China Arborist Association

Thursday, September 13, 2012

ISA HK/China --- Absence of Sammy Au in HK from Sep 19 - 21, 2010 (分會長歐永森於 2012年9月19-21日不在香港)

尊敬的客戶和 ISA HK/China & TCHK 会员们:

本分会长欧永森, 有幸被邀在 2012年 9月 19 - 21日期间, 前往山东昌邑参加 "2012年中国园林苗木行业领袖年会', 作为嘉宾讲者和示范现代先进树艺技术, 详情请参阅附上资料。

由於本分会长将会在9月21日的下午6点左右才回抵香港机场, 当晚7点开始的 "ISA树木讲座第17节 --- 香港树木虫害', 将会由各副会长们代为准时进行, 直到本分会长赶抵为止。

如在上述时段需要寻找本分会长 (因公务、访问、考试、训练、海外联系、法律咨询、树木攀爬等等), 请以电邮、短讯、电话留言等方式敬作联系。本分会长的香港手机号 +852-90906719 将会漫游到山东，也可以随时保持通讯。

在离港期间, 本分会的周讯将会暂仃服务，敬请留意。

祝各位有一个欢乐愉快的中秋！

谨此致意!

国际树木学会中华地区分会会长暨创办人

欧永森

美洲顾问树艺师学会顾问树艺师号 RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-rac-in-asia.html)
\澳洲顾问树艺师学会顾问树艺师号 ACM 0412011 (www.iaca.org.au)
资深树艺师/注册攀树师号 HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-frist-bcma-in-asia.html)
执业树艺师号 IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-tree-news-1441-report.html)
专业调解及谈判学会注册调解员号 CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

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

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。大自然会决定成败。 ”

Dear Respected Clients & Station Members ,

Please kindly note that the Station Manager Sammy Au will be absent from HK from Sep 19 - 21, 2012 inclusive. He will be attending the 2012 China Green Leaders Forum in Shandong, China during this period. He will speak & demonstrate Modern Arboriculture to the 500+ invited VIP from all across China. Various Depts from the Beijing Central Govt will be attending this Forum to listen & study from him. This is a very important event to begin the Arborist Profession in China.

For anyone trying to catch the Station Manager for anything (business, media interview, exam, training, tree work, risk assessment, research, conferences, tree climbing, overseas liaison, legal advice, tree news, TCHK, etc.), please kindly contact him before his departure, or after his return. During his stay in China, he can be reached via his HK mobile no. of +852-90906719 which will be forwarded to China. Naturally the Station Manager can be reached by phone text, voice messages or email, & will reply once convenient. He will be a busy man in China.

Our weekly Station Mail will be suspended during the above period. A report of the Forum will come out shortly upon Sammy Au's return to HK .

Thank you for your kind attention & understanding.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com)
Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-first-rca-in-asia.html)
Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists Accredited Member no. ACM 0412011 (www.iaca.org.au)
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Certified Tree Worker no. HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-first-bcma-in-asia.html)
Independent Practicing Arborist no. IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-hk-tree-news-14410-report.html)
Society of Certified Mediators and Negotiators Certified Mediator no. CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

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

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

Thursday, September 6, 2012

ISA HK/China --- From Certification to Qualification

*** 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. Anyone can join ISA HK/China by providing their full name, age, organization, position, highest education, email & mobile no. to egc@netvigator.com . Joining is free & withdrawal is at an email notice. Station Membership is never publicly disclosed. Please note that Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. All our information is given for reference without liabilities. ***

Dear Station Members,

ISA Certification Department has recently published an article on Certification & Qualification. This article is now attached for our Station Members viewing with ISA Cert Dept's blessings. Please kindly take note on the subtle differences between Certification & Qualification, & its recognition internationally.

In our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China, only HK practices the British format of qualification due to our colonial history. When ISA HK/China brought the ISA Certifications such as Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Worker, Board Certified Master Arborist, etc. into HK in 2004, these credentials have been taken up as the same as Qualification, & are given in contract specifications & requirements.

Outside HK in the rest of our territory, the translation for Certification & Qualification into the Chinese language & its understanding, is practically the same. The Station Manager would hesitate at this early stage to advise our China brothers & sisters that, there is indeed a subtle difference between the two, as no ISA credential is recognized in the China tree care system so far. This may confuse them to further their hesitation. Therefore, this message is not translated into Mandarin in our Station Mail system, & is not circulated into China.

