGE CUSTOMISED TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
CUGE can customise skills training and certification programmes to meet the training needs of your organisation and workforce.
Call us at +65 64650288 or email us at ASKCUGE@cuge.com.sg to provide us with more details and to set up a discussion. We will be glad to be of service to you.
Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE)National Parks Board Headquarters (Raffles Building)Singapore Botanic Gardens1 Cluny RoadSingapore 259569Tel: 6465 0288 Fax: 6763 6317 e: AskCUGE@cuge.com.sgWebsite: http://www.cuge.com.sg/
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
ISA HK/China --- ISA 2007 Glossary translation (Traditional Chinese version)
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
A few months ago, ISA HK/China has taken on the mission to translate the ISA Glossary 2007 (Traditional Chinese Version) from ISA HQ as an important step to develop proper tree care in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. From this Traditional Chinese Version, our Mainland experts can easily convert it into a Simplified Chinese Version for the benefits of our brothers & sisters in China & South East Asia.
Key members in TCHK & the Station Manager have been actively involved in this translation. We wish to produce a prototype for open discussion in our public Station Mail for our scholars, researchers, practitioners & anybody to input their expertise to make this translation to be as widely acceptable in our territory as possible. There may be no need to emphasize the importance of this translation because all future ISA translations, including exam questions & training, will base on this information. In fact, right after the submission of our agreed version to ISA HQ later, the Station Manager will have to work alone to translate all CTW written exam questions within a designated time frame, so that the CTW program can begin again in our territory. Then there may be the CA exam questions to think about in time to come too. The work may be never-ending.
Therefore, with great enthusiasm from ISA HK/China, all capable Station Members are requested to review the attached draft translation & comment on it when necessary. Please kindly provide your input in a different colour to the existing writing for recognition. ISA HK/China will be most grateful if your contribution can be received before March 15, 2008. After that date, this Station will organise all entries & submit to ISA HQ for their further work.
This translation will mark a milestone in the development of Modern Arboriculture in our vast territory. No work of such magnitude has ever happened before in our local arboriculture for the benefit of our society. With a proper Glossary in our own language, we can begin to translate training & exam materials to expand proper tree care for the benefit of the unknown. According to our estimation, perhaps around 5% of the 1.3 billion population in China have the ability to understand English to the level required in the Certified Arborist/Certified Tree Worker exam. The rest will have to take it in Chinese once we can properly translate them. With China now craving for international credentials to fight for job & promotion, sky is the limit for development in this aspect. All these will hinge upon our Glossary translation.
We wish to thank in advance for anyone wishing to take part in this voluntary exercise. Once set, it can not be easily changed again without massive convulsion in future. Therefore, any early reply will be much much appreciated.
Our sincere thanks indeed to all the capable.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
A few months ago, ISA HK/China has taken on the mission to translate the ISA Glossary 2007 (Traditional Chinese Version) from ISA HQ as an important step to develop proper tree care in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. From this Traditional Chinese Version, our Mainland experts can easily convert it into a Simplified Chinese Version for the benefits of our brothers & sisters in China & South East Asia.
Key members in TCHK & the Station Manager have been actively involved in this translation. We wish to produce a prototype for open discussion in our public Station Mail for our scholars, researchers, practitioners & anybody to input their expertise to make this translation to be as widely acceptable in our territory as possible. There may be no need to emphasize the importance of this translation because all future ISA translations, including exam questions & training, will base on this information. In fact, right after the submission of our agreed version to ISA HQ later, the Station Manager will have to work alone to translate all CTW written exam questions within a designated time frame, so that the CTW program can begin again in our territory. Then there may be the CA exam questions to think about in time to come too. The work may be never-ending.
Therefore, with great enthusiasm from ISA HK/China, all capable Station Members are requested to review the attached draft translation & comment on it when necessary. Please kindly provide your input in a different colour to the existing writing for recognition. ISA HK/China will be most grateful if your contribution can be received before March 15, 2008. After that date, this Station will organise all entries & submit to ISA HQ for their further work.
This translation will mark a milestone in the development of Modern Arboriculture in our vast territory. No work of such magnitude has ever happened before in our local arboriculture for the benefit of our society. With a proper Glossary in our own language, we can begin to translate training & exam materials to expand proper tree care for the benefit of the unknown. According to our estimation, perhaps around 5% of the 1.3 billion population in China have the ability to understand English to the level required in the Certified Arborist/Certified Tree Worker exam. The rest will have to take it in Chinese once we can properly translate them. With China now craving for international credentials to fight for job & promotion, sky is the limit for development in this aspect. All these will hinge upon our Glossary translation.
We wish to thank in advance for anyone wishing to take part in this voluntary exercise. Once set, it can not be easily changed again without massive convulsion in future. Therefore, any early reply will be much much appreciated.
Our sincere thanks indeed to all the capable.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Our Station is 3 years old
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
By the time this message is issued, the ISA HK/China Station is already 3 years old.
We have seen tremendous changes in our Station in the last 3 years, from the membership of 1 no. to the current + 580 no. Station Mail covers a geographic region from Japan to New Zealand in the Pacific Rim & Station Blog is even more far reaching to many countries in the world (http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s38290992&r=83). Our last Certified Arborist (CA) exam was housing 80 no. of candidates, & the number of our CA has reached 84 no. by Dec 2007. Half of our CA work in various Govt Depts spreading influence, & TCHK was set up as an extension of our Station to attract Chinese speaking population to learn tree climbing & Arborist work. The translation of the ISA Glossary is near completion for final review in open Station Mail & ISA has become a household name in our landscape industry. Our team of Proctors & CTW Evaluators are under expansion to prepare for future advancement into China & ETF is firmly established with quality trees grown to international requirement to show our brothers & sisters . ISA HK/China has indeed grown from insignificance to something giving impact in our community within rather a relatively short time.
Success of our Station, whether in our communication or other activities, may lie in the fact that we have interpreted complicated knowledge of Arboriculture & translated them into laymen term for the understanding of our public, with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling in reality with our local situation. It has been touching & relevant to our supporters, many of whom are genuine tree lovers. We also have a simple & efficient structure which is able to make quick & responsive decision without much complication. Our core team of CA Family is united & understanding, something of an envy to other organizations which are having meeting after meeting to eternity. It is this kind of efficient administration which makes ISA HK/China grow with speed & stability.
The quality of our Station Membership is also encouraging. The last count has given a + 60% being a Degree Holder, with approx. 50% having a Master Degree of some kind. We have landscape architects, engineers, lawyers, doctors, professors, architects..... all the way down to housewives & students in our categories, making us one of the most diversified greenery group in HK. Approx. 40% of our Station Members are Civil Servants of various ranks & we have Station Members from 12 Govt Depts joining.
One word worthy to mention here is that anyone joining ISA HK/China is out of a personal capacity & does not represent any organization or Dept. All views collected are out of a personal nature & not representative of any organization or body.
Our Govt are currently seen as the biggest supporter for proper tree care in HK & our Station. The Station Manager has been invited to provide arbor seminars to several Govt Depts & is lecturing Tree Supervision at CITA. Govt Depts have also introduced professional capacity like Independent Tree Specialist & Competent Person for tree work. Some Depts are beginning to require an Arborist Report for regular tree maintenance & pruning. For work near Old & Valuable Trees, it is more or less mandatory to have Arborist supervision to ensure governance. Different arbor training programs are also being designed & envisaged by the Govt to help upbring the tree care standard in our community.
On the other hand, this Station feels that we still have to devote much work on the public sector to entice their attention for proper tree care, after our continuous effort to approach them. Not even one invitation has been received by this Station from any group after our many mail to them for seminars. It appears ironical that the public are shouting for better tree care constantly but would not approach the Arborists for it. Then may we ask where they think they can get better ??
So far so good for our knowledge propagation in our society, on the other hand & maybe sadly, not much positive action on the execution side can be detected by this Station with regard to tree work & maintenance in overall terms besides reduction in tree topping. Tree selection & specifications have hardly changed, & pruning with Crown Raising still seems to be the preferred method after topping. Trees are still transplanted with undersized rootballs & nursery trees in many development appeared to have no change in quality as compared to the past. What this Station worries is that our tree care practice would become like Opium Smoking in old time China. Everyone knew it was bad but everyone went on doing it, until the gunboats appeared. We have regular typhoons in HK every year. Our gunboats are the typhoons.
Comparing to massive China, HK should be able to sail like a speedboat to develop proper tree care with an efficient Govt & clean administrative system. Some may say we are already moving too fast but our trees are maturing equally quickly. Do we need another event of thousands of trees failing before we blame on 'Act of God' again & never on ourselves? Are our taxpayers money well spent by carrying on the old way & do we meet up with public expectation whenever we can? There are indeed questions that we can ask ourselves.
HK can & will influence China in tree care. If HK can move ahead with better trees, China would peek & follow. China is a green site as far as international arboriculture is concerned. There is still not even one indigenous Certified Arborist or Certified Tree Climber in China up to date among the 1.3 billion population. China may be waiting for HK to lead them.
3 years have passed & this Station has tasted initial success. However, there is no time for complacency & the road ahead is long & winding. After HK if accomplished, we have Macau, Taiwan & China waiting for us. We need joint & group efforts to carry on improve our trees locally & to lead our brothers & sisters up north. It may become a lifetime mission for some of us.
May we work together to improve the quality of our trees, & thus the standard of living in our community, one tree at a time & one place at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
By the time this message is issued, the ISA HK/China Station is already 3 years old.
We have seen tremendous changes in our Station in the last 3 years, from the membership of 1 no. to the current + 580 no. Station Mail covers a geographic region from Japan to New Zealand in the Pacific Rim & Station Blog is even more far reaching to many countries in the world (http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s38290992&r=83). Our last Certified Arborist (CA) exam was housing 80 no. of candidates, & the number of our CA has reached 84 no. by Dec 2007. Half of our CA work in various Govt Depts spreading influence, & TCHK was set up as an extension of our Station to attract Chinese speaking population to learn tree climbing & Arborist work. The translation of the ISA Glossary is near completion for final review in open Station Mail & ISA has become a household name in our landscape industry. Our team of Proctors & CTW Evaluators are under expansion to prepare for future advancement into China & ETF is firmly established with quality trees grown to international requirement to show our brothers & sisters . ISA HK/China has indeed grown from insignificance to something giving impact in our community within rather a relatively short time.
Success of our Station, whether in our communication or other activities, may lie in the fact that we have interpreted complicated knowledge of Arboriculture & translated them into laymen term for the understanding of our public, with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling in reality with our local situation. It has been touching & relevant to our supporters, many of whom are genuine tree lovers. We also have a simple & efficient structure which is able to make quick & responsive decision without much complication. Our core team of CA Family is united & understanding, something of an envy to other organizations which are having meeting after meeting to eternity. It is this kind of efficient administration which makes ISA HK/China grow with speed & stability.
The quality of our Station Membership is also encouraging. The last count has given a + 60% being a Degree Holder, with approx. 50% having a Master Degree of some kind. We have landscape architects, engineers, lawyers, doctors, professors, architects..... all the way down to housewives & students in our categories, making us one of the most diversified greenery group in HK. Approx. 40% of our Station Members are Civil Servants of various ranks & we have Station Members from 12 Govt Depts joining.
