Last week, we attended the ISAO Annual Conference 2017 in Niagara Falls. It was a pleasure to attend an annual event with so many others in the urban forestry industry. This conference was a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise about a variety of issues affecting our forests and trees in Ontario.
There were several streams for each participant to engage in for their particular interest. There was an emphasis on Tree Evaluation, Bylaws, and new tools (such as ground based radar) that are being developed to help determine root location. When developed further, these tools can help guide the decision makers about where structures can be placed to minimize root damage. It was also fantastic to hear about the efforts of the Women in Trees Committee and how it is progressing.
Of other keen interest is the 10th edition of the Plant Appraisal Guide that is currently out for comment for the practitioners to help finalize this tool used for tree valuation. There were also some suggestions for lesser known species of trees that could be used for the landscape or when replacing trees.
Lastly, it was great to see Fleming and Humber College Students on Thursday who participated in the conference and had a chance to learn with the other participants.
Looking back over thirty five years of participating in this event and many other events associated with trees, it was so nice to see so many familiar faces, so many new faces, and the next generation of help in tree care and urban forestry.