Taiwan & China are both trying to start up the Arborist Profession, with the Station Manager helping as their Chief Adviser so far. It has been going on smoothly, although not always reported in our Station Mail system. As far as we can say, Taiwan will begin the Arborist Profession hopefully by this December, & China may be within a year or two. The Station Manager is heavily involved with the design & politics of the Arborist Profession in both places. We are steering our course very carefully. To us, there is no point of announcing glory. We just want to see the right things done. When the profession can begin there, all will benefit.

In time, the advanced ideas & practices of the West can be gradually brought in to grow in our territory. HK is lucky to have most of our professionals understanding English, maybe not so in the rest of our territory. Less than 0.1% of our brothers & sisters in China can manage English to a level of most of the HK Certified Arborists. This is a reality in our place.

ISA HK/China will continue to develop & advance the Arborist Profession in our territory as our duty. With it installed, we can talk about everything else.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com)
Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-first-rca-in-asia.html)
Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists Accredited Member no. ACM 0412011 (www.iaca.org.au)
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Certified Tree Worker no. HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-first-bcma-in-asia.html)
Independent Practicing Arborist no. IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-hk-tree-news-14410-report.html)
Society of Certified Mediators and Negotiators Certified Mediator no. CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

"Providing treatment without in-depth diagnosis & research support is professional misconduct. "
"Casual tree assessor delivers wanton tree assessment. Mother Nature makes the rules."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By Marya Ryan ISA Director of Certification
HEADQUARTERS’ BULLETIN

Qualifications, Certifications, and International Recognition of Credentials

With the planned rollout of ISA’s tree risk assessment qualification, ISA is setting out on a new path. We have twenty years of certification experience behind us, but we are learning quite a bit as we venture into qualifications— including where our new type of credential fits in globally.

Qualifications Versus Certifications

In the December 2011 issue of Arborist News, we outlined the difference between the two types of credentials. Key differences are summarized below.

ISA Qualifications

ISA qualifications are currently being developed under the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E2659-09 standard. The plan is for ISA to develop a number of qualification programs over time. We envision the programs to comprise a few days of training, immediately followed by an assessment. For each program, we will establish a period of validity based in part on how frequently new knowledge and skills are developed in each subject area. Once that period has expired, a person will have to take the program again to ensure that they have received training in current knowledge and methods. Programs will vary to some extent, but we anticipate that most of them will follow this model.

Because qualifications are so different from certifications, we are developing a separate set of policies and procedures for them. For instance, certification policies require a strict wall of separation between the exam and preparatory training. Anyone who sees exam questions is not allowed to help candidates to prepare to take the exam or to develop

any training materials. By contrast, a qualifications instructor will usually be very familiar with the exam and might even administer it. This is because the program focuses on a specific set of learning outcomes that need to be tested. Again, by contrast, certification exams focus on testing a broad body of knowledge that a person gains through education and experience.

ISA qualifications differ from certifications. They share important similarities with qualifications offered worldwide, but they also have their own unique characteristics that make them different from the types of qualifications that people in the United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere may be familiar with.

ISA Qualifications and National Qualifications Frameworks

The UK, New Zealand, Australia, and several other countries have well-established national qualifications frameworks, tied to their educational frameworks. Under these frameworks, a qualification or set of qualifications has a status similar to a diploma in the United States. In fact, diplomas and other academic degrees are usually included within the national frameworks. The frameworks define various levels, from basic through highly advanced, and designate which qualifications satisfy the requirements of each level.

Qualifications under these frameworks differ from the qualifications that ISA is developing:

• In both cases, qualifications are tied to well-defined, measurable learning outcomes; however, under the national frameworks, a specific training program is not always an integral part of the credentialing pro-

A summary of the difference bet ween qualifications and certifications.

Qualification Certification The exam assesses a defined set of learning

outcomes. The exam assesses a broad body of knowledge.

The program includes training as an integral component.

Assessment questions may be well known to trainers.

Trainers may assess their own trainees, depending on the requirements of a given program.

Qualifications may be valid for life, but many have a set period of validity. Credential holders must retrain and retest at the end of that period if they want to continue to hold the credential.

Certification is independent of any specific training program.

Exam questions are shielded from anyone teaching preparatory courses or developing preparatory material.

Trainers may not assess their own trainees.

The credential is periodically renewed, subject to recertification requirements, such as participation in continuing education opportunities.

cess. By contrast, ISA’s qualifications require a training component. • The period of time required to obtain qualifications under the national frameworks typically varies from several weeks to several years; ISA qualifications will be tied to shortterm training programs of several days’ duration, with the possibility that there may be programs that combine a series of short trainings. • The national frameworks often include provision for recognition of prior learning without undergoing a specific training, where ISA credentials will require training as part of the program.

