December 2024

New Report Establishes Business Case for Integrated Vegetation Management on Transmission Rights-of-Way (Part 2)

Research confirms IVM as least costly and most beneficial strategy for electric and gas utilities 

John W. Goodfellow, BioCompliance Consulting, Inc.

To Read Part 1, Click Here

[Integrated Vegetation Management] IVM-based ROW [Rights of Way] maintenance programs are intended to create, promote, and conserve stable plant communities. A variety of vegetation maintenance methods and combinations of methods are used to promote sustainable plant communities that are compatible with the intended use of the site, and to control, discourage, or prevent the establishment of incompatible plants that may create a variety of risks. Industry standard ANSI A300 Part 7 (2019) and ISA BMP “Integrated Vegetation Management” 2nd Edition (2014) define IVM on utility ROW. The ROW Stewardship Council’s IVM “Accreditation Requirements” (2016) define IVM principles and practices for ROW in detail.

“Utilities that have been accredited to the ROWSC standard have demonstrated a commitment to IVM and are well positioned to benefit from the continued application of IVM methods,” said Vannice.

The ROWSC currently recognizes the following accredited utilities: AltaLink, Arizona Public Service (APS), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and Vermont Electric Company (VELCO).

An earlier project established a preliminary business case for IVM on electric transmission ROW. The scope of that project applied least-cost economic analysis methods that focused exclusively on the direct cost to the utility for vegetation maintenance work practices. That approach limited any consideration of the benefits of IVM to simply avoided cost. However, indirect costs and benefits of IVM are important considerations.

This project included the development of an enhanced least-cost analysis model and broadens the assessment to include consideration of the many benefits of IVM on electric and gas utility ROW. It presents a holistic assessment that includes economic considerations, societal implications, and environmental externalities associated with IVM. In doing so, it established IVM as the least-costly and most beneficial ROW vegetation management strategy.

TREE Fund Year End Wrap

We would like to take a moment to thank our TREE Fund community for all their incredible support and dedication. From the groundbreaking research you’ve made possible to the outreach initiatives inspiring the next generation of tree stewards, your contributions, actions, volunteer time, and sharing of TREE Fund information have helped us sustain and advance our mission of supporting the science behind the care of trees and urban forests. Each of you—donors, volunteers, and advocates—are integral to the TREE Fund family, and we are deeply grateful for your unwavering commitment.

As we look back at 2024, in addition to everywhere you saw us at various functions, online, and on social media, a lot happened “behind the scenes.” We upgraded our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Database and our Tour des Trees fundraising software. The CRM has been a slow and steady integration process. We are also looking forward to rolling out our new grants and scholarships portal this spring.

Part of my duties is to serve as the primary representative of TREE Fund, with a goal of traveling about 25% of the time. In 2024, I traveled 83 days or about 35% of the time. It’s great to get out there and meet with folks and we will continue getting to as many places as our budget and my schedule can realistically allow.

In 2025, we will be announcing a new fund and celebrating milestone anniversaries for several other programs. Thank you for sharing the journey with us this year, and we’re looking forward to the new adventures ahead!

Thank you for your trust, generosity, and shared vision for a greener future.

Warm regards,

Paul Putman

President/CEO, TREE Fund

Free Webinar Series

Thank you to everyone that attended one of more of our TREE Fund Webinars in 2024! This year, we had over 5,200 viewers and were able to issue over 4,400 free CEUs for certified arborists! Thanks again to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System for helping us again with these videos.

Mark your calendars for our spring webinars!

March 11, 2025. Noon CT.

Presenter: Dr. Huade Guan

Presentation: A pumping-test analogue for characterizing root-zone and plant integrated hydraulic systems based on above-ground measurements

April 8, 2025. Noon CT.

Presenter: Dr. Carolyn Mahan

Presentation: Long term effects of electrical right-of-way vegetation management on floral and faunal communities

May 6, 2025. Noon CT.

Presenter: Mysha Clarke and Stephanie Cadaval

Presentation: Enhancing collaboration amongst urban forest stakeholders – An assessment of natural hazard risk perceptions in relation to the services and disservices of city trees

Registration for these webinars will be available approximately two weeks beforehand. See our Webinar page for more information. https://treefund.org/webinars

TREE Fund’s 1-hour webinars are free and offer 1.0 CEU credit for live broadcasts from the International Society of Arboriculture and the Society of American Foresters. Registration and information will become available on our website approximately two weeks before each webinar date.

