ABOUT THE AUTHOR TJ Yurko is an ISA Certified Arborist ® (PR-5403A), ISA TRAQ Arborist, and Certified Landscape Horticul- turist Technician at his company, Tree J Consulting , where he advises clients on urban forestry and arboriculture best management practices and strategies for tree care operations. In a world where invasive pests and diseases continue to shift and spread, shared responsibility is the corner- stone to preserving the legacy of our urban forests. Without decisive ac- tion now, the trees we cherish may vanish before people ever get to know them. Only by responding with care can we honor our responsibility to current and future generations, pass- ing down the gifts that trees provide for us all.
routine pressures. Problems like soil compaction, major soil disruption, low organic matter, salt exposure, in- efficient irrigation, and planting the wrong species in the wrong location are widespread — and often issues we can actively address. “Focus on the numerous cultural issues we can control and alleviate,” Borden continued. “Diversify the urban cano- py where possible, address soil issues, and recommend better plant material and good quality nursery stock.” Likewise, Brewer supported analyzing environments holistically. “Healthy soil produces healthy trees,” he shared. “So even if your region isn’t currently affected, there are always steps that can be taken to improve the growing environment. And keep cur- rent on at-risk tree species and the associated threats moving into your region.”
will respond differently,” Whisple stat- ed. “It is important to monitor and take into account all of its surroundings and stressors to find the best method of treatment to help it flourish.” NEXT-GEN FORESTS The future of the urban forest rests in our hands. As industry profession- als, we have a choice. We either allow these challenges to crumble the green infrastructure of our cities, or we rise to meet and overcome them. Real success will come from restructuring how we protect and manage the urban environ- ment, focusing on what lies within our control and working with nature, not against it. “We are, in most cases, not working in natural environments,” Borden stressed. Although some environmental stress- ors are beyond our control, many land- scapes face a host of more immediate,
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