• National-framework qualifications are typically good for life; although some ISA qualifications may be good for life, most will have a set period of validity, after which they will expire.

International Recognition of Credentials

Under the UK, New Zealand, and Australian frameworks, equivalences can often be made between credentials issued one country and those issued in another country. As we develop ISA qualifications, we seek to establish equivalencies between ISA qualifications and national-framework qualification levels. The possibilities are truly exciting, as they would help arborists who work internationally to have their hard-earned credentials recognized across national borders.

Establishing such equivalencies for qualifications will take ISA into new territory: We have not established any national-framework equivalencies for our certifications. Our certifications are recognized internationally, and they are fully transferrable among countries. In fact, the ISA Certified Arborist® credential is accredited under an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard. In spite of this recognition, employers are not always sure how our certifications equate with the nationally based credentials that they are familiar with.

It is important for our credential holders that employers can readily understand what knowledge and skills they bring to the table. Therefore, we have investigated whether we can equate ISA certifications to the various levels within the national frameworks. The short answer is that it is complicated; the types of credentials are not similar enough in scope and objectives. For example, unlike qualifications, certifications do not have a training component and are not tied to specific learning outcomes. Another important difference is that qualifications do not typically have a continuing education component, whereas commitment to continuing professional education is a hallmark of certification.

Even though we have not been able to equate ISA certifications to nationalframework qualifications levels, the Certification Board seeks to recognize national-framework qualification levels as eligibility criteria for taking certification exams. Qualification at an appropriate level would make a candidate eligible to take a certification exam, but the candidate would still have to take the exam.

With our venture into qualifications, we believe it will be easier to equate ISA qualifications to national-framework qualification levels. It is a new pathway that we are eager to explore. We continue research and outreach for mutual recognition of credentials across national borders to foster transnational recognition of expertise. It all comes back to the value we place on a robust global exchange of tree care knowledge and practice. A•N

Saturday, September 1, 2012

ISA HK/China (Professionals) --- 2012 ISA Portland Conference 2012年 ISA 国际树艺年会

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

会员们:

在2012年的8月份, 本分会长与几名分会员长途拔涉从香港起飞先到东京, 然后再转机前往美国俄立冈州的波特兰市, 单向飞行距离是10,000公里, 时差是15小时, 前往参加2012年的国际树艺年会。

有人问, 你们不是去年已在澳洲悉尼去过了吗? 干吗今年又去? 是否喜欢坐长途飞机和享受巔倒晨昏啊?

非也。本分会各人自费前往参会, 主要为了三个目的。第一是为了参观和参赛于 "国际攀树锦标赛" (ITCC), 2012年是本分会同时派出男女代表前往参加, 是历史上的第一次。第二是为了参观 "树艺行业展" (Trade Show), 此等展览一旦离开美洲大陆就会变得小型很多, 因为众多大小机器都带不走, 而美国树艺供应商仍然是全球最大最多的, 美国是目前全球树艺工作最大量的单一国家。目标第三是为了考察波特兰市的树木种植, ISA 不会茂然的选址开年会, 看一下附件里的树木图片便可比较一切。

在ITCC里, 本分会非常高兴的告诉大家, 男子组的我方代表李启宏 (凤溪学生、由本分会长亲手训练), 在双绳脚锁比赛当中, 取得了季军。这是一个历史性的特破, 是第一次有亚洲的男性取得此国际殊衔，实是香港人的骄傲, 也是中华民族的骄傲。李启宏今年才23岁, 在攀树生涯是如日东升, 我们祝他能百尺竿头, 更进一步, 继续为国家民族添光彩。

在行业展方面, 本分会长以前在全球各地也看过很多, 但比足球场还要大的室內展览, 从书刊到摆放18米升台机器的, 还是第一次看到。美国好像甚麼都比亚洲的大一点, 一份主飧食就可供应亚洲一家四口吃饱。从附上的图片看到, 这里连攀树示范用的7米高大树, 都可以被弄进室內展馆里, 无惧风雨。在这里, 许多美国本土的树艺行业和顾问机构都趁此盛会自我宣传一番, 本分会长花了两天时间在会场内购买了50磅重的书籍报告和攀树器材，交了不少朋友, 可谓获益良多。

