Agriculture - Forestry / Tree /Arborist experts

Introduction

Damage caused by falling tree branches are a regular occurrence. This may result in injury to a person or their property. Those responsible for the maintenance of trees are professional’s called arborists.

The field of arboriculture encompasses the maintenance and assessment of tree’s that grow in a collective, and as individual plants. Arborists are professionally trained individuals who specialise in the proper maintenance of trees for the safety of the public and the health of the tree itself. Trees, as found in national parks, public property, or private property, require a degree of proper tree care that may be inaccessible to the average person. This level of pruning, branch removal, and tree management can be an extremely dangerous process that requires expert skill and technique. An expert in arboriculture focuses on maintaining the health and safety of individual plants and trees, as distinct from assistance and scientific methods utilised by that of a forester or a logger.  

The job of an arborist typically involves:

• Conducting tree inspection reports to inform clients of whether or not a tree removal is required in accordance with council legislation, or for simple safety requirements.

• Safely trimming tree’s so as to ensure damage or injury to property or individuals does not occasion.

• Utilise their professional equipment and expert training to conduct these procedures in a safe manner.

This would be extremely helpful in determination of cases where damage has occasioned to another’s property due to the negligent care of another parties’ tree placement. This may be extended to claims of injury, and beyond. Furthermore, as arboriculture is a very dangerous task, arborists would be able to comment on unprofessional and negligently dangerous conduct that may have arisen from impromptu tree maintenance done by an untrained individual.

The field of forestry focuses more so on the scientific methods and techniques that one uses to create, plant, manage, conserve and repair forests, woodlands and associated forest-like environments. This would be particularly useful in timber production and is one of the ways that society has grown to preserve its natural forestry whilst also attempting to create sustainable timber acquisition methods.

Arborists are professional qualified and would have extensive experience in the field when it comes to maintaining and cutting down a tree. The specific specialisation and background needed by your arborist will depend upon the circumstances of your matter.

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Arborists would be able to comment heavily on tree safety as it related to damage of property and/or injury to individuals. Arborists would be able to assess whether the placement and maintenance of a tree would have created damage or injury in a manner that was so reasonably foreseeable so as to be negligent. Furthermore, arborists would be able to comment on the efficacy of past maintenance works, particularly commenting upon whether certain procedures adhered safety regulations and best practice procedures.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles A Climate-Conscious Arborist That Refuses to Cut Down Trees

Leaf & Limb reflect a climate conscious business model that has taken hold in the arborist industry, whereby some companies only work to remove invasive or dead trees without causing harm to any ones that are alive.

Give dodgy door-knocking tree loppers the chop, warns industry

Homeowners are being warned against tree lopping services that go door-to-door, with industry groups saying that these services aren’t entirely professional and cost people a lot in the damages that may accrue from poor tree lopping services.

Relevant Cases GNL Developments Pty Ltd v Monash CC [2021] VCAT 1062 (13 September 2021)

This matter had submissions that were written by a suitably qualified and experienced arborist.

Johnston v Blue Mountains City Council [2011] NSWLEC 1220 (8 July 2011)

Independent arborist reports were commissions to review the safety of trees in relation to the removal of said trees, and the dangers that this may pose during high wind speeds.

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