ISAHK Newsletter 1 Public

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE HONG KONG CHAPTER (ISAHK)

Newsletter Inaugural Issue

April 2018

Feature Articles on Urban Forestry ISAHK Events and Activities Chapter’s New Board of Directors

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORCULTURE HONG KONG CHAPTER

Newsletter Inaugural Issue

Table of Contents

March 2018

PUBLISHER International Society of Arboriculture Hong Kong Chapter EDITOR Steve NG ASSISTANT EDITOR Leon LAU TECHNICAL EDITOR Chiky WONG & Flora LEUNG PROOFREADERS Anny LI, Alvin TANG & James Ian ROBINSON LAYOUT & DESIGN Colin CHUI COORDINATOR Florence YEUNG SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISEMENT info@isahongkong.org EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Chairman : Steve NG Vice-chairman : Leon LAU Financial controller : Flora LEUNG Secretary : Anny LI Members : Colin CHUI, Chiky WONG

Your contributions to and comments about ISAHK Newsletter are welcome.

Please submit all materials to ISAHK office.

Message from the President and Editor’s Note

3

ISAHK Chapter Organization Chart & Board of Directors 2018

4

ISA Hong Kong Chapter Sub-committees 2018

5 6-10

Sub-committee Report 1.

Certification Committee

6

2.

Editorial Committee

7

3.

Membership Committee

8

4.

Tree Climbing Championship Committee

9

5.

Education Committee

10 11-16

Events and Activities 1.

Presentations and Seminars by ISAHK Directors

11

2.

Chapter-Hosted Seminars and Events

12

3.

Hong Kong Tree Climbing Championship cum “Trees are Good” Fun Day

13

4.

Other Events and Activities

14

Events Summary 2017

15

Upcoming Events 2018

16

Feature Articles 1.

Urban Forestry Series 1: What is Urban Forestry?

17-19

2.

Improve Urban Landscape to Elevate Livability and Place Ecology

20-23

ISAHK Chapter Membership Application Forms

Address: PO Box 83282 Concorde Road Post Office, Hong Kong Telephone: 5228 5526 Email: info@ISAHONGKONG.ORG

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Board Members,

committee members, exam proctors, volunteers, staff and especially the Past Presidents who worked for the Chapter over the years. Some of our committee members have worked for the Chapter and the AO (before the Chapter was established) for more than 8 years. They are the unnamed heroes and laid down the cornerstone of the Chapter. They have completely improved every aspect of our examinations, membership system, education seminars and conference, tree climbing championship event and administration system. Without them, our Chapter would not be as now is.

I would also like to thank our Past President Mr. John HO who established the steering committee of ISAHK and ran the Chapter in the first two years.

He established a good platform and network for us to work on. I am sure there’s a lot of sweat and tears when he pulled the scattered parties together and formed the Chapter in the very beginning.

EDITOR’S NOTE I am delighted to announce the launch of Newsletter of ISA Hong Kong Chapter. The aim of the newsletter is to share new knowledge and up-to-date information in the arboriculture industry, and also news from the Chapter including events and activities, ISA examinations and so on.

In this inaugural issue (March 2018), we are very honored to have Ms. Deborah KUH, Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of HKSAR’s Development Bureau, to write an article on Hong Kong’s urban forest.

The Chapter’s new Board of Directors were elected during AGM late last year (2017). We took this opportunity to introduce Chapter’s structure and conclude various committees work in the past year. Chapter’s tentative annual plan of events and activities were also provided so mark your calendar and stay connected with us.

We believe that Newsletter of ISA Hong Kong Chapter will be the primary platform for communication between the Chapter and its members. It would enhance transparency of Chapter’s operation and foster connection among members, further advancing Chapter and the industry’s development.

The Immediate Past President Mr. Chiky WONG has devoted himself to the operation of the Chapter in the past two years that I cannot match up. His name appeared in almost every committee and he understands each of them very well. He worked with different committees and developed a new examination – QCPT, which is widely recognized by government. He revamped our FB and webpage with the Editorial Committee. He represented the Chapter in international conferences and local seminars in promoting the benefits of trees and the image of the arboriculture industry.