One word worthy to mention here is that anyone joining ISA HK/China is out of a personal capacity & does not represent any organization or Dept. All views collected are out of a personal nature & not representative of any organization or body.
Our Govt are currently seen as the biggest supporter for proper tree care in HK & our Station. The Station Manager has been invited to provide arbor seminars to several Govt Depts & is lecturing Tree Supervision at CITA. Govt Depts have also introduced professional capacity like Independent Tree Specialist & Competent Person for tree work. Some Depts are beginning to require an Arborist Report for regular tree maintenance & pruning. For work near Old & Valuable Trees, it is more or less mandatory to have Arborist supervision to ensure governance. Different arbor training programs are also being designed & envisaged by the Govt to help upbring the tree care standard in our community.
On the other hand, this Station feels that we still have to devote much work on the public sector to entice their attention for proper tree care, after our continuous effort to approach them. Not even one invitation has been received by this Station from any group after our many mail to them for seminars. It appears ironical that the public are shouting for better tree care constantly but would not approach the Arborists for it. Then may we ask where they think they can get better ??
So far so good for our knowledge propagation in our society, on the other hand & maybe sadly, not much positive action on the execution side can be detected by this Station with regard to tree work & maintenance in overall terms besides reduction in tree topping. Tree selection & specifications have hardly changed, & pruning with Crown Raising still seems to be the preferred method after topping. Trees are still transplanted with undersized rootballs & nursery trees in many development appeared to have no change in quality as compared to the past. What this Station worries is that our tree care practice would become like Opium Smoking in old time China. Everyone knew it was bad but everyone went on doing it, until the gunboats appeared. We have regular typhoons in HK every year. Our gunboats are the typhoons.
Comparing to massive China, HK should be able to sail like a speedboat to develop proper tree care with an efficient Govt & clean administrative system. Some may say we are already moving too fast but our trees are maturing equally quickly. Do we need another event of thousands of trees failing before we blame on 'Act of God' again & never on ourselves? Are our taxpayers money well spent by carrying on the old way & do we meet up with public expectation whenever we can? There are indeed questions that we can ask ourselves.
HK can & will influence China in tree care. If HK can move ahead with better trees, China would peek & follow. China is a green site as far as international arboriculture is concerned. There is still not even one indigenous Certified Arborist or Certified Tree Climber in China up to date among the 1.3 billion population. China may be waiting for HK to lead them.
3 years have passed & this Station has tasted initial success. However, there is no time for complacency & the road ahead is long & winding. After HK if accomplished, we have Macau, Taiwan & China waiting for us. We need joint & group efforts to carry on improve our trees locally & to lead our brothers & sisters up north. It may become a lifetime mission for some of us.
May we work together to improve the quality of our trees, & thus the standard of living in our community, one tree at a time & one place at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
ISA HK/China --- HK Tree News (Chainsaw Accident on Fishtail Palm)
Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
Attached is yet another case of Chainsaw Accident not widely reported by our media community, even though Chainsaw is one of the most dangerous tools used in tree work anywhere in the world.
Two tree workers were removing a Fishtail Palm with a Chainsaw but were hit by the re-bounce of the trunk which caused injury to their head & face. Luckily the damage was minor & both workers did not require hospitalization.
Chainsaw Use & Safety, like proper Tree Climbing, is one important subject which is rarely available publicly in greenery institutes & classes in our territory besides within Govt Depts. Yet most of the time tree work is done by contractors in our territory . Chainsaw knowledge & Tree Climbing appear to be exclusive to Arborists & not available in the common teaching of landscape design & horticulture. After all, it would be rather an excessive effort to prune a rose with a chainsaw or climb a camellia for any treatment. And Chainsaw isn't much of an appearance in landscape design. But for the Arborist, it is a day-in day-out job required by some for a living.
It is sad that Chainsaw Accidents keep on happening in our territory & the many so-called ' Safety Training ' does not cover this popular tool for work sites. There are public classes on ' Gardening Safety ' given by many institutes, but hardly any for Chainsaw Use or Tree Climbing. Is it becasue that we do not have enough qualified tutors for the training? Or is it that Chainsaw is a less dangerous tool?
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Chainsaw Accident is welcomed to browse:
1. http://www.whscc.nb.ca/docs/Chainsaw.pdf
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3534320.stm
3. http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/kidz/gore/kickback.shtml
4. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1484363/01142004/nugent_ted.jhtml
5. http://nz.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080129093317AATeJzg
This Station has more if anyone desires.
TCHK will offer a free 3 hour Chainsaw Safety seminar with demonstration exclusive to TCHK Members in the coming month, with announcement on TCHK Blog (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) very soon, since all TCHK Members have signed a Disclaimer to join TCHK. TCHK will also organize Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Training open to public in the near future, targeting mainly tree workers & contractors to upgrade their knowledge & to prevent accident.
Please stay close at TCHK Blog for announcement.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
Attached is yet another case of Chainsaw Accident not widely reported by our media community, even though Chainsaw is one of the most dangerous tools used in tree work anywhere in the world.
Two tree workers were removing a Fishtail Palm with a Chainsaw but were hit by the re-bounce of the trunk which caused injury to their head & face. Luckily the damage was minor & both workers did not require hospitalization.
Chainsaw Use & Safety, like proper Tree Climbing, is one important subject which is rarely available publicly in greenery institutes & classes in our territory besides within Govt Depts. Yet most of the time tree work is done by contractors in our territory . Chainsaw knowledge & Tree Climbing appear to be exclusive to Arborists & not available in the common teaching of landscape design & horticulture. After all, it would be rather an excessive effort to prune a rose with a chainsaw or climb a camellia for any treatment. And Chainsaw isn't much of an appearance in landscape design. But for the Arborist, it is a day-in day-out job required by some for a living.
It is sad that Chainsaw Accidents keep on happening in our territory & the many so-called ' Safety Training ' does not cover this popular tool for work sites. There are public classes on ' Gardening Safety ' given by many institutes, but hardly any for Chainsaw Use or Tree Climbing. Is it becasue that we do not have enough qualified tutors for the training? Or is it that Chainsaw is a less dangerous tool?
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Chainsaw Accident is welcomed to browse:
1. http://www.whscc.nb.ca/docs/Chainsaw.pdf
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3534320.stm
3. http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/kidz/gore/kickback.shtml
4. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1484363/01142004/nugent_ted.jhtml
5. http://nz.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080129093317AATeJzg
This Station has more if anyone desires.
TCHK will offer a free 3 hour Chainsaw Safety seminar with demonstration exclusive to TCHK Members in the coming month, with announcement on TCHK Blog (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) very soon, since all TCHK Members have signed a Disclaimer to join TCHK. TCHK will also organize Tree Climbing & Chainsaw Training open to public in the near future, targeting mainly tree workers & contractors to upgrade their knowledge & to prevent accident.
Please stay close at TCHK Blog for announcement.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Public Hearing for Proctorship Nomination
Dear Station Members,
As you all know, ISA HK/China Station is responsible for conducting ISA exams in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. This is a vast territory, although ISA exams are only popular in the past 3 years & HK is currently the only exam centre in our region. We expect the exams to grow & very soon candidates from other cities in our region will come down to take the exams in HK, since HK has the exam security & facilities demanded for the requirement.
In order to do this, our Station will need to expand on the Proctor crew. ISA Proctors are required to hold a higher standing in Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling. Proctors belong to a different breed & they are respected & trusted in the ISA community. It is always an honour & privilege to become an ISA Proctor.
In our region of HK/China, we have devised a system to screen our Proctors by nomination by the Station Manager & then they have to go through a public hearing over communication within our Station Membership. The Station Manager is the key person in liaison with day-today running of the Station & gathers information on every Station Member including their personal quality. Yet his nominations have to pass through public acknowledgement to ascertain the social acceptance of the proposed Proctors to ensure no advice is slipped. ISA HK/China demands our Proctors to be of excellent quality & second fiddle is best left for somewhere else.
Upon careful observation & contemplation in the past 3 years, the Station Manager now would like to nominate the following Lady & Gentlemen to become ISA Proctors:
1. Kathy Ng --- Senior Landscape Architect at CEDD & is a person known to have good integrity & justice. Kathy is well versed with the landscape trade both in office & on site. She is energetic & respected by practically anybody in the landscape industry. Kathy is knowledgeable in modern arboriculture & is enthusiastic in encouraging our Govt to conduct proper tree care to help our community. Kathy is a CA & is a member of the prestigious CA Family.
2. Thomas CY Chow --- Senior Teacher at the now famous Fung Kai School. Our Station is always grateful for Thomas's past efforts to arrange exam venue for the CA & CTW exams. Thomas is also the Leader of the Fung Kai Tree Climbing Team & has participated in many public climbing events. He is enthusiastic to develop tree climbing for our next generation. Thomas is a CA, a member of the CA Family & is now also a CTW Evaluator.
3. Tony CH Ng --- Tony has over 20 years of tree climbing experience & is among one of the best climbers in our community. He has received arbor training in the UK & is knowledgeable in the art & skill of tree climbing. Tony works at the Tree Team of LCSD & is keen to participate in Station activities including training our next generation of climbers. Tony is a dedicated Buddhist committed to simple living, & with a kind heart to help others in our community. Tony is a CA, a CA Family Member & is also now a CTW Evaluator.
4. KM Li --- KM is one of the fittest local tree climbers known in our community. He is also a swimming instructor, a physical training instructor & a rock climbing instructor. KM has climbed for 20 years & is knowledgeable in the many techniques & equipment in tree climbing. He is active in Station activities & is keen to help our younger generation to climb. KM is a straight-minded, very physical & enthusiastic person. He is a CA, a CA Family Member & a CTW Evaluator.
These 4 Lady & Gentlemen will be nominated to ISA HQ to become Proctor in our region very soon, if this Station does not hear any adverse comment on any of them by 5pm Feb 10, 2008. On the other hand, if any of you would like to advise the Station Manager on something that he does not know about the above candidates, you are welcomed to phone 9090 6719 or e-mail him in confidence for second consideration. All communication will be treated in the strictest confidence with the integrity of the Station Manager not to disclose to a third party.
Thank you for your consideration & we look forward to work with our future Proctors in a team to develop ISA Arboriculture in our region soonest.
best regards,
Sammy Au
ISA HK/China Station Manager
ISA Chief Proctor in the HK/China Region
As you all know, ISA HK/China Station is responsible for conducting ISA exams in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. This is a vast territory, although ISA exams are only popular in the past 3 years & HK is currently the only exam centre in our region. We expect the exams to grow & very soon candidates from other cities in our region will come down to take the exams in HK, since HK has the exam security & facilities demanded for the requirement.
In order to do this, our Station will need to expand on the Proctor crew. ISA Proctors are required to hold a higher standing in Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling. Proctors belong to a different breed & they are respected & trusted in the ISA community. It is always an honour & privilege to become an ISA Proctor.