Missed a webinar? Watch it anytime on our website. You can also subscribe to our YouTube page.

Final Chance! CEU Credit for Recorded Webinar

TREE Fund offers ISA CEU credits for one recorded webinar: "Loading of a Tie-in Point While Climbing." If you missed this webinar, you can now watch the recording and earn ISA CEU credits by completing a 20-question quiz with 80% accuracy. Learn more on our website.

This is your last chance to view this webinar and receive CEUs, as the quiz offering will expire on February 1, 2025.

TREE Fund Scholarship Update

We are connecting with some of TREE Fund’s recent scholarship recipients to see how they are coming along in their studies and their careers.

Today, we feature Rylie Hannis, who received the Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship in 2023:

In the days since being awarded the Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship in May of 2023, I completed my final year at Penn State University, earning my Bachelor of Science in Plant Science with a concentration in Horticulture.

I began my professional career working as an Area Manager with Ruppert Landscape based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania serving commercial clients in Philadelphia and beyond. Although the beginning stages of starting my career were incredibly strenuous – a recent grad, navigating the expectations of a new team in a new company, in a market where our clients are incredibly passionate about their landscapes – I quickly found my place. I had decided around the time of my graduation that my top priority when starting my career would be to educate my clients on the leading horticultural practices for their properties. Thanks to Ruppert and the amazing clients I get to serve, I can make this priority a reality every day. Whether working with turfgrass providers, arborists, wholesale nurseries, irrigation technicians, and beyond, during the past 6-months I have been able to expand my knowledge in countless ways, and more importantly pass on that invaluable knowledge to my clients and help improve the landscapes of their properties at the same time.

I thank TREE Fund and their donors for investing in the education of our industry’s future as their donations allowed me to chase my dreams and attain the career I find purpose in every day. 

TREE Fund Liaison Spotlight

Every ISA chapter recruits a volunteer to serve as their TREE Fund Liaison. These volunteers spend extra time attending meetings, spreading the word about TREE Fund happenings, events, and news, and often being the point person for TREE Fund fundraisers at their local chapters.

We'd like to highlight these wonderful volunteers and let you know a little more about them.

Florida Chapter Liaison: Danny Lippi

Consulting Arborist with Advanced Tree Care

First year as a Liaison for Florida Chapter

Q: Why do you enjoy being an arborist?

A: In my position, I focus on tree preservation. This has afforded me the ability to help keep trees alive and healthy within urban settings, especially during land development and construction. I specialize in veteran tree management. 

Q: Why did you choose to be the liaison for your chapter?

A: I am one of the few (only) Florida arborists who consistently rides the TDT and I want to change that. 

Q: Why do you feel the need to communicate TREE Fund’s mission and events to chapter members?

A: I had always known about TREE Fund and its mission and, in my brief period as an academic, I saw the benefits of the TREE Fund scholarships and fundings at work. 

Q: What would you like to learn more about in your field or what research would you like to see done?

A: Mycology and its interactions with trees, both assistive and destructive, has always interested me. I studied the effects of legal pruning on state protected mangrove trees during graduate school. 

Q: Why is new research important to you?

A:  We don’t know everything. Science is curiosity and understanding. The more humans study, the more we learn, advance, and ultimately become better stewards of the planet and ourselves. 

Tour des Trees 2025- Save the Date!

We are very excited to announce the dates for the 2025 Tour des Trees! Mark your calendars and get ready to ride in Michigan, August 10 t0 16.

Starting and ending in Grand Rapids, this year's route will feature some beautiful views of western and northern Michigan's forests, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and Lake Michigan.

The full Tour will be five days and approximately 430 miles with shorter distance options and partial day schedules available. Look for more information and registration in mid-January and be sure to follow the Tour des Trees Facebook page for the latest updates.

We look forward to seeing you ride with us in 2025!

Positions Available at UAA

Our friends at the Utility Arborist Association are looking to fill two positions and we want to help them spread the word about their job openings.

The two current job postings can be found on Indeed.com following the links below.

Events Coordinator

Membership and Office Coordinator

TREE Fund

Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund

1755 Park St. Suite #200, Naperville, IL 60563

(630) 369-8300

treefund@treefund.org

www.treefund.org

TREE Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to support scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

TREE Fund recently earned our 2024 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency! Check out our nonprofit profile to keep up to date with our impact. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/17bf1c65-c913-4096-8695-11f0dc3fa73f.

Keep this link handy, we want to make sure you always have the information you need to support our work with trust and confidence.