Without these selfless good people, the arboriculture profession would not have received such high reputation in our city.

There have been a lot of changes in the industry over the years. Some of the changes have been very challenging indeed. So far, we have gone through them. Sometimes painfully, sometimes happily and sometimes solitarily. I am sure there will be a lot more challenges ahead. We cannot choose the changes. However, we can choose to work either collaboratively to lead the changes or as an individual and be influenced by the changes. It is time for us as arborists to work hand in hand in shaping our future and showing our professionalism together.

Steve NG Editor Chairperson of Editorial Committee

Mike LEUNG President – ISA Hong Kong Chapter NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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ISAHK ORGANIZATION CHART

ISAHK BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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ISAHK SUB-COMMITTEES 2018

ISAHK is composed of the Board of Directors, four functional committees and four supporting committees to perform different tasks and functions. The Treasurer and Board Secretary support financial and secretarial matters. Besides, there are two ISA Headquarters’ statutory posts. They are Chapter (Certification) Liaison who is the Chairperson of Certification Committee. S/He acts as the bridge between Headquarters & Chapter on examinations credential maintenance issues. The Chapter Representative represents ISAHK to serve as the interface between Headquarters and Chapter for operational matters.

The Chapter also have two staff members who provide administrative support.

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE Certification Committee was established in 2013. It is one of the earliest committees formed in ISAHK. Every year, we organize a number of paper credentials examination including Certified Arborist (CA), Certified Tree Worker- Climber Specialist (CTW-CS), Municipal Specialist (MS), Utility Specialist (US) and Certified Tree Worker-Aerial Lift Specialist (CTW-ALS) and organize skill tests for Certified Tree WorkerClimber Specialist (CTW-CS). Since 2015, we have introduced a local chainsaw operation programme - Qualified Chainsaw and Pruning (Ground-based) Technician (QCPT) Assessment. This programme is designed to assess and standardize the basic proficiency level required for on-ground chainsaw operation for the industry.

As a professional organization in the industry, members’ certification and recognition are essential. In the past five years, the committee members have consistently delivered high standard of work to ensure all the examinations, local programmes and corresponding certifications are all well implemented. Our team will keep up good effort to contribute to the Chapter and the industry.

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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EDITORIAL COMMITTEE The Editorial Committee is one of the five major committees of the Chapter. It promotes Chapter’s events and activities, and knowledge of the arboriculture industry by publishing relevant publications, articles or posters submitted by members of other committees. In 2017, we revamped Chapter’s website to make it more user-friendly, informative and inter-active. We also frequently updated Chapter’s official Facebook to provide up-to-date news information of the industry, reference materials for public and member’ interests and also info of industrial events. This newsletter that you are reading is also our product to ensure everyone who cares our trees and urban forest could get latest information from the Chapter. Every article has been reviewed and vetted by at least 2 members from the committee prior to publication.

Chairperson Vice Chairperson No. of members No. of meetings held in 2017

: Steve NG : Leon LAU :6 :9

Major responsibilities:  To examine articles, posters and other publications to be posted on Facebook, website and newsletter  To promote events of the Chapter via Facebook, website and newsletter  To maintain and update Chapter’s website  To establish the online membership system for registered public and members to receive updated information of the Chapter

Assignment Timeline:

- Logo Usage Policy

- Committee Framework

- Editorial Helpers Team Formation - Facebook Management Review

- Web Hosting Server Renewal

- Newsletter Plan - Website Policy Dec 2016

Jan 2017

Feb 2017

Mar 2017

Apr 2017

May 2017

Jun 2017

Jul 2017

Aug 2017

Sep 2017

Oct 2017

Nov 2017

Dec 2017

- Committee Policy Review - Membership System Framework Review

- Committee Annual Plan

- Newsletter Preparation

- TCC Promotion

- Launch of New Website

- Membership System Interface Review

- TCC Promotion Plan

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Q: What is the major duty of Membership Committee?

A: Major duty of Membership Committee is to formulate membership policy of ISAHK. We also review it from time to time in order to match the trend of the industry as well as the development of our Chapter. Besides, we resolve and liaise with ISA Headquarters regarding membership issues. We also offer benefits or activities to our members.