对本分会长个人来说, 是次行程的重中之重, 就是考察和比较波特兰市的市区树木种植。为此, 本分会长故意不乘车而选择走路三天, 因为这样才能小心观察, 和记录下当地的种树方法与我们的有何不同。如果 "一张照片胜过千言万语" 这句话是对的话, 哪各位请留意一下附上的图片 Fig. 1 - 8。

本分会长注意到波特兰市的街道宽度与我们的城市相近, 交通、水电和城市配套与我们的也不相伯仲, 但他们的树木种植和旁边的建筑物和其他硬件配套, 几乎没有冲突。成年树的树冠不会伸展到建筑物的窗边, 而是保持约2英尺的距离。再小心看一下, 这里的树龄都在20年以下, 换句话说, 他们比我们许多已经搞了绿化30年以上的大城市, 要种得还晚。在三天的走路观察中, 本分会长没有看到好像我们城市里经常见到的不正当修剪, 危险树和烂树，也没有见到好像我们城市里经常见到的绿化工人穿着制服, 封道拦路的在列队修剪、打药和施肥。

为什麼会这样子啊？是波特兰市的树木天生就不用剪, 还是那里的绿化经费不够用啊？难道老天爷特別照顾这里的树木？

为了探讨这个问题, 本分会长故意参加了由大会主办的 "波特兰市城区树木一天游', 在那里与十多位当地专家交流过, 得出以下结论。

波特兰市的市区树木种植是独立的由他们的 "市立树艺师' 团队来负责；从设计、选料、栽种、护养、检查、保育等等, 都是由他们来一手包办, 而并非其他任何行业。本分会长为了看树, 都已经跑遍了大半个地球, 但这里的市区树, 可算是他见到的最好其中一批。就经济效益而言, 这里的几乎不需要经常保养的市区树, 不单省工省钱, 更不会为社会生活带来不便, 招引市民投诉, 也不会每天制造大量残枝废物去塞满垃圾堆填区。

波特兰市的市区树木种植是充滿计划, 也很有长远眼光, 为的不是 "即时效果" 而去曇花一现, 对花费公帑也负上责任, 令到这个城市的树木种植令人焕然一新, 非常值得一赞!

明年的国际树艺年会将会在加拿大的多伦多市举行, 本分会建议持加拿大籍的会员不妨前往参加, 顺道探亲旅游, 一举两得。

谨此致意!

国际树木学会中华地区分会会长暨创办人

欧永森

美洲顾问树艺师学会顾问树艺师号 RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-rac-in-asia.html )
澳洲顾问树艺师学会顾问树艺师号 ACM 0412011 (www.iaca.org.au )
资深树艺师/注册攀树师号 HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-frist-bcma-in-asia.html)
执业树艺师号 IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-tree-news-1441-report.html)
专业调解及谈判学会注册调解员号 CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

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

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。大自然会决定成败。”

*** 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. Anyone can join ISA HK/China by providing their full name, age, organization, position, highest education, email & mobile no. to egc@netvigator.com . Joining is free & withdrawal is at an email notice. Station Membership is never publicly disclosed. Please note that Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. All our information is for reference without liabilities. ***

Dear Station Members,

It is our pleasure to inform you that after some meticulous planning, the Station Manager (SM) & a group of HK tree climbers, have embarked on a 10,000 km journey across the wide Pacific to take on a 15 hour jet lag, to attend the 2012 ISA International Conference in Portland, Oregon, USA this August. Attached are some photos of the SM taken at the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC), the Conference Proceedings, & the urban tree planting of the Portland City.

Before the trip, the SM was advised by overseas experts that there will be 3 major areas that he should focus upon. They are the ITCC, the Trade Show of the Conference, & the urban tree planting of the Portland City. Why? It was said that the ITCC & the Trade Show would be bigger while in the US Mainland, since the majority of the ISA Chapters are from the US. People don't need to go far to attend. Also, USA is the single country in the world with the largest Arborist Profession in practice. It is just a matter of convenience for the professionals & suppliers to attend. The conference venue in the US is usually more roomy than in a lot of other countries to hold large shows. Just look at their Elections. It is a tradition over there.

As for the urban tree planting, the SM was told to see it with his own eyes to make a comment. The SM has spent a fifth of his life overseas to look at trees. The SM paid attention to this word before he departed on the trip.

2012 is the first year that ISA HK/China has sent both male & female climbers to compete at the ITCC. We were very excited about it. And the result has been pleasing. KW Lee, the student of the SM in Fung Kai, scored a 3rd place in the Men's Footlock Event. This is the first time ever that a HK Climber has won anything in the ITCC. This has also proven our climbers can climb with the world's best. This is very encouraging. Well done KW, congratulation! Do better for us next time.

Next was the Trade Show in the Conference, & it was massive & indoor. The size must be bigger than a football field. It was so big that even a 20 ft tree could be brought in at the Climbers' Corner for climbing demonstration & seminar. The SM has never seen anything like it before outside the US. After spending two days walking around to collect brochures, books & tree climbing equipment, the SM was kicking himself for not bringing in the third suitcase. Nearly every major US supplier & arboricultural consultancy was present at the show. It was impossible to see them all for details in just a couple of days. It was an eye bubbling event.

The mystery of this trip for the SM personally was really to find out about the Urban Tree Planting of Portland. Why did the overseas experts say that to the SM? Then from the moment that the SM got down the plane to ride the train into the city, despite the agonizing 15 hour flight & jet lag, he was made wide awake by the superior tree planting all along the way. The trees here are different. The SM has seen trees in many places around the world, but has not yet seen a place where the trees are so neat, healthy, & free of defects. Out of curiosity & respect, the SM has decided to spend the next 3 days to walk around Portland City to see for more.

The attached Fig. 1-8 showed some of the street tree planting in Portland Downtown. It can be seen that there is hardly any conflict between the trees & the buildings. The SM, in his many travel around the world, has never seen a city where the urban trees are so designed, planted & structurally pruned to avoid conflict with the infrastructures of a city, in a sustainable manner. Portland has done just that. The residents of Portland can be very proud about their trees indeed.

The SM has also noticed that the majority of tree planting is under 20 years old. He could not see any one of them has structural defects or obvious hazards. The SM also did not notice any army of maintenance staff, wearing uniform & brandishing tools & machines, to work on the city plantings anywhere like in our cities. The City council must have saved a bomb. But does it mean that the Portland trees are maintenance free? How do they do that?

For this the SM has joined a one day tour of the Portland Society of Municipal Arborists to try to find out some answers. In his conversation with the experts, the SM has found out that the tree planting is the responsibility of their City Arborists, from design, selection, planting, maintenance, inspection to protection. The City Arborists have their own system of planning, contracting & management, & they are all true experts in the field. This may be something our territory can use as a comparison, & perhaps even learn from them. If trees are not on the hand of genuine experts, then it will be "Mother Nature makes the Rules". Facts speak better than a thousand words. No exception.

In review, the Portland trip has been a very educational experience. If the SM did not go, then he did not see. Our tree climber could not have brought back the glory. We have opened to the world for advanced knowledge. We have made networking with international experts to learn their experience. We have advanced ourselves.

The 2013 ISA International Conference will be in Toronto, Canada. ISA HK/China would encourage all those Station Members who hold Canadian passport to attend. It will be a homeward bound journey for them, plus a chance to share among the profession. ISA HK/China would certainly want to go.

Hope to see you all in Toronto next year.

best regards,

Sammy Au

Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com)
Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-first-rca-in-asia.html)
Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists Accredited Member no. ACM 0412011 (www.iaca.org.au)
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Certified Tree Worker no. HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-first-bcma-in-asia.html)
Independent Practicing Arborist no. IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-hk-tree-news-14410-report.html)
Society of Certified Mediators and Negotiators Certified Mediator no. CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

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

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

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

ISA HK/China --- Japanese speaking escort for proposed Japan visit 寻找懂流利日本语的分会员来陪访日本

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

会员们:

有监于本分会与 "日本树艺机构" 的来往日益频繁, 本分会计划在明年初组团访问日本, 届时将会提供树艺知识讲座和树木攀爬修剪示范给日本同行, 以利双方共同发展树艺行业。

为此, 本分会正在物识一位能说流利日本语的分会员作为我方的响导, 此人的会龄必须在一年以上, 日语能力达到 "日本语能力试' 的一级水平, 如有树艺牌照或懂得攀树用锯者则更佳。此日语响导将会陪行我方全程, 会在讲座和树木攀爬修剪示范时帮忙翻译，也会作为我方与日方的沟通代表。

本分会将会为我方的日语响导提供香港/日本行程的来回机票和全程食宿来作为报酬, 目前预计整个行程约需四至五天, 总人数尚未定下来。

有兴趣的合资格分会员, 请回复此电邮或致电 +852-90906719 给本分会长来再讨论详情, 所有资料将会完全保密。

谢谢各位对本分会的支持！

谨此致意!

国际树木学会中华地区分会会长暨创办人

欧永森

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

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

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

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

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

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

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。大自然会决定成败。 ”

*** 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. Anyone can join ISA HK/China by providing their full name, age, organization, position, highest education, email & mobile no. to egc@netvigator.com . Joining is free & withdrawal is at an email notice. Station Membership is never publicly disclosed. Please note that Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. All our information is for reference without liabilities. ***

Dear Station Members,

As our development with Arbor Japan is now strengthening, ISA HK/China is now planning a visit to go to Japan early next year to deliver seminars & Tree Work demonstrations to our Japanese counterparts, to try to help them to develop an Arborist Profession over there.

For this purpose, ISA HK/China is currently seeking a Japanese speaking Station Member, if any, to come along as our escort on this Japan Trip. This person must have been a Station Member for over a year, so that he/she would understand how we function; must speak Japanese fluently, & preferably possess some form of Arborist credentials &/or Tree Climbing skills. He/she will work with the Station Manger closely on conducting this trip, & he/she may be asked to help with the translation during the seminars & demonstrations.

As for this hard work, ISA HK/China will offer free travel & accommodation to our Japanese speaking Escort for this trip, to show our appreciation for his/her contribution. Please note that all of us are working in ISA HK/China as volunteers only, & everyone else on the trip will pay his/her own costs for everything. This includes the Station Manager too.

If anyone is interested in this offer & meeting our requirements, please kindly reply this email or contact the Station Manager at 9090 6719. All your information will be treated in the strictest confidence to until you are on the trip with us.

best regards,

Sammy Au

Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, August 5, 2012

ISA HK/China --- 2012 HK Tree Climbing Championship 2012 香港攀树锦标赛

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

会员们:

本分会很高兴的告诉各位, 本年度的 "香港攀树锦标赛", 将会在2012年11月17-18日, 在香港马安山的 YMCA 度假村里面举行, 详情请看各附页。

为了隆重其事, 本分会的 "周年晚宴" 也会在比赛结束后同时举行, 而这次"攀树锦标赛"也将会与 "香港国际树艺研討会" 同时协办, 令香港成为目前能举办如此树艺盛事的唯一远东城市。

举办攀树比赛的其中一个目的, 是为了寻找更新更好的树上工作技术和装备, 令高空工作能够更安全, 更有效率。攀树是树艺行业独有的工种, 也是目前所有绿化行业当中缺乏的训练，没有了攀树，高空修剪会变得很困难, 攀树也令树艺行业者在所有绿化工种之中独树一幟。

在日后条件成熟以后, 本分会冀望 "攀树锦标赛" 也能在两岸四地的大小城市里面举行，为此目的，本分会必然全力以附。

谨此致意!

国际树木学会中华地区分会会长暨创办人

欧永森

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

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

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

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

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

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

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。大自然会决定成败。 ”

*** 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. Anyone can join ISA HK/China by providing their full name, age, organization, position, highest education, email & mobile no. to egc@netvigator.com . Joining is free & withdrawal is at an email notice. Station Membership is never publicly disclosed. Please note that Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. All our information is for reference without liabilities. ***

Dear Station Members,

It is our pleasure to inform all of you that the HK Tree Climbing Championship (HKTCC) will be held on Nov 17-18, 2012 at the Wu Kai Sha YMCA Camp in Ma On Shan, Hong Kong. Details of the event are given in the attachments.

This year, the ISA HK/China Annual Dinner, the HKTCC & the International Arboricultural Summit of HK (IASHK), will join hand together in the same period to create the biggest Arboricultural Event in our territory of HK, Macau, Taiwan & China. We shall also extend the invitation to our regional counterparts & tree climbers to come & join us for networking & sharing. More information on IASHK & our Annual Dinner will be issued in our weekly Station Mail later.

Tree Climbing is an integral part of Arboriculture, & is a unique skill of the Arborist Profession. It is like a doctor operating surgery. Tree Climbing is also exciting to watch. From international experience, any Tree Climbing display usually draws a large crowd to applaud the agility of human to mimic animals to maneuver intelligently in a tree canopy. The swings & jumps from branch to branch earn amazement from the audience. It is also a sport so authentic to make the cameras click & snap repeatedly below.

Tree Climbing Competition is a way in finding new skills & equipment to improve the safety at work in the tree canopy. New climbing techniques are frequently tested out in the competition. New gears are comparing themselves with traditional tools. The best are taken out for future use. It is a way to upgrade the industry to advance both knowledge & safety.

ISA HK/China invites everyone to come to support the HKTCC. You can make it a family day out. The weather will be nice at the time & the ground is roomy to spend a day out in leisure. The venue is easily accessible by public transport, & car parking can be made available by prior arrangement. More information of the event is given in the attachments.

As for those who will be competing in the HKTCC, please ensure yourselves to send in the registration before the deadline. The winners of the Master Challenge will become the representatives of our territory to compete in the regional Tree Climbing Competition, & ultimately in the International Tree Climbing Championship. It will be an honour for life.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the 2012 HKTCC. It will be an event that everyone will remember.

best regards,

Sammy Au

Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com )

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday, July 30, 2012

ISA HK/China --- Aftermath of Typhoon Vicente on 23.7.2012 台风 "韦森特" 2012.7.24 掠过香港以后

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

ISA HK/China --- Tree Failure in Nathan Road on 19.7.2012 香港柏丽大道塌古树伤人事件

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

会员们:

下述的是2012年7月19日晚上九点多, 在香港柏丽大道游客购物中心, 古树倒塌伤人事件的多方报导, 会员们亦可循以下连结去取得更多信息：

1. http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20120721/00176_021.html

2. http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20120721/00176_022.html

3. http://hk.dv.nextmedia.com/actionnews/hit/20120720/16531311/16531926?ref=fb

香港是一个古木参天的国际城市，每年的海外游客高达2,800万人次, 香港的人口密度是全球最高之一, 这令城区树木倒塌的击中率比其他城市要为偏高。香港的树木保育意识也很强, 移除古树名木通常招来很多非议, 这令树木的管理往往是去亦难, 留亦难, 一点都不好做。

这次倒下的古树, 据闻是患有 "褐根病", 已经每三个月被施药一次, 但从倒下来的根板来看, 似乎看不出有结构大根被扯断的现象，断出来的都是新根小根, 可能是说明了救不了大根, 只能保存少许的 "吊命根" 而矣, 从而令人怀疑到所谓 "施药保命" 的做法是否有效。本分会长在国际讨论中经常听到, 老树有病是没药可救, 最好的管理方法是要它们不要病, 但这谈何容易啊。

在香港要是倒树伤人, 传媒一般都会不客气，接下来的法律责任也麻烦多多, 跟国内的城市不一样吧。要是说成是 "天灾", 哪出来反对的人可能更多, 理由会更充份, 让人无地藏身。

目前国内和台湾的树木种植，有一部份都已经进入成熟期, 类似香港古树倒塌的情况可能也会发生, 如果不先作出准备, 只用 "天灾" 来作挡箭牌, 长远来说, 效果非常存疑。

但愿古树再要倒的话就先长上眼睛，打不到人的就是功德无量！

谨此致意!

国际树木学会中华地区分会会长暨创办人

欧永森

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

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

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

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

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

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

“速成出来的树木评估员, 只能作出低质量的猜測。大自然会决定成败。 ”

*** 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. Anyone can join ISA HK/China by providing their full name, age, organization, position, highest education, email & mobile no. to egc@netvigator.com . Joining is free & withdrawal is at an email notice. Station Membership is never publicly disclosed. Please note that Station Mail is sometimes given in Blog at http://isahkchina.blogspot.com , although images are usually not attached due to size. All our information is for reference without liabilities. ***

Dear Station Members,

It is very sad for us to learn that another Tree Failure to injure has happened again in a calm evening of July 19, 2012, in a busy shopping area of Nathan Road in HK. This time it was an Old & Valuable Tree (OVT),which is the most watched tree in HK by the public. The accident has injured 5 persons, luckily none seriously. The incident has aroused public interest in Tree Failure by making headline again in some local newspapers. The majority of the comments have been unfavorable.

More of the Tree Failure can be obtained in the links below, all in Traditional Chinese & some with video clip :

1. http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20120721/00176_021.html

2. http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20120721/00176_022.html

3. http://hk.dv.nextmedia.com/actionnews/hit/20120720/16531311/16531926?ref=fb

The fallen tree was said to have been suffering from a root rot by the tree experts. It can be seen that the upheaved root plate was small & thin, indicated that the tree might not have been toppled by root tearing in strong wind. Root rot is always difficult to detect because it is underground. Equipment detection like Root Radar can be inaccurate. The symptom of smaller foliage & crown thinning may provide some indication although.

This tree was said to have passed the Tree Risk Assessment in April & has been undergoing chemical treatment for root rot every 3 months. If the treatment has been effective, then why did the tree fall by root rot? On the other hand, it is understood that to remove an OVT would involve complicated applications. The public is always attacking on the dwindling number of the OVT in HK. Would this have an effect in determining the fate of an ailing OVT for removal?

At the time of preparation of this Station Mail, the Station Manager has received a phone call on yet another OVT of no. YTM/96 has failed in Kowloon Park in the morning of July 23, 2012. It looks like that Mother Nature will indeed make the Rules for Tree Stability over human judgment.

Prevention of accident may be better than cure always.

best regards,

Sammy Au
Founding President (Station Manager) of ISA HK/China (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/)
Registered Consulting Arborist no. RCA#497 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/12/isa-hkchina-first-rca-in-asia.html)
Institute of Australian Consulting Arboriculturists Accredited Member no. ACM 0412011 (http://www.iaca.org.au/)
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist / Certified Tree Worker no. HK-0174BT (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2011/03/isa-hkchina-first-bcma-in-asia.html)
Independent Practicing Arborist no. IPA-010908 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2010/04/isa-hkchina-hk-tree-news-14410-report.html)
Society of Certified Mediators and Negotiators Certified Mediator no. CM-0044 (http://isahkchina.blogspot.com/2012/01/isa-hkchina-mediation.html)

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

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

驗樹護樹馬虎都市炸彈處處

尖沙咀栢麗購物大道一棵百年古榕樹突然倒塌，壓傷五名途人，再次凸顯港府樹木管理一塌糊塗，都市炸彈遍地開花，市民生命安全毫無保障。今次塌樹發生在遊人如鯽的街道，沒有搞出人命，可算是不幸中的大幸，但下次還會這麼幸運嗎？

政務司司長林鄭月娥昨日到塌樹現場視察，強調市民安全永遠放在首位，尤其是人流眾多的地點更應如此，故必要時會將上址另外兩棵同樣受到真菌感染的百年細葉榕移除。這個場面似曾相識，每有塌樹事故發生，當局都會亡羊補牢，但事過境遷，塌樹意外依然不斷發生。人們不禁要問，當局信誓旦旦重視人命安全，實際上又做過些甚麼呢？

今次倒塌的細葉榕被列入古樹名冊，兩年前已確診患上俗稱「樹癌」的褐根病，加上位處熙來攘往的遊客區，理應更加小心護理。惟奇怪的是，樹木辦聲稱今年一月及四月先後做過詳細檢查及風險評估，認為「可以接受」，詎料言猶在耳，這棵「可以接受」的古樹竟轟然倒塌，可見樹木辦的檢查和評估是何等兒戲。實際上，這棵古樹早已病入膏肓，不僅樹根嚴重腐爛，枝葉疏落，樹幹更因真菌感染呈海綿狀。正如樹木專家指出，這些徵狀不是一夜間突然出現的，而是長年累月得不到適當護理的結果，樹木辦到底有沒有用心驗樹救樹，不問可知。

四年前赤柱塌樹導致港大女生枉死，當局煞有介事地成立樹木管理專責小組檢討一番，其後並成立樹木辦負責管理樹木，可惜塌樹意外依然不絕如縷，前年沙田圓洲角便再次發生塌樹殺人事件，證明樹木辦無法有效排除樹木隱患。本報記者早前與樹木專家巡查全港多處，發現不少樹木樹幹已腐壞變成「甩皮樹」、「生菇樹」，卻未被樹木辦列入樹木登記冊，部分即使登記在冊的樹木，也因照顧不周而導致「病情」惡化，搖搖欲墜，令人擔心颱風季節隨時發生塌樹傷人意外，結果不幸而言中。

事實上，當局驗樹一般只用「目視」，每棵樹的檢查時間又只有十數分鐘，而且只是填寫簡單表格，連樹葉顏色、樹木傾斜度、樹根樹幹比例等基本資料都沒有記錄，這怎麼可能找出有毛病的樹木？驗樹馬虎也就罷了，更不堪的是護樹不得其法，往往無病變有病，小病變大病。例如今次倒塌的細葉榕，連同多棵百年古樹一同「擠在」狹小的水泥花槽內，水泥又將部分樹根甚至樹幹覆蓋，不僅令檢查人員難以看見根部生長情況，樹幹更因被封而容易腐爛，這根本不是護樹，而是殺樹，林鄭月娥也不得不承認水泥花槽影響樹木生長。

百年養不足，一日毀有餘。當局驗樹馬虎，護樹兒戲，證明一次又一次的塌樹事故既是意外，也是人禍，當局何時才能真正吸取教訓呢？