In our region of HK/China, we have devised a system to screen our Proctors by nomination by the Station Manager & then they have to go through a public hearing over communication within our Station Membership. The Station Manager is the key person in liaison with day-today running of the Station & gathers information on every Station Member including their personal quality. Yet his nominations have to pass through public acknowledgement to ascertain the social acceptance of the proposed Proctors to ensure no advice is slipped. ISA HK/China demands our Proctors to be of excellent quality & second fiddle is best left for somewhere else.
Upon careful observation & contemplation in the past 3 years, the Station Manager now would like to nominate the following Lady & Gentlemen to become ISA Proctors:
1. Kathy Ng --- Senior Landscape Architect at CEDD & is a person known to have good integrity & justice. Kathy is well versed with the landscape trade both in office & on site. She is energetic & respected by practically anybody in the landscape industry. Kathy is knowledgeable in modern arboriculture & is enthusiastic in encouraging our Govt to conduct proper tree care to help our community. Kathy is a CA & is a member of the prestigious CA Family.
2. Thomas CY Chow --- Senior Teacher at the now famous Fung Kai School. Our Station is always grateful for Thomas's past efforts to arrange exam venue for the CA & CTW exams. Thomas is also the Leader of the Fung Kai Tree Climbing Team & has participated in many public climbing events. He is enthusiastic to develop tree climbing for our next generation. Thomas is a CA, a member of the CA Family & is now also a CTW Evaluator.
3. Tony CH Ng --- Tony has over 20 years of tree climbing experience & is among one of the best climbers in our community. He has received arbor training in the UK & is knowledgeable in the art & skill of tree climbing. Tony works at the Tree Team of LCSD & is keen to participate in Station activities including training our next generation of climbers. Tony is a dedicated Buddhist committed to simple living, & with a kind heart to help others in our community. Tony is a CA, a CA Family Member & is also now a CTW Evaluator.
4. KM Li --- KM is one of the fittest local tree climbers known in our community. He is also a swimming instructor, a physical training instructor & a rock climbing instructor. KM has climbed for 20 years & is knowledgeable in the many techniques & equipment in tree climbing. He is active in Station activities & is keen to help our younger generation to climb. KM is a straight-minded, very physical & enthusiastic person. He is a CA, a CA Family Member & a CTW Evaluator.
These 4 Lady & Gentlemen will be nominated to ISA HQ to become Proctor in our region very soon, if this Station does not hear any adverse comment on any of them by 5pm Feb 10, 2008. On the other hand, if any of you would like to advise the Station Manager on something that he does not know about the above candidates, you are welcomed to phone 9090 6719 or e-mail him in confidence for second consideration. All communication will be treated in the strictest confidence with the integrity of the Station Manager not to disclose to a third party.
Thank you for your consideration & we look forward to work with our future Proctors in a team to develop ISA Arboriculture in our region soonest.
best regards,
Sammy Au
ISA HK/China Station Manager
ISA Chief Proctor in the HK/China Region
Sunday, January 27, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
The attached article is extracted from the Arborist News Dec 2007 edition. Conventional landscape managers & horticulturists may not like the information contained but this article was written by a professor in an US institute after years of research. It was also published in an international journal circulated to at least 57 countries around the world. So, there must be something to it.
Pest Management is an important job of landscape maintenance anywhere in the world. After all, landscape is created for aesthetic & pleasure besides a varieties of functions. If ruined by pests, all the money devoted into it would be in vain. This article gave an insight to the current international practice in pest management as compared to what we are used to in our part of the world. It also gave reasons & suggestions for what to do & what not to do.
When the Station Manager first started learning about pest management (or better calling it pest control then) in the 1980's, he studied it through conventional horticulture describing blanket chemical spray & pest eradication. The only objective of these measures appeared to be killing every pest suspected without thinking too much of non-targeting organisms, or maybe it was simply bad luck to any of them. Time & care were set at making the best possible chemical solution to target the organisms. Preventive & regular spray were the answer to a 'clean & hygienic' growing environment, whether inside or outside a greenhouse. Any kill would be regarded as a success & a reward.
Deviation from this traditional practice has evolved from research over the years in the west. It was discovered that a complete eradication of all organisms would lead to a stronger (or even more resistant) outbreak of pest emergence after regular spraying which would also pollute the environment. Measures were then looked into the holistic approach & it would be the suppression of the pest population rather than total eradication, coupling with a study on abiotic effects & client's expectation to evolve the theory of Plant Health Care (PHC) which incorporates the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept for managing landscape pests. It was also discovered that any treatment should be entire rather than individual, since the mixture of plants interact with one another in the landscape.
This new theory of PHC & IPM has since then become popular in western countries. However, the wind of change did not seem to come across strongly to our part of the world. Blanket spray & intentional chemical mixtures still appear to be the answer to pest management in our city landscape, partly becasue it is easier to administer & less training is required for the operating personnel. Then when our pest problem would become more resistant to treatment, the landscape managers would look for a stronger & more powerful spray. Hence the vicious cycle continues.
This Station is not aware of PHC or IPM being practised in a working level anywhere in our territory so far, except at ETF which is under the control of the Station Manager himself. Both PHC & IPM require knowledge & experience to carry out, not just theories & description from books. This Station is not aware of either knowledge is being offered properly & publicly anywhere in any institute in HK so far.
Modern Arboriculture is founded on the principles of PHC. If PHC is not good enough for HK, then western countries may be wasting their time to research into the topic to tell the world. Then maybe HK should carry on their regular chemical spray intentionally.
Which way should we look at now then & for why ...?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)
Dear Station Members,
The attached article is extracted from the Arborist News Dec 2007 edition. Conventional landscape managers & horticulturists may not like the information contained but this article was written by a professor in an US institute after years of research. It was also published in an international journal circulated to at least 57 countries around the world. So, there must be something to it.
Pest Management is an important job of landscape maintenance anywhere in the world. After all, landscape is created for aesthetic & pleasure besides a varieties of functions. If ruined by pests, all the money devoted into it would be in vain. This article gave an insight to the current international practice in pest management as compared to what we are used to in our part of the world. It also gave reasons & suggestions for what to do & what not to do.
When the Station Manager first started learning about pest management (or better calling it pest control then) in the 1980's, he studied it through conventional horticulture describing blanket chemical spray & pest eradication. The only objective of these measures appeared to be killing every pest suspected without thinking too much of non-targeting organisms, or maybe it was simply bad luck to any of them. Time & care were set at making the best possible chemical solution to target the organisms. Preventive & regular spray were the answer to a 'clean & hygienic' growing environment, whether inside or outside a greenhouse. Any kill would be regarded as a success & a reward.
Deviation from this traditional practice has evolved from research over the years in the west. It was discovered that a complete eradication of all organisms would lead to a stronger (or even more resistant) outbreak of pest emergence after regular spraying which would also pollute the environment. Measures were then looked into the holistic approach & it would be the suppression of the pest population rather than total eradication, coupling with a study on abiotic effects & client's expectation to evolve the theory of Plant Health Care (PHC) which incorporates the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concept for managing landscape pests. It was also discovered that any treatment should be entire rather than individual, since the mixture of plants interact with one another in the landscape.
This new theory of PHC & IPM has since then become popular in western countries. However, the wind of change did not seem to come across strongly to our part of the world. Blanket spray & intentional chemical mixtures still appear to be the answer to pest management in our city landscape, partly becasue it is easier to administer & less training is required for the operating personnel. Then when our pest problem would become more resistant to treatment, the landscape managers would look for a stronger & more powerful spray. Hence the vicious cycle continues.
This Station is not aware of PHC or IPM being practised in a working level anywhere in our territory so far, except at ETF which is under the control of the Station Manager himself. Both PHC & IPM require knowledge & experience to carry out, not just theories & description from books. This Station is not aware of either knowledge is being offered properly & publicly anywhere in any institute in HK so far.
Modern Arboriculture is founded on the principles of PHC. If PHC is not good enough for HK, then western countries may be wasting their time to research into the topic to tell the world. Then maybe HK should carry on their regular chemical spray intentionally.
Which way should we look at now then & for why ...?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (www.isa-arbor.com)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Rooftop Tree Planting
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
HK has practised for years to carry out tree planting on rooftop including the common Podium Planting. Its main objective is to provide greenery for aesthetic purpose & environmental benefits. It is usually done due to lack of ground space for planting after structure development. There are also late recommendation for rooftop planting to cool our city, although this Station has provided comments on such practice some months ago.
For any tree planting on roof, one major factor that the Arborist would need to consider is wind loading. HK has typhoons & it is known that the higher the ground, the stronger would be the wind there. If tall species are chosen for planting on rooftop, the risk of it being blown over can be significant, contour depending. Common staking with guy wires would not hold a tree in typhoon due to the small soil friction offered by such devices. On the other hand, if the guys are stronger than the pull, the trunk or branches would be snapped off in strong wind, completely destroying the tree.
The other factor that the Arborist would need to consider would be the root temperature while planting on a roof. If the roof where the planting area is situated is not adequately insulated against temperature fluctuation, the temperature of the planting medium can become similar to the ambient air temperature. That may mean in winter time when the air is below 5 Celsius on a very cold day, the roots of the tree would also be at around 5 Celsius which would be unfavourable when compared to the same tree planted in the ground. Ground would offer a better buffer in temperature changes than on the roof.
On the other hand, on a very hot summer day when the air temperature is over 33 Celsius, the planter wall or growing medium may absorb heat to further warm up the roots inside to a temperature maybe higher than 40 Celsius, at least partially or on a gradient. Again, would tree roots enjoy growing in such exceeding temperature? Probably not for most species.
Another factor affecting the success of tree planting on roof would be the competition for water & nutrients between tree roots & roots of other smaller plants planted around them. A typical design in HK would be stuffing shrubs & groundcovers next to trees in podium planting, disregarding the competition between the roots of the various species. Success sometimes would base on trial & error. If the tree wins, that's would be good luck for it & bad luck for the smaller plants underneath. However, the tree does not always win.
It can now be seen that any successful tree planting on rooftop depends on a varieties of criteria. It is always Mother Nature Makes the Rules, not us for any successful planting. If a tree is not designed, planted, maintained, inspected & risk managed properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset, no matter where it is planted.
Then would we call the tree planting on rooftop as shown in the attachment seen commonly in HK any success? If even for now, then would be for how long??
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
HK has practised for years to carry out tree planting on rooftop including the common Podium Planting. Its main objective is to provide greenery for aesthetic purpose & environmental benefits. It is usually done due to lack of ground space for planting after structure development. There are also late recommendation for rooftop planting to cool our city, although this Station has provided comments on such practice some months ago.
For any tree planting on roof, one major factor that the Arborist would need to consider is wind loading. HK has typhoons & it is known that the higher the ground, the stronger would be the wind there. If tall species are chosen for planting on rooftop, the risk of it being blown over can be significant, contour depending. Common staking with guy wires would not hold a tree in typhoon due to the small soil friction offered by such devices. On the other hand, if the guys are stronger than the pull, the trunk or branches would be snapped off in strong wind, completely destroying the tree.