Q: What sort of benefits and activities are offered by the Membership Committee?

A: For examples, we offered book purchasing and delivery service to members, career talks to tertiary institutions. We also cooperated with CUHK Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium in Citizen Science Program so our members could participate in guiding interested young persons to know about the nature.

Q: There are 4 types of memberships: Ordinary Member, Professional Member, Student Member and Corporate Member. Student Membership is the latest type of membership offered by the Chapter.

What benefits a student member can have?

A: Student members could enjoy concessionary rate for all ISAHK seminars and activities that specialized for student members such as career talks. Chapter’s student members can even join the ISA Headquarters Student Membership for free! ISA student members can enjoy: 1. Online access to ISA publications 2. Discounts on online CEU quizzes and merchandize purchased through the ISA web store 3. Reduced registration fees for ISA meetings, workshops and conferences.

Q: I do not remember if I am member of ISAHQ and ISAHK, how can I check?

A: You can check your membership status anytime under “MyISA” (see screen-cap below) by logging into your account on www.isa-arbor.com. If you do not have a login, you can send enquiry email to membership@isahongkong.org.

Please note that if you have just applied for membership via Hong Kong Chapter recently e.g. less than a month, the system on www.isa-arbor.com may not be able to show your Chapter membership status as the system between HK and US takes time to verify and synchronize.

Q: What is Membership Committee working on now? Any coming activities or benefits?

A: We are now cooperating with Editorial Committee to work on Chapter’s online application and member login system. We will also work with Education Committee to offer some members-only activities e.g. hiking, technical visit etc. Your suggestions are welcome as well. Send us your idea via membership@isahongkong.org.

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE The last Hong Kong Tree Climbing Championship (HKTCC) was successfully held in Shing Mun Country Park in November 2017. It was the 8th HKTCC and the event had drawn the participation of over 40 professional tree climbers from Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan. The fun day attached to the event was also widely welcomed and supported by the general public. HKTCC has further enhanced public’s understanding of professional tree climbing, tree work and the arboriculture industry in general.

So why was there an HKTCC? What’s the rationale behind? It all started with a group of enthusiastic tree lovers, who organized an open day for the public as part of the group’s anniversary celebration, and with an aim to promote public’s knowledge in trees and tree-climbing. In the following year, this dedicated group organized a tree-climbing competition with huge collaborative efforts (and even their own money!) and that’s the birth of the first HKTCC. TCC’s philosophy is to elevate industrial standards and create a platform for tree climbers to showcase and exchange techniques. Furthermore, it brings participating tree climbers into spotlight and establishes climbers professional image, further promoting arboriculture as a unique profession.

Since the second HKTCC, we have aligned events and rules with those of ISA’s Headquarters in order to further advance the competition’s standards. In recent two years, we collaborated with the HKSAR Government and held the HKTCC in country parks so as to allow easy-access for the general public, to watch the events or participate in the attached fun day – during which members of the public could try climbing a tree, get a sense of being in the canopy, access tree and conservation-related knowledge through booth games and guided tours. We are grateful to receive wide support from different sectors of the community, including local and oversea media, to bring a big success to the event.

We will continue to improve and promote HKTCC, as it catalysed professionalism and friendship among regional fellow climbers and is a dream-come-true for all tree lovers.

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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EDUCATION COMMITTEE Year 2017 is a busy year for Education Committee. The year has been filled with various programmes such as seminars in February, May and November, workshops in November, International Conference in December, TRAQ courses in July and October have filled up our programme in the year. Among those events, the International Conference was the most memorable event. Experts from Australia and local universities presented their research findings in the conference. The experience of the experts in tree disease management, strategic tree planting, old tree management and maintaining biodiversity provided valuable reference to fellow arborists in maintaining our tree asset in Hong Kong. Arborists from government, arboriculture and landscape companies filled up all the 120 seats of the conference hall. This year’s participating arborists included those from Macau and Singapore as well.

Continuous learning is the fundamental requirement in the field of arboriculture and that is why ISA requires credential holders to renew the credentials by earning continuous education units (CEUs). Like other science disciplines, arboriculture knowledge and new technology evolves every year. By 2019, the Hong Kong Government will launch the Qualification Framework (QF) for the horticulture and arboriculture industry. Arborists shall prepare for the upcoming changes in terms of knowledge and attitude. Our committee will continue the mission of ISAHK to promote professional practice of arboriculture and foster public awareness of the benefit of the trees by providing more education events for the public and our members in the future.

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS BY ISAHK DIRECTORS:

For Chartered Institute of Housing, Asia Pacific Branch

by Chiky Wong For Property Management

by Mike Leung

In ISA Int’l Conference

by Samuel Ma

On Tree Management in Hong Kong

by Kingsley Choi (right)

Ganoderma Seminar

Chainsaw Safety seminar

by Tong Ng

by Alvin Tang

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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CHAPTER-HOSTED SEMINARS AND EVENTS:

Feb 24, 2017 Seminar on Ants & Trees

May 27, 2017 Seminar on “Handbook on Tree Management” and related legal issues

Nov 12, 2017 Education Seminar in HKTCC

Mar & Jul 2017 QCPT Assessment

Jul & Oct 2017 TRAQ Course and Exam

Nov 20, 2017 Ganoderma Seminar

Jan - Jul, 2017 Member Activities with CUHK Herbarium (ISAHK-Supporting Event)

Dec 15, 2017 Seminar on HK’s Common Insect Pests on Trees

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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HONG KONG TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP CUM “ TREES ARE GOOD” FUN DAY (Nov 11-12, 2017):

Good” Fun Day

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Jan - Jul, 2017 Member Activities with CUHK Herbarium (ISAHK-Supporting Event)

Oct 25, 2017 ISAHK board members met with Mr. Kevin MARTLAGE (7th from left), Director of Professional Development ISA Headquarters

Dec 8, 2017 ISAHK International Conference 2017

Dec 15, 2017 Annual General Meeting and Election of New Board Members

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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EVENTS SUMMARY 2017 Feb 24

Seminar on Ants & Plants Speaker: • Dr. Benoit Guénard, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

Feb 25

ISA Certifications Written Exams

Mar 19

QCPT Assessment

Mar 26

CTW Practical Assessment

May 27

Seminar on “Handbook on Tree Management” and related legal issues Speakers: • Ms. Yvonne Leung, Solicitor • Mr. Mike Leung, President-Elect, ISAHK

July 19-21

TRAQ Course and Exam

July 30

QCPT Assessment

Sep 16

ISA Certifications Written Exams

Oct 12-14

TRAQ Course and Exam

Oct 22

CTW Practical Assessment

Nov 11-12

2017 Hong Kong Tree Climbing Championship (HKTCC) cum “Trees are Good” Fun Day

Nov 12

Nov 20

HKTCC "Trees Are Good" Fun Day - Public Seminar Speakers: • Dr. Kathleen Wolf, Research Social Scientist, University of Washington.

• Mr. Mark Duntemann, Instructor of the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Programme • Dr. Richard Hauer, Associate Professor of Urban Forestry, University of Wisconsin Seminar: The Ecology and Identification of Ganoderma Speaker: • Dr. Alvin Tang, Board Member & Board Secretary, ISAHK

Dec 8

ISAHK International Conference 2017

Dec 15

Annual General Meeting cum Seminar: An Introduction to Tree Insect Pests in Hong Kong Speaker: • Mr. Yiu Vor, Chairman of the Hong Kong Entomological Society

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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UPCOMING EVENTS 2018 Feb

Feb 8: Seminar on brown root rot disease Feb 9: Workshop on chainsaw safety operation

Mar

March 24: ISA certifications written exams March 25: “Love Trees? Touch and Climb it” @HK SciFest 2018

Apr

April 15, “Meet the Arborists” @HK SciFest 2018 Apr 22, Seminar “How Trees Sustain a Habitable City” @HK SciFest 2018 * TRAQ course and exam + renewal assessment * ISA CTW skill exam *Apr 29, field study, insects on trees and wood

May

* QCPT assessment * Seminar on property management * Workshop on proper tree planting

Jun

* Seminar for members * Visit Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden’s native tree nursery

Aug

* International Conference 2018

Sep

* ISA certifications written exams * