Last week, Peter was able to attend the International Society of Arboriculture in Ontario Conference in Huntsville, Ontario. There was a myriad of urban forestry and tree topics discussed over the three days with several hundred attendees.
In his multi-session presentation, James Urban discussed how important soils are to tree survival. Urban has spent years working with soils to understand how they are structured and the factors that affect tree health. With various issues affecting soil quality like changing temperatures, erosion, and urban development, this is an important topic to keep in mind as we continue to develop and protect our urban forests.
James Lane and Jackie Hamilton provided unique and important insights about the changes in legislation related to trees as “green infrastructure.” Municipalities will have to manage these changes over the next five years and will set the tone for the future in terms of size and complexity. Some municipalities will be leading the way in maintaining and promoting “green infrastructure” and the response to it in the short term will be telling.
They key presentation during the ISAO Conference was by Richard Wilson about Oak Wilt. Oak Wilt is a disease infecting oak trees of many varieties. When a tree is infected with Oak Wilt, it will die within one season. Currently, Oak Wilt is present in Michigan, just outside of Windsor, ON. It is transmitted by spores that attach themselves onto the picnic bug which infects other oaks. Infection usually occurs in pruning wounds that occurred from May to July as these wounds exude scents that attract the bugs. Once in the tree, the disease is transmitted by root grafts underground to other oaks in the area. Wilson is working with better understanding the impacts of the disease, how it spreads, and how it can be prevented.
Generally it is thought that Oak Wilt will be a slow-moving, fatal disease if left to its own devices. We can already see parallels with the Emerald Ash Borer and sense human interaction and wood movement will compound the situation, just as it did with EAB.
It was fantastic to see some members who have been involved with the industry for over thirty years enhancing tree care in Ontario and beyond our borders. We were happy to see many younger participants joining the ISAO Conference this year – it is nice to know the future of the industry is in their hands.
Already looking forward to next year’s event in Windsor!