The other factor that the Arborist would need to consider would be the root temperature while planting on a roof. If the roof where the planting area is situated is not adequately insulated against temperature fluctuation, the temperature of the planting medium can become similar to the ambient air temperature. That may mean in winter time when the air is below 5 Celsius on a very cold day, the roots of the tree would also be at around 5 Celsius which would be unfavourable when compared to the same tree planted in the ground. Ground would offer a better buffer in temperature changes than on the roof.
On the other hand, on a very hot summer day when the air temperature is over 33 Celsius, the planter wall or growing medium may absorb heat to further warm up the roots inside to a temperature maybe higher than 40 Celsius, at least partially or on a gradient. Again, would tree roots enjoy growing in such exceeding temperature? Probably not for most species.
Another factor affecting the success of tree planting on roof would be the competition for water & nutrients between tree roots & roots of other smaller plants planted around them. A typical design in HK would be stuffing shrubs & groundcovers next to trees in podium planting, disregarding the competition between the roots of the various species. Success sometimes would base on trial & error. If the tree wins, that's would be good luck for it & bad luck for the smaller plants underneath. However, the tree does not always win.
It can now be seen that any successful tree planting on rooftop depends on a varieties of criteria. It is always Mother Nature Makes the Rules, not us for any successful planting. If a tree is not designed, planted, maintained, inspected & risk managed properly, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset, no matter where it is planted.
Then would we call the tree planting on rooftop as shown in the attachment seen commonly in HK any success? If even for now, then would be for how long??
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Friday, January 18, 2008
ISA HK/China --- China Tree News (Revitalizing Mature Trees, Cuttings or seeds, & Topped Tree Nurseries)
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
Attached are 3 sets of recent Tree News from a national newspaper in China:
1. How to re-vitalize declining Mature Trees
China experts have correctly identified some of the causes for inducing the decline of their Mature Trees such as soil compaction & lack of irrigation. They also understood that canopy growth depends upon root growth.
However, their ways to prescribe treatment such as root trenching to add fertilizers for re-vitalizing the roots, cavity filling, Hessians wrapping of trunk & permanent staking, do deviate drastically from international practice, as so described in their research.
Can this Station tell them that their treatment would harm their trees? Oh, no. They would laugh & say: " Who are you & what is ISA? " They may also say: "What's wrong with our research? It's done by experts & we have been doing such practice for years."
Then when the trees finally die, it is an Act of God, & never anybody's fault.
China is an Old dragon when it comes to tree care. This Station will be patient & opportunistic to look for an Achilles' Heel in it.
2. Tree Production from cuttings or seeds ?
A tree farmer wrote in to advocate production with cuttings rather than from seeds, because he claimed that trees from cuttings would develop taller with straight trunk, fewer branching & smoother bark. On the contrary as claimed by him, trees grown from seeds would branch more often which would require pruning to leave behind cut scars, would grow slower & would develop a 'defective tree crown'.
This message has reflected a common belief in nursery tree production in China: ' a good landscape tree should have no Taper, with a low Live Crown Ratio & pruning is bad for a tree' .
In ETF, they do almost everything opposite to what most China tree farmers would do. ETF trees are required to have good Taper, a good Live Crown Ratio & they are constantly pruned to achieve a good Structure. ETF has found only trees grown from seeds would meet such requirement, not those from cuttings. All the work are done for two purposes: to promote good Tree Structure against wind & to promote Tree Health against pest attack. Wind is the biggest enemy of a tree & can kill it in seconds, whereas pest attack will usually take months or years. HK has typhoons to attack our trees every year. Our frequent Tree Failures should alarm us to use landscape trees with good structure to minimize risks. And yet our brothers & sisters are promoting it the other way round --- for flowering only??
China is unlikely to follow the world unless HK can move first in proper Arboriculture. Can we?
3. Topped trees in nurseries along motorway
The topped trees with trunk wrapping so shown grew in recent nurseries situated along a motorway in China. They would appear more like a Tree Cemetery to Arborists rather than any tree farm. The opening of the motorway has attracted more tree farms to be located along the way, inducing more trees to be topped for landscape purchase over there.
Quite a number of trees shown in the photo appeared to be dug out from the wilderness rather than from nursery grown. If the attitude of using Young Trees for landscape not respected, more Mature Trees in the forest will be destroyed this way for their so-called 'Instant Effect'. Soon there will be holes here & there in their forest. Is this the way they want it ?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
Attached are 3 sets of recent Tree News from a national newspaper in China:
1. How to re-vitalize declining Mature Trees
China experts have correctly identified some of the causes for inducing the decline of their Mature Trees such as soil compaction & lack of irrigation. They also understood that canopy growth depends upon root growth.
However, their ways to prescribe treatment such as root trenching to add fertilizers for re-vitalizing the roots, cavity filling, Hessians wrapping of trunk & permanent staking, do deviate drastically from international practice, as so described in their research.
Can this Station tell them that their treatment would harm their trees? Oh, no. They would laugh & say: " Who are you & what is ISA? " They may also say: "What's wrong with our research? It's done by experts & we have been doing such practice for years."
Then when the trees finally die, it is an Act of God, & never anybody's fault.
China is an Old dragon when it comes to tree care. This Station will be patient & opportunistic to look for an Achilles' Heel in it.
2. Tree Production from cuttings or seeds ?
A tree farmer wrote in to advocate production with cuttings rather than from seeds, because he claimed that trees from cuttings would develop taller with straight trunk, fewer branching & smoother bark. On the contrary as claimed by him, trees grown from seeds would branch more often which would require pruning to leave behind cut scars, would grow slower & would develop a 'defective tree crown'.
This message has reflected a common belief in nursery tree production in China: ' a good landscape tree should have no Taper, with a low Live Crown Ratio & pruning is bad for a tree' .
In ETF, they do almost everything opposite to what most China tree farmers would do. ETF trees are required to have good Taper, a good Live Crown Ratio & they are constantly pruned to achieve a good Structure. ETF has found only trees grown from seeds would meet such requirement, not those from cuttings. All the work are done for two purposes: to promote good Tree Structure against wind & to promote Tree Health against pest attack. Wind is the biggest enemy of a tree & can kill it in seconds, whereas pest attack will usually take months or years. HK has typhoons to attack our trees every year. Our frequent Tree Failures should alarm us to use landscape trees with good structure to minimize risks. And yet our brothers & sisters are promoting it the other way round --- for flowering only??
China is unlikely to follow the world unless HK can move first in proper Arboriculture. Can we?
3. Topped trees in nurseries along motorway
The topped trees with trunk wrapping so shown grew in recent nurseries situated along a motorway in China. They would appear more like a Tree Cemetery to Arborists rather than any tree farm. The opening of the motorway has attracted more tree farms to be located along the way, inducing more trees to be topped for landscape purchase over there.
Quite a number of trees shown in the photo appeared to be dug out from the wilderness rather than from nursery grown. If the attitude of using Young Trees for landscape not respected, more Mature Trees in the forest will be destroyed this way for their so-called 'Instant Effect'. Soon there will be holes here & there in their forest. Is this the way they want it ?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Tree Vandalism in Aberdeen Street
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
Attached newspaper cutting shows a case of Tree Vandalism which would cause tree damage similar to that on a construction site.
An old Ficus in Aberdeen Street was believed to have a Spirit living in it & was turned into an altar with red paint (for good luck?) & incense burning to please the High Command inside day in day out. The incident obviously happened due to ignorance & if the tree really has Spirit in it, logic would advise that the 'House of God' would not like to be smoked & burnt to death by its worshippers day after day. It just does not make sense.
This obvious case of Tree Vandalism has caused several Govt Depts to spend resources & to take action to see into it. In a way, the scheduled programs of the Depts may have been disrupted in order to entertain this public complaint. Other more constructive work to serve & build our society may be postponed so that this highlighted incident can be handled. Then who would lose out in the end? Would it not be us? And it is for what?
A tree functions on its own like the running of a Govt. A tree would make its income by Photosynthesis (taxation), & then use it for Growth (construction), Defense (security), Maintenance (social services) & Storage (finance). If a particular event would require the tree to spend extra effort to focus on something, e.g. a pest outbreak, the tree would then need to divert resources from the other development to fight a course. Then the other sectors of development would suffer.
The same case can be applied for this Tree Vandalism. Resources are now diverted to entertain the complaint, whereas the normal routines of the Depts may be disrupted. This Station would then ask who would be the ultimate victims of the event? And is it justified?
It appears that it is the public who should be educated with proper Arboriculture & Tree Care, not anybody else.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Procedures for proper Pruning work
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
Public outcry continued at the Topping event at Nam Cheong Estate & some even called it a 'Tree Butchery'. While the event was being condemned by the public, we the Arborist Professionals should understand how a Mature Tree Pruning should be properly carried out in a correct manner. Here is how such event is commonly conceived in advanced nations.
When a group of trees are considered to be growing out of proportion which would require some action, the management should first seek the advice of an Arborist, like a person consulting a doctor. Arborist is Tree Doctor. He/she would diagnose the problem & recommend treatment, which may including Pruning. A detailed Tree Inspection, & possibly a Risk Assessment if required, would be carried out usually with Tree Climbing for canopy inspection, & an Arborist Report with the Certified Arborist Cert. no. printed on for liability is required to be submitted to the authority for approval of the work. Remember the Arborist Profession is a legally sensitive one. Any Negligence can lead to Civil Action which is currently uncommon in other landscape professions in our territory.
When Pruning is chosen to be the option, the Arborist would design what type of pruning such as Cleaning, Thinning, Reduction, Raising or Vista is/are necessary. The Arborist should understand the differences of each of these options & the consequence of the choice. The Arborist should also design the pruning method & procedures. He/she then would either do it himself/herself usually with Tree Climbing, or supervise it if it is to be carried out by a contractor. Most landscape contractors in our territory would not understand how to prune trees to international standards at present & the Arborist should be in charge on site at all times to instruct & supervise the work, or even climb to demonstrate the work, since it will be his/her liability to do the job right.
When the pruning job is completed, another Arborist Report with comparison of the trees before & after, & reasons for the pruning action should be stated out for liabilities, if the case would be further pursued by others in future.
It can now be seen that proper pruning is not everyone's cup of tea. The public & media are watching all the time. Mistakes can lead to outcry & explanation must be ready on hand to justify the action. This is the cross any Practising Arborist has to bear.
Therefore, the Arborist Profession is a unique one of its own. It requires knowledge, experience & practical skills to handle & solve realistic problems. Credentials only justify the standard, not the work.
This is what makes the Arborist Profession such a necessity in western nations.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Dear Station Members,
Public outcry continued at the Topping event at Nam Cheong Estate & some even called it a 'Tree Butchery'. While the event was being condemned by the public, we the Arborist Professionals should understand how a Mature Tree Pruning should be properly carried out in a correct manner. Here is how such event is commonly conceived in advanced nations.
When a group of trees are considered to be growing out of proportion which would require some action, the management should first seek the advice of an Arborist, like a person consulting a doctor. Arborist is Tree Doctor. He/she would diagnose the problem & recommend treatment, which may including Pruning. A detailed Tree Inspection, & possibly a Risk Assessment if required, would be carried out usually with Tree Climbing for canopy inspection, & an Arborist Report with the Certified Arborist Cert. no. printed on for liability is required to be submitted to the authority for approval of the work. Remember the Arborist Profession is a legally sensitive one. Any Negligence can lead to Civil Action which is currently uncommon in other landscape professions in our territory.
When Pruning is chosen to be the option, the Arborist would design what type of pruning such as Cleaning, Thinning, Reduction, Raising or Vista is/are necessary. The Arborist should understand the differences of each of these options & the consequence of the choice. The Arborist should also design the pruning method & procedures. He/she then would either do it himself/herself usually with Tree Climbing, or supervise it if it is to be carried out by a contractor. Most landscape contractors in our territory would not understand how to prune trees to international standards at present & the Arborist should be in charge on site at all times to instruct & supervise the work, or even climb to demonstrate the work, since it will be his/her liability to do the job right.
When the pruning job is completed, another Arborist Report with comparison of the trees before & after, & reasons for the pruning action should be stated out for liabilities, if the case would be further pursued by others in future.
It can now be seen that proper pruning is not everyone's cup of tea. The public & media are watching all the time. Mistakes can lead to outcry & explanation must be ready on hand to justify the action. This is the cross any Practising Arborist has to bear.
Therefore, the Arborist Profession is a unique one of its own. It requires knowledge, experience & practical skills to handle & solve realistic problems. Credentials only justify the standard, not the work.
This is what makes the Arborist Profession such a necessity in western nations.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Topping at Nam Cheong Estate
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
The attached newspaper cutting shows yet another case of Topping at Nam Cheong Estate in Shum Shui Po which is receiving outcry from Tree Lovers all over HK. DLO claimed that they would investigate into the incident to see any Tree Interference has been committed with possible breach of Lease Contract.
It is remembered by this Station that not long ago, One Beacon Hill in Kowloon Tong was fined HK$32 million for Tree Interference & the Tree Disturbance case in Leung King Estate appears to be still an unfinished business between the management & DLO up to now. Both incidents have been widely publicised by the media & practically most HK citizens would have heard of the cases one way or another. Would such lessons not be heavy enough to deter further Topping which has been proven all around the Arborist world to be detrimental to our trees? Then why should the public still carry on doing it? Is there something gone wrong with our education ??
As this Station feels most of the time in delivering proper tree care, our Govt Depts appear to be the biggest supporter to protect & preserve our trees, despite what some groups & media would consider. ISA HK/China up to this moment, in spite of our offer to provide free seminars by our CA Family to the public in open broadcast & many invitations sent to various groups, no response has been obtained to invite us for any delivery. On the other hand, various Govt Depts have given this Station opportunities to provide seminars on proper tree care, as well as inviting Arborists to carry out Tree Inspection & Risk Assessment in their jobs. If ISA HK/China is to be Fact-Finding & Truth-Telling as stated in our principles, such actions could only lead us to believe that our Govt is much more positive in offering to protect & preserve our trees rather than what is publicly claimed.
It is funny that Nam Cheong Estate would commit apparent Topping in the current heat of Tree Protection & Preservation. This Station would be interested to learn of their technical explanation in carrying our such a mal-practice to damage those Mature Trees.
In the Arborist world, we say: ' Treatment without diagnosis is mal-practice.'
Did any Arborist inspect the site & provide an Arborist Report before the Topping ? If so, who ??
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
The ISA Mission - Through research, technology, and education, promote the professional practice of arboriculture and foster a greater public awareness of the benefits of trees. (http://www.isa-arbor.com/ )
Thursday, January 3, 2008
ISA HK/China --- Fung Kai Tree Felling with Proper Rigging
Dear Station Members,
TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) Members were invited on 29.12.07 to fell a hazard rated Delonix regia which straddled over the Snack Shop of Fung Kai School where students would queue for food & beverages during breaks. This tree had mushrooms growing all over the base during the initial Tree Inspection & then a detailed Risk Assessment.
The difficulty with felling this tree is that there were balustrades on one side & a canopy cover on the other side directly under the tree. Ordinary Drop Cut can not be used to remove the tree parts. No property damage could be anticipated in the devised operation. TCHK Members had thus devised a proper Rigging plan which was not commonly used in HK to fell the tree piece by piece with ropes, slings & pulleys. Full description of the operation with narration in Chinese is given in TCHK Blog mentioned above.
Every step of the operation had been required to follow international practice in equipment, planning & procedures, with no wood piece simply dropped to damage anything. The work started at 9am in the morning & went on to 8.30pm in the dark when the last piece was finally removed with Pulley Blocks & ropes. Several chainsaws of various sizes were deployed & the site was a spectacular scene of sawdust flying & thundering noise. Two Tree Climbers & several Groundsmen took turn to carry out the operation with luncheon boxes only for lunch. It had been proven that our local Tree Climbers would possess enough skill to carry out difficult operation of this kind & very rarely the public would see work of this kind to be carried out in private premises in our territory. Therefore, it is reported here to tell our Station Members that we can be proud of our local Tree Climbers & to celebrate the level of skills HK would now possess.
Tree Climbing requires not only stamina but also skills & experience. There is no instant method to train a skilled Tree Climber known around the world. Time & constant practice with endurance are the key, which why makes Tree Climbers such a special breed of their own. With our apparently advantageous strength to body weight ratio, ISA HK/China & TCHK do not see why our Chinese blood can not make an expert Climber to enter the world. The Fung Kai boys & girls have proven this fact & they will be entering the Australian Tree Climbing Competition in May in Brisbane to demonstrate themselves. HK is ready to show the world indeed.
TCHK will begin to provide training for Tree Climbing in various levels once its foundation can be settled step by step. TCHK will design its training programs to fit in with our local condition, taking into account of the needs of the HK public in reality with the physical condition of our people. TCHK aims to eventually provide the best training in HK & to follow the ISA Certification requirement of CTW. The first set of training programs is anticipated to be delivered by March this year. For anyone interested, please stay in touch with TCHK Blog given above.
By the way, TCHK Blog in Chinese appears to be more popular than our Station Blog in English, with over 1000 browsings in less than just two months. Details of this are given in the statistic count in the Blog.
HK will be proud to join the world to climb gradually.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) Members were invited on 29.12.07 to fell a hazard rated Delonix regia which straddled over the Snack Shop of Fung Kai School where students would queue for food & beverages during breaks. This tree had mushrooms growing all over the base during the initial Tree Inspection & then a detailed Risk Assessment.
The difficulty with felling this tree is that there were balustrades on one side & a canopy cover on the other side directly under the tree. Ordinary Drop Cut can not be used to remove the tree parts. No property damage could be anticipated in the devised operation. TCHK Members had thus devised a proper Rigging plan which was not commonly used in HK to fell the tree piece by piece with ropes, slings & pulleys. Full description of the operation with narration in Chinese is given in TCHK Blog mentioned above.
Every step of the operation had been required to follow international practice in equipment, planning & procedures, with no wood piece simply dropped to damage anything. The work started at 9am in the morning & went on to 8.30pm in the dark when the last piece was finally removed with Pulley Blocks & ropes. Several chainsaws of various sizes were deployed & the site was a spectacular scene of sawdust flying & thundering noise. Two Tree Climbers & several Groundsmen took turn to carry out the operation with luncheon boxes only for lunch. It had been proven that our local Tree Climbers would possess enough skill to carry out difficult operation of this kind & very rarely the public would see work of this kind to be carried out in private premises in our territory. Therefore, it is reported here to tell our Station Members that we can be proud of our local Tree Climbers & to celebrate the level of skills HK would now possess.
Tree Climbing requires not only stamina but also skills & experience. There is no instant method to train a skilled Tree Climber known around the world. Time & constant practice with endurance are the key, which why makes Tree Climbers such a special breed of their own. With our apparently advantageous strength to body weight ratio, ISA HK/China & TCHK do not see why our Chinese blood can not make an expert Climber to enter the world. The Fung Kai boys & girls have proven this fact & they will be entering the Australian Tree Climbing Competition in May in Brisbane to demonstrate themselves. HK is ready to show the world indeed.
TCHK will begin to provide training for Tree Climbing in various levels once its foundation can be settled step by step. TCHK will design its training programs to fit in with our local condition, taking into account of the needs of the HK public in reality with the physical condition of our people. TCHK aims to eventually provide the best training in HK & to follow the ISA Certification requirement of CTW. The first set of training programs is anticipated to be delivered by March this year. For anyone interested, please stay in touch with TCHK Blog given above.
By the way, TCHK Blog in Chinese appears to be more popular than our Station Blog in English, with over 1000 browsings in less than just two months. Details of this are given in the statistic count in the Blog.
HK will be proud to join the world to climb gradually.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Monday, December 31, 2007
ISA HK/China --- Chinese translation of ISA Arboriculture for banner use
Dear Station Members,
Upon the return from the 2007 North District Flower Show & the CAHK Tree Lovers Day this month, it has been proven that selling ISA Arboriculture in English did not work for the public, especially with our communication in international English where most local visitors simply could not understand.
Therefore this Station, with the kind help of TCHK staff, has taken time during the Christmas holidays to translate some of essential information on :
1. What is arboriculture
2. What is the work of a Certified Arborist
3. The scope of work of a Certified Arborist
4. The scope of work of a Certified Tree Worker (Climber Specialist)
5. Common saying in Arboriculture
6. Introduction of TCHK
as per attached. This information will also be used to produce banners & back-drops for future exhibitions so that the local public can understand about ISA & our Station, as well as the benefits of employing CA & CTW.
This Station also sees the Chinese translation as an opportunity for anyone who wishes to reproduce it in any form for publication in their own department or association, e.g. the Teachers Association or the Social Workers Association, etc. to promote understanding of arboriculture & the benefits of trees. Please kindly note this Station has given up copyright for any of our published information & anyone is free to reproduce or modify them for their own dissemination even in their own names, for the sake of developing proper tree care in our region.
Please note some of the Chinese translation of the arboricultural terms are provisional, since the ISA Glossary translation is still undergoing construction at TCHK so far. We hope to make available the Glossary translation within January for public discussion in our Station, & then use them for future exams & teaching in our region.
Thank you all for your kind help to disseminate the attached information. Your contribution will be remembered for developing modern arboriculture to help bring a better quality of living in our region, one tree at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
註冊樹藝師 的工作是什麼？
簡單來說，註冊樹藝師的兩大功能就是作為「樹木醫生」Tree Doctor 和 「樹木偵探」Tree Detective。
人病了，會去找醫生診斷。樹木生長不良，也要去找「樹木醫生」去作出診斷，而並非自我憑空判斷。樹木的診斷工作通常包括檢查測樹木在設計上有否出現錯誤？是否選料妥當？是否栽種在合適深度？是否日常護理正常？是否受到環境因素 ( Abiotic Stress ) 或生理因素 (Biotic Stress) 影響？會否對週邊人命財產構成危險 ( Risk Assessment )？而應該作出如何處理 ( Treatment ) ？
如果不對生病或存在風險的樹木作出處理，此樹可能會突然斷枝或全棵倒塌，對週邊的人命財產會造成傷亡破壞。此時，受害者 ( Victims ) 可以聘請合資格及有經驗的註冊樹藝師作為「樹木偵探」去對整個事故作出深入調查，按照國際指引而作出判斷，寫出「樹藝師報告」(Arborist Report) ，從而追究責任。
註冊樹藝師亦可在法庭上作為「技術証人」Expert Witness去指証事故起因及厘定責任，為事故找尋事實 ( Fact Finding ) 和道出真相 ( Truth Telling )。
中國地區 註冊樹藝師 的工作範圍
1. 參與樹木在園林綠化上的設計 ( Tree Design )。
2. 負責對合乎國際規格樹木的選料 ( Nursery Stocks Selection )。
3. 在工地上，對樹木種植或移植作出評估，設計及施工 ( Tree Planting & Transplanting )。
4. 管理樹木的日常護養 ( Tree Maintenance )，包括結構性修剪 ( Structural Pruning )。
5. 對年長樹木的定期檢查 ( Regular Tree Inspection ) 。
6. 對古老，高大或受傷有病的樹木作出風險評估 ( Tree Risk Assessment ) 。
7. 在法律爭議上提供 “樹藝師報告” ( Arborist Report )去厘定責任及作為控辨任何一方的 “技術証人” ( Expert Witness )。
8. 提供樹藝的資訊 、教育及訓練給任何機構或團體。
中國地區 註冊攀樹師 的工作範圍
1. 負責設計及執行所有樹上工作，包括攀爬，修剪，流纜，固定，移除高大樹木，野外觀察，拆除蜂、蟻巢及拯救樹上動物等等。
2. 負責操作機械平台，吊重，各式鏈鋸及樹上工作器材。
3. 負責教育及訓練初級攀爬人員，其中包括 “康樂攀爬” 和 “職業攀爬”。
ISA HK/CHINA 對本會的 註冊樹藝師 及 註冊攀樹師 要求擁有 “ 誠信，專業和參與社會，並抱有找尋事實及道出真理的專業態度 ”。( Integrity, Professionalism & Participation into society with an attitude of Fact-Finding & Truth-Telling ).
樹藝名言
1. 所謂 “美麗” 或”好看”的樹木在國際上並沒有絕對鑑驗標準，但樹木的 “結構” 和 “健康” 則有。
2. 如果一棵樹在設計，選料，護養，修剪，定期檢查或風險評估當中犯錯，則此樹最終不會成為社會資產，反會成為公眾包袱。
3. 不去作出專業 “診斷” 的樹木 “處理” (例如修剪) 是一種魯莽行為。
4. 在任何的樹木設計上，最終會由大自然去決定成敗，而並非設計人員。
5. 一棵胡亂 “處理” 的大樹最終會變成一個計時炸彈。
6. 樹藝師 就是 “樹木醫生” 和 “樹木偵探”。
Sammy Au 27.12.007
攀爬一族
「攀爬一族」是由一群本地熱愛攀樹活動的ISA教官及考牌官發起組成，族員包括政府及私營機構的職業攀爬人員，民間業餘愛好者及教育機構的專業攀樹隊。「攀爬一族」是目前全港最大及代表性最廣的攀樹活動機構。
「攀爬一族」 的活動包括安全攀樹、樹藝知識和器械操作的訓練及考核，亦經常組團參與海外的攀樹活動和比賽。
無論是因工作需要的「職業攀爬」或業餘興趣的「康樂攀爬」，攀樹運動是一種寧神健體，增強斗志，嚴求紀律和愛樹保育的優質運動項目，非常值得推廣。當今社會人類用腦太多，運動太少，攀樹活動可令參与者重歸大自然，注重保育和舒展筋骨。
攀樹活動在西方國家經已流行數十年，至今全球已有數十萬人參于過此項活動，而人數正在不斷增加。在鄰邦日本和台灣，兩地已發展攀樹活動達十年之久，亦已發展到「醫療攀爬」，專門為身體有缺陷及精神受創傷的病人幫助其回復自信，詳情請溜覽http://www.treeclimbing.jp/ 。
攀樹活動與攀石運動其實並不完全相同 。攀石運動主靠手腳攀登，而攀樹活動則主要依繩索攀登，兩者性質並不全同。基於迎合樹上工作的需要，攀樹器材的安全要求往往比攀石運動高出數倍，攀爬紀律也較為嚴格，目的是為了令意外發生率減至零。
從西方國家經驗指出，攀樹活動是適合任何年齡和身體狀況的人參于。只要在接受適當訓練後，由6歲以上至87歲的人仕都可以攀樹到一定高度，而學歷背景並不成為限制。目前凡有興趣學習攀樹的專業或業餘愛好者，均可登入「攀爬一族」網址http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk 內找尋「入族申請表」填回加入，或電郵至 egc@netvigator.com 查詢。
現時入族費用全免，歡迎任何人仕加入。
Sammy Au 27.12.2007
Upon the return from the 2007 North District Flower Show & the CAHK Tree Lovers Day this month, it has been proven that selling ISA Arboriculture in English did not work for the public, especially with our communication in international English where most local visitors simply could not understand.
Therefore this Station, with the kind help of TCHK staff, has taken time during the Christmas holidays to translate some of essential information on :
1. What is arboriculture
2. What is the work of a Certified Arborist
3. The scope of work of a Certified Arborist
4. The scope of work of a Certified Tree Worker (Climber Specialist)
5. Common saying in Arboriculture
6. Introduction of TCHK
as per attached. This information will also be used to produce banners & back-drops for future exhibitions so that the local public can understand about ISA & our Station, as well as the benefits of employing CA & CTW.
This Station also sees the Chinese translation as an opportunity for anyone who wishes to reproduce it in any form for publication in their own department or association, e.g. the Teachers Association or the Social Workers Association, etc. to promote understanding of arboriculture & the benefits of trees. Please kindly note this Station has given up copyright for any of our published information & anyone is free to reproduce or modify them for their own dissemination even in their own names, for the sake of developing proper tree care in our region.
Please note some of the Chinese translation of the arboricultural terms are provisional, since the ISA Glossary translation is still undergoing construction at TCHK so far. We hope to make available the Glossary translation within January for public discussion in our Station, & then use them for future exams & teaching in our region.
Thank you all for your kind help to disseminate the attached information. Your contribution will be remembered for developing modern arboriculture to help bring a better quality of living in our region, one tree at a time.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
樹藝是什麼？
樹藝 ( Arboriculture )是一門專科研究樹木在綠化功能上有關設計，選料，種植(包括移植)，護養，修剪，定期檢查，風險評估，工地保護和法律資詢的一個專業。
國際樹木學會 ( International Society of Arboriculture，簡稱 ISA , http://www.isa-arbor.com/ )是目前全球最大及最古老的樹藝研究機構，于1924年成立。
截至2008年1月為止，ISA 在全球 57個國家均有會員分佈，合共擁有2萬名以上的註冊樹藝師 ( Certified Arborist ) 及6百名以上的 註冊攀樹師 ( Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist )，在各個綠化領域作出貢獻。
ISA HK/CHINA ( http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ ) 是ISA 位于中國地區的唯一分會，管理住ISA 在香港、澳門、台灣及中國大陸的會務，其中包括樹藝訓練，專業考試，樹木攀爬，本地及海外會議，外訪交流及公眾資訊等等業務。
ISA HK/CHINA 屬下的「攀爬一族」( http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk. ) 是負責訓練，管理及考核本地的攀樹人員，其中包括職業攀爬及康樂攀爬，並經常舉辦活動及參加國際比賽。
ISA HK/CHINA 只用國際水平英語溝通，而「攀爬一族」則只用香港中文方言溝通，目前兩個組織均是免費加入，不設年齡，學歷，資格或任何限制，歡迎任何有興趣人士參與，詳情請溜覽以上兩個網址或電郵至 egc@netvigator.com查詢。
樹藝 ( Arboriculture )是一門專科研究樹木在綠化功能上有關設計，選料，種植(包括移植)，護養，修剪，定期檢查，風險評估，工地保護和法律資詢的一個專業。
國際樹木學會 ( International Society of Arboriculture，簡稱 ISA , http://www.isa-arbor.com/ )是目前全球最大及最古老的樹藝研究機構，于1924年成立。
截至2008年1月為止，ISA 在全球 57個國家均有會員分佈，合共擁有2萬名以上的註冊樹藝師 ( Certified Arborist ) 及6百名以上的 註冊攀樹師 ( Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist )，在各個綠化領域作出貢獻。
ISA HK/CHINA ( http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ ) 是ISA 位于中國地區的唯一分會，管理住ISA 在香港、澳門、台灣及中國大陸的會務，其中包括樹藝訓練，專業考試，樹木攀爬，本地及海外會議，外訪交流及公眾資訊等等業務。
ISA HK/CHINA 屬下的「攀爬一族」( http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk. ) 是負責訓練，管理及考核本地的攀樹人員，其中包括職業攀爬及康樂攀爬，並經常舉辦活動及參加國際比賽。
ISA HK/CHINA 只用國際水平英語溝通，而「攀爬一族」則只用香港中文方言溝通，目前兩個組織均是免費加入，不設年齡，學歷，資格或任何限制，歡迎任何有興趣人士參與，詳情請溜覽以上兩個網址或電郵至 egc@netvigator.com查詢。
註冊樹藝師 的工作是什麼？
簡單來說，註冊樹藝師的兩大功能就是作為「樹木醫生」Tree Doctor 和 「樹木偵探」Tree Detective。
人病了，會去找醫生診斷。樹木生長不良，也要去找「樹木醫生」去作出診斷，而並非自我憑空判斷。樹木的診斷工作通常包括檢查測樹木在設計上有否出現錯誤？是否選料妥當？是否栽種在合適深度？是否日常護理正常？是否受到環境因素 ( Abiotic Stress ) 或生理因素 (Biotic Stress) 影響？會否對週邊人命財產構成危險 ( Risk Assessment )？而應該作出如何處理 ( Treatment ) ？
如果不對生病或存在風險的樹木作出處理，此樹可能會突然斷枝或全棵倒塌，對週邊的人命財產會造成傷亡破壞。此時，受害者 ( Victims ) 可以聘請合資格及有經驗的註冊樹藝師作為「樹木偵探」去對整個事故作出深入調查，按照國際指引而作出判斷，寫出「樹藝師報告」(Arborist Report) ，從而追究責任。
註冊樹藝師亦可在法庭上作為「技術証人」Expert Witness去指証事故起因及厘定責任，為事故找尋事實 ( Fact Finding ) 和道出真相 ( Truth Telling )。
中國地區 註冊樹藝師 的工作範圍
1. 參與樹木在園林綠化上的設計 ( Tree Design )。
2. 負責對合乎國際規格樹木的選料 ( Nursery Stocks Selection )。
3. 在工地上，對樹木種植或移植作出評估，設計及施工 ( Tree Planting & Transplanting )。
4. 管理樹木的日常護養 ( Tree Maintenance )，包括結構性修剪 ( Structural Pruning )。
5. 對年長樹木的定期檢查 ( Regular Tree Inspection ) 。
6. 對古老，高大或受傷有病的樹木作出風險評估 ( Tree Risk Assessment ) 。
7. 在法律爭議上提供 “樹藝師報告” ( Arborist Report )去厘定責任及作為控辨任何一方的 “技術証人” ( Expert Witness )。
8. 提供樹藝的資訊 、教育及訓練給任何機構或團體。
中國地區 註冊攀樹師 的工作範圍
1. 負責設計及執行所有樹上工作，包括攀爬，修剪，流纜，固定，移除高大樹木，野外觀察，拆除蜂、蟻巢及拯救樹上動物等等。
2. 負責操作機械平台，吊重，各式鏈鋸及樹上工作器材。
3. 負責教育及訓練初級攀爬人員，其中包括 “康樂攀爬” 和 “職業攀爬”。
ISA HK/CHINA 對本會的 註冊樹藝師 及 註冊攀樹師 要求擁有 “ 誠信，專業和參與社會，並抱有找尋事實及道出真理的專業態度 ”。( Integrity, Professionalism & Participation into society with an attitude of Fact-Finding & Truth-Telling ).
樹藝名言
1. 所謂 “美麗” 或”好看”的樹木在國際上並沒有絕對鑑驗標準，但樹木的 “結構” 和 “健康” 則有。
2. 如果一棵樹在設計，選料，護養，修剪，定期檢查或風險評估當中犯錯，則此樹最終不會成為社會資產，反會成為公眾包袱。
3. 不去作出專業 “診斷” 的樹木 “處理” (例如修剪) 是一種魯莽行為。
4. 在任何的樹木設計上，最終會由大自然去決定成敗，而並非設計人員。
5. 一棵胡亂 “處理” 的大樹最終會變成一個計時炸彈。
6. 樹藝師 就是 “樹木醫生” 和 “樹木偵探”。
Sammy Au 27.12.007
攀爬一族
「攀爬一族」是由一群本地熱愛攀樹活動的ISA教官及考牌官發起組成，族員包括政府及私營機構的職業攀爬人員，民間業餘愛好者及教育機構的專業攀樹隊。「攀爬一族」是目前全港最大及代表性最廣的攀樹活動機構。
「攀爬一族」 的活動包括安全攀樹、樹藝知識和器械操作的訓練及考核，亦經常組團參與海外的攀樹活動和比賽。
無論是因工作需要的「職業攀爬」或業餘興趣的「康樂攀爬」，攀樹運動是一種寧神健體，增強斗志，嚴求紀律和愛樹保育的優質運動項目，非常值得推廣。當今社會人類用腦太多，運動太少，攀樹活動可令參与者重歸大自然，注重保育和舒展筋骨。
攀樹活動在西方國家經已流行數十年，至今全球已有數十萬人參于過此項活動，而人數正在不斷增加。在鄰邦日本和台灣，兩地已發展攀樹活動達十年之久，亦已發展到「醫療攀爬」，專門為身體有缺陷及精神受創傷的病人幫助其回復自信，詳情請溜覽http://www.treeclimbing.jp/ 。
攀樹活動與攀石運動其實並不完全相同 。攀石運動主靠手腳攀登，而攀樹活動則主要依繩索攀登，兩者性質並不全同。基於迎合樹上工作的需要，攀樹器材的安全要求往往比攀石運動高出數倍，攀爬紀律也較為嚴格，目的是為了令意外發生率減至零。
從西方國家經驗指出，攀樹活動是適合任何年齡和身體狀況的人參于。只要在接受適當訓練後，由6歲以上至87歲的人仕都可以攀樹到一定高度，而學歷背景並不成為限制。目前凡有興趣學習攀樹的專業或業餘愛好者，均可登入「攀爬一族」網址http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk 內找尋「入族申請表」填回加入，或電郵至 egc@netvigator.com 查詢。
現時入族費用全免，歡迎任何人仕加入。
Sammy Au 27.12.2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
ISA HK/China --- CUGE training programs in 2008
Dear Station Members,
Below is the latest greenery training programs provided by CUGE of Singapore for your interesting study. Please kindly take a view to decide which one is to your requirement & then apply directly to CUGE for reservation.
For our 84 no. of Certified Arborists in the HK/China Region, we all need to collect 30 CEU within 3 years for the re-certification at ISA HQ for our credential. CUGE programs can supply such CEU for this purpose. As for others, CUGE offers quality training in the greenery field in various aspects to a standard not available in our public institutions locally. Please select & upgrade yourself if any of the programs is appropriate for you.
Please do not hesitate to contact CUGE directly, or through this Station, for any matter concerning the CUGE training.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
----- Original Message -----
From: yong fook chyi
To: egc@netvigator.com
Cc: 'Iqbal SANJIMAN' ; 'Juliana HO' ; 'Fook Chyi YONG'
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 9:18 PM
Subject: CUGE Training Programmes 2008
Dear Sammy,
I trust that you had a great X’MAS and Boxing Day.
We are pleased to attach the CUGE Training Calendar 2008 at http://www.cuge.com.sg/content/view/89/78/ and the CUGE Training Programmes registration in Jan and Feb 2008 http://www.cuge.com.sg/content/view/145/75/ for your perusal and onward transmission to your members, colleagues and friends.
Thanks for the support to CUGE so far. We look forward to greater collaborations with you and your team.
Cheers and we wish you a great and prosperous New Year 2008 ahead.
Fook Chyi
Below is the latest greenery training programs provided by CUGE of Singapore for your interesting study. Please kindly take a view to decide which one is to your requirement & then apply directly to CUGE for reservation.
For our 84 no. of Certified Arborists in the HK/China Region, we all need to collect 30 CEU within 3 years for the re-certification at ISA HQ for our credential. CUGE programs can supply such CEU for this purpose. As for others, CUGE offers quality training in the greenery field in various aspects to a standard not available in our public institutions locally. Please select & upgrade yourself if any of the programs is appropriate for you.
Please do not hesitate to contact CUGE directly, or through this Station, for any matter concerning the CUGE training.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
----- Original Message -----
From: yong fook chyi
To: egc@netvigator.com
Cc: 'Iqbal SANJIMAN' ; 'Juliana HO' ; 'Fook Chyi YONG'
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 9:18 PM
Subject: CUGE Training Programmes 2008
Dear Sammy,
I trust that you had a great X’MAS and Boxing Day.
We are pleased to attach the CUGE Training Calendar 2008 at http://www.cuge.com.sg/content/view/89/78/ and the CUGE Training Programmes registration in Jan and Feb 2008 http://www.cuge.com.sg/content/view/145/75/ for your perusal and onward transmission to your members, colleagues and friends.
Thanks for the support to CUGE so far. We look forward to greater collaborations with you and your team.
Cheers and we wish you a great and prosperous New Year 2008 ahead.
Fook Chyi
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
ISA HK/China --- Participation into the 2007 North District Flower Show
Dear All,
ISA HK/China & TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) will jointly participate into the 2007 North District Flower Show at Fanling Park, NT from Dec 22 to Dec 27 inclusive. Details of participation are attached for general reference.
ISA HK/China has participated into the North District Flower Show since 2005 & sizeable membership has been collected from public during the participation. This is the first time that TCHK is participating into such major public event & TCHK will keenly try to collect membership for its steady growth. TCHK has collected a membership of over 60 since its birth on 8 Nov 07 & the average age of membership in TCHK is below 30. TCHK has indeed attracted a different crowd willing to learn & enjoy tree climbing & activities on tree.
It is our regret that the North District Flower Show Committee did not arrange ISA HK/China nor TCHK for a tree climbing demonstration like last year which has overwhelming success. However, Equipment Display, Knots Station & Wood Samples Display will be on show to educate the public as well as to arouse membership entry. In an event like this where most visitors are local Chinese not speaking English & with a lot of students attending, TCHK may have an edge in obtaining membership since it is Chinese speaking. TCHK wants young men & women to join indeed.
If any Station Member would like to provide volunteer help at the Flower Show on any day, please kindly contact this Station for arrangement.
Looking ahead a little, ISA HK/China & TCHK are planning to participate into the biggest flower show in HK which is the HK Flower Show in Victoria Park next March. We anticipate to make an impact at this important event to contact the public for education on proper tree care & modern arboriculture. It's about time our Station to make an appearance in major event after all these years. We are still largely unknown in the public at large although we are successful in penetrating the professionals.
Any help or suggestion to get us in for a seminar in Chinese or a small display booth to show our websites at the HK Flower Show?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
ISA HK/China & TCHK (http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/treeclimbinghk) will jointly participate into the 2007 North District Flower Show at Fanling Park, NT from Dec 22 to Dec 27 inclusive. Details of participation are attached for general reference.
ISA HK/China has participated into the North District Flower Show since 2005 & sizeable membership has been collected from public during the participation. This is the first time that TCHK is participating into such major public event & TCHK will keenly try to collect membership for its steady growth. TCHK has collected a membership of over 60 since its birth on 8 Nov 07 & the average age of membership in TCHK is below 30. TCHK has indeed attracted a different crowd willing to learn & enjoy tree climbing & activities on tree.
It is our regret that the North District Flower Show Committee did not arrange ISA HK/China nor TCHK for a tree climbing demonstration like last year which has overwhelming success. However, Equipment Display, Knots Station & Wood Samples Display will be on show to educate the public as well as to arouse membership entry. In an event like this where most visitors are local Chinese not speaking English & with a lot of students attending, TCHK may have an edge in obtaining membership since it is Chinese speaking. TCHK wants young men & women to join indeed.
If any Station Member would like to provide volunteer help at the Flower Show on any day, please kindly contact this Station for arrangement.
Looking ahead a little, ISA HK/China & TCHK are planning to participate into the biggest flower show in HK which is the HK Flower Show in Victoria Park next March. We anticipate to make an impact at this important event to contact the public for education on proper tree care & modern arboriculture. It's about time our Station to make an appearance in major event after all these years. We are still largely unknown in the public at large although we are successful in penetrating the professionals.
Any help or suggestion to get us in for a seminar in Chinese or a small display booth to show our websites at the HK Flower Show?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Sunday, December 16, 2007
ISA HK/China --- CITA Training in Tree Work for Management Companies
Dear Station Members,
The HK Govt is once again showing positive support in developing proper tree care in our territory by arranging an Introductory Training for Tree Work for Management Companies at CITA as per the attached details. This is another effort in improving the local knowledge in handling urban trees after the Tree Work Supervision Course which is mandatory for the construction staff in accordance with ETWB TC 3/2006 & in conferring the status of Independent Tree Specialist & Competent Person for Arborists to take part in Govt landscape contracts & in LAO PN 7/2007. Who can say now that our Govt is not taking step to protect & preserve our trees?
The current landscape system in HK appears to weigh the major liability of the landscape construction to end at the Defects Liability Period (DLP) which would count usually in less than 24 months from the date of Practical Completion of the works. Most installed trees would not die during this short period of time, in considering the life span of most trees to last over a decade to show any Spiral of Decline. After DLP, the site is usually handed over to the management company for on-going maintenance, be it Govt or private. Over time, any inappropriate design, improper nursery stocks selection &/or incorrect installation will stress the in-situ trees further. Conflict between trees & construction may gradually surface. If further improper tree care is to be given to the suffered trees, the trees would go into further decline & may eventually fail. When tree fails, it can kill or cause major damage to properties below as shown by many examples in the past.
