Mission Statement

Mission Statement:

To identify and fund projects and programs that advance knowledge in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry to benefit people, trees and the environment.

TREE Fund's Top Contributions to the Field of Arboriculture

The contributions to arboriculture listed below can be attributed to many individuals and organizations but the TREE Fund plays an important roles in each of them. TREE Fund involvement has ranged from providing primary funding and project administration to contributing a small percentage of the total funds required for project completion. During the past 24 years, the TREE Fund has established itself as a leading organization in assessing and funding research needs in arboriculture and urban forestry.

Plant Health Care | Cost/Benefits of Urban Trees | Urban Wood Residue
Air Pollution Reduction By Trees | Tree Establishment Factors
Performance of New Tree Selection | Tree Growth in Difficult Sites
Dutch Elm Disease | Dogwood Anthracnose, Gypsy Moth, and Other Pest Threats
Cost-Effective Right-of-Way Vegetation Management | Tree Failure Assessment

Plant Health Care (PHC) program development: One of the biggest barriers to tree care company clients, and the firms themselves, embracing "integrated pest management" approaches (and reducing pesticide use) to tree maintenance was the inability of arborists to market and sell because of lacking an understanding of consumer preferences, beliefs, and attitudes. A study addressing that problem, funded by the TREE Fund, has enabled companies to successfully embrace tree health care approaches, dramatically changed arboricultural practices, and greatly reduced pesticide use in the industry (by 90 - 95% by some companies).

Cost/benefits of urban trees: Before most public agencies and the public in general will commit to the level (and budget) of tree maintenance required to attain urban forest sustainability (and high quality, sustainable living conditions), the arboricultural and urban forestry professions must provide quantifiable evidence of the benefits (economic, social, environmental, and aesthetic) attributed to trees. The TREE Fund has recognized this need and proactively contributed to relevant research programs.

Urban wood residue generated by the arboricultural industry: Regulations and costs are significantly reducing the ability of the industry to dispose woody debris in landfills and other traditional sites. The TREE Fund funded a national survey to assess the volume, geographic location, and types of woody debris generated by the industry. Additionally, a series of workshops were conducted to disseminate the survey information and highlight non-traditional uses of urban wood residue in an effort to arouse entrepreneurial interests and stimulate revenue streams for the industry. (I consider the work very important. However, the effort may have been premature, as use of the information has been limited to date. Economics will change that in time.)

Air pollution reduction and carbon sequestration by trees: This is obviously a very important area of research as urban areas strive to reduce air pollutants and the entire world searches for ways to combat carbon dioxide buildup. TREE Fund funding to this type of research has been limited to date but important.

Factors affecting tree establishment: Many TREE Fund-funded projects fall into this category, including proper transplanting techniques, watering regimes, impact of nursery production methods, root generation following planting, mycorrhizal influences, etc. The economic impact of more successful tree establishment techniques for consumers is very important and enormous for municipalities.

Performance of new tree selections: Much like improving tree establishment, developing and evaluating the performance of new tree selections for urban use has very important economic considerations for municipalities that are continually struggling to extend the life and usefulness of their public tree population.

Developing improved conditions for tree growth in difficult sites: One of the greatest challenges to municipalities, and others, is attempting to have healthy trees in close association with streets and other paved areas. Incompatible soil density requirements for trees and pavement are one of the biggest problems. Researchers at Cornell University, partially funded by the TREE Fund, have made great strides in developing soil mixtures that are compatible for both trees and pavement. Again, tremendous economic implications for municipalities.

Dutch elm disease: Searching for a solution that would allow the resurrection of the American elm as important municipal tree has been lengthy, expensive, and often emotional. The TREE Fund has regularly contributed to this effort.

Dogwood anthracnose, gypsy moth, and other pest threats: Several insect and disease problems have arisen during the past twenty-five years that are viewed as serious, difficult-to-manage threats to landscape trees. The TREE Fund has continually been involved in funding research that will ultimately enable the arboricultural industry to more successfully address those problems.

Cost-effective right-of-way vegetation management: Whenever trees and electrical wires are in close proximity, conflicts arise. With the increasing importance placed on our environment and the contribution of trees is coupled with society's greater dependence on electricity, those traditional conflicts have escalated tremendously. The TREE Fund has contributed to various studies that have sought more environmentally compatible and cost-effective techniques for electrical right-of-way vegetation management.

Tree failure assessment: As growing emphasis is placed on the importance and retention of urban trees, the need for understanding and managing potential tree failure is increasing. The TREE Fund has been actively involved in developing and disseminating pertinent information.