We need to remember that it is always Mother Nature makes the rules, not us. If a tree is improperly designed, selected, installed, maintained & inspected, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset.
Although Arborists do not usually get involved with tree design, selection & installation in our territory at present in accordance with the current landscape practice, we can still provide support in maintenance, inspection & risk management to the management company after DLP. ISA HK/China Arborists are required to maintain Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling. We can advise the management company on the best solution to take care of their existing trees, from proper maintenance, correct pruning to possible removal if no other alternative is deemed appropriate. Arborists can help our management companies to manage their trees indeed.
Management companies in HK are usually over-burdened with daily chores & they are rarely trained with tree care in any details. The CITA training now can provide them an insight to learn of the support of the local Arborists to help them to protect & preserve their trees. This will generate a better quality of living to the benefit of all at the end.
It would be a big help to the management companies if our Station Blog of http://isahkchina.blogspot.com can be given to them at the CITA training so that they would know where to find Arborists in HK as well as keeping in touch with our local tree affairs. ISA HK/China Station liaises the 84 Certified Arborists in our region & handles all ISA exams, training & other activities relating to proper tree care in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. Our Station is the right place for them to approach.
It is our thanks to the HK Govt as well as to our Civil Servants (Arborists or not) for showing their positive support to take another step to protect & preserve our precious trees. ISA HK/China will work diligently with our Govt to develop proper tree care in our community for a better way of living, one tree at a time.
Our thanks & appreciation to the HKSAR Govt indeed.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Introductory Course on Tree Works for Management Staff of Contractors and Property Management Companies Organized by Construction Industry Training Authority
The Hong Kong Government is striving to uplift the quality of our living environment through active planting, proper maintenance and preservation of trees together with other vegetation.
To enhance the quality of our workforce and provide the construction industry with updated knowledge on tree works, a new introductory course will be launched by the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) and supported by the Development Bureau for the management staff of contractors, property management companies, etc in January 2008.
Course Content:
1. Roles and responsibilities of managers on tree issues
2. General arboricultural knowledge
3. Value of arborists and the way to find them
4. Application procedure for tree removal (felling or transplanting)
5. Tree preservation clause for lease control
Target Participants :
Management staff of contractors, property management companies, etc.
Class Schedule :
This is a two-hour lecture course. Class will be held on request. Class capacity is 25.
Venue :
Kowloon Bay Training Center, Construction Industry Training Authority
No. 44 Tai Yip Street,
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Tuition Fee :
HK$140 per participant
Medium of Instruction :
Cantonese
Certificate :
An Attendance Certificate will be given to each participant.
Admission :
Enrolment can be on individual or on company basis. Interested parties may contact CITA - Management Training and Trade Testing Centre at 2903 0633 or 2903 0304 (fax: 2814 1674)
Priority will be given to company registration. Individuals or staff of different companies may be grouped together to form a class.
The HK Govt is once again showing positive support in developing proper tree care in our territory by arranging an Introductory Training for Tree Work for Management Companies at CITA as per the attached details. This is another effort in improving the local knowledge in handling urban trees after the Tree Work Supervision Course which is mandatory for the construction staff in accordance with ETWB TC 3/2006 & in conferring the status of Independent Tree Specialist & Competent Person for Arborists to take part in Govt landscape contracts & in LAO PN 7/2007. Who can say now that our Govt is not taking step to protect & preserve our trees?
The current landscape system in HK appears to weigh the major liability of the landscape construction to end at the Defects Liability Period (DLP) which would count usually in less than 24 months from the date of Practical Completion of the works. Most installed trees would not die during this short period of time, in considering the life span of most trees to last over a decade to show any Spiral of Decline. After DLP, the site is usually handed over to the management company for on-going maintenance, be it Govt or private. Over time, any inappropriate design, improper nursery stocks selection &/or incorrect installation will stress the in-situ trees further. Conflict between trees & construction may gradually surface. If further improper tree care is to be given to the suffered trees, the trees would go into further decline & may eventually fail. When tree fails, it can kill or cause major damage to properties below as shown by many examples in the past.
We need to remember that it is always Mother Nature makes the rules, not us. If a tree is improperly designed, selected, installed, maintained & inspected, it is likely to become a liability rather than an asset.
Although Arborists do not usually get involved with tree design, selection & installation in our territory at present in accordance with the current landscape practice, we can still provide support in maintenance, inspection & risk management to the management company after DLP. ISA HK/China Arborists are required to maintain Integrity, Professionalism & Participation with an attitude of fact-finding & truth-telling. We can advise the management company on the best solution to take care of their existing trees, from proper maintenance, correct pruning to possible removal if no other alternative is deemed appropriate. Arborists can help our management companies to manage their trees indeed.
Management companies in HK are usually over-burdened with daily chores & they are rarely trained with tree care in any details. The CITA training now can provide them an insight to learn of the support of the local Arborists to help them to protect & preserve their trees. This will generate a better quality of living to the benefit of all at the end.
It would be a big help to the management companies if our Station Blog of http://isahkchina.blogspot.com can be given to them at the CITA training so that they would know where to find Arborists in HK as well as keeping in touch with our local tree affairs. ISA HK/China Station liaises the 84 Certified Arborists in our region & handles all ISA exams, training & other activities relating to proper tree care in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. Our Station is the right place for them to approach.
It is our thanks to the HK Govt as well as to our Civil Servants (Arborists or not) for showing their positive support to take another step to protect & preserve our precious trees. ISA HK/China will work diligently with our Govt to develop proper tree care in our community for a better way of living, one tree at a time.
Our thanks & appreciation to the HKSAR Govt indeed.
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
Introductory Course on Tree Works for Management Staff of Contractors and Property Management Companies Organized by Construction Industry Training Authority
The Hong Kong Government is striving to uplift the quality of our living environment through active planting, proper maintenance and preservation of trees together with other vegetation.
To enhance the quality of our workforce and provide the construction industry with updated knowledge on tree works, a new introductory course will be launched by the Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) and supported by the Development Bureau for the management staff of contractors, property management companies, etc in January 2008.
Course Content:
1. Roles and responsibilities of managers on tree issues
2. General arboricultural knowledge
3. Value of arborists and the way to find them
4. Application procedure for tree removal (felling or transplanting)
5. Tree preservation clause for lease control
Target Participants :
Management staff of contractors, property management companies, etc.
Class Schedule :
This is a two-hour lecture course. Class will be held on request. Class capacity is 25.
Venue :
Kowloon Bay Training Center, Construction Industry Training Authority
No. 44 Tai Yip Street,
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Tuition Fee :
HK$140 per participant
Medium of Instruction :
Cantonese
Certificate :
An Attendance Certificate will be given to each participant.
Admission :
Enrolment can be on individual or on company basis. Interested parties may contact CITA - Management Training and Trade Testing Centre at 2903 0633 or 2903 0304 (fax: 2814 1674)
Priority will be given to company registration. Individuals or staff of different companies may be grouped together to form a class.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
ISA HK/China --- Tree Failure by suspected Erythrina Gall Wasps
*** Our weekly Station Mail is for the information of Station Members only, but Station Mail has given up copyright & can be freely circulated. For administrative reasons, comments from outsiders are usually not entertained & may be circulated within our system locally & overseas. Please note Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/ , although images are usually not attached due to size. ***
Dear Station Members,
This Station is broadcasting a message received & replied to a Station Member's enquiry a little while ago with all identity protected. This Station has the following comments on this received message:
1. Although the case resembled very much an attack of Erythrina Gall Wasp, it is still best to have a laboratory confirmation before an issued statement.
2. It is a public mis-conception that any tree having lots of green shining foliage would be a healthy & structurally sound tree. Many of our 'tree experts' & 'tree inspectors' in our territory would make the same mistake. If they are not convinced, they may wish to study any fallen tree or broken branches failed after storm or typhoon. Did these failed parts not bear 'green foliage of normal sizes' when fallen onto ground? Foliage is a temporary organ which actually comes & goes as part of tree physiology. Evergreen trees would also lose foliage from time to time & be replaced. Having shining foliage does not mean a tree is absolutely healthy or structurally sound. There are other factors to consider. Please refer to ETF specifications for a structurally sound tree in nursery requirement.
3. There was no storm happening when the branch failed, according to the report given by the author. Therefore, do not assume a tree or its parts would only fail in storm. It can fail by its own weight any time in calmness.
4. If the failed tree branch did hit someone or something below, the tree owner is likely to be held legally liable for personal or property damage in Civil Action. An Arborist can easily provide an Expert Witness to disclaim an Act of God, since the tree would likely be under care by somebody, being in a populated area.
If a tree is not designed, installed, maintained, inspected & assessed for risk properly, the tree is likely to become a liability rather than an asset. In any situation for a successful tree planting, it is always Mother Nature makes the rules, not us.
It is lucky that this time nobody is hurt by God's blessing. Would it happen like this the next time?
best regards,
Sammy Au
Station Manager
----- Original Message -----
From: xxx
To: Eurasian Garden Ltd.
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 10:58 PM
Subject: An incident of Erythrina variegata
Dear Sammy,
I would like to bring this issue for all CA's discussion.
This is an individual of Erythrina variegata located at Mui Wo. The incident happened at about 22:00Hr, 4/12/07. The broken branch fell off from the tree suddenly onto the basketball field without obvious symptom before. This branch almost hit on a group of boys playing basketball underneath (one of the boys is my colleague's son). It is merely a luck to have nobody hurt!
Closer inspection on the cut of the broken branch identifies some small grey holes in the wood. Before it fell off from the mother tree, all the leaves seemed healthy, at least not abnormal in this deciduous season.
Is it the fall solely the act of the insect Erythrina gall wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim)?
My colleague has consulted his friend and here is his comment (just for your reference only as I haven't got permission to circulate around although I suppose it is no big deal):
I would say that this Erythrina had been seriously damaged by Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim: Common names: Erythrina gall wasp now prevalent in Hong Kong, China & South Asia.
This erythrina gall wasp inserts its eggs into the young leaf and stem tissue of the tree. The larvae then develop within the plant tissue forming galls in leaflets and petioles.
This infestation causes curling of leaves, and petioles and shoots become swollen forming many thick-walled globular galls. After feeding within the galls, the larvae pupate, and the adult wasps cut exit holes through the plant gall material to emerge. Trees with large populations of wasps within the leaves show the symtoms of having reduced leaf growth, and the plant declines in health.
Severe gall wasp infestations may cause defoliation and the death of the tree.
In addidation to this there is a seed weevil “Eurybrachys tomentosa” that lives off the decaying wood tissue left by the Erythrina gall wasp.
I am the option that it is best not to plant any Erythrina species as they age the branches are prong to snap without any apparent reason.
As the cortex layer, the outer portion of the stems of these Erythrina trees, which are bounded on the outside by the epidermis and on the inside by the endodermis thus showing no outward sign of the damage lying beneath except for the bore holes which in many cases are eventually covered by the growth of the cortex layers.
From the photo it seems that the leaves are still on the branch and the quantity is not small as being infected...it's strange...as it is now winter, yellow leaves are also normal. It's bad that I haven't had time to visit the tree or I can get more information.
I think many of our CAs may have experiences on this species and may like to share. Just discuss and study together!
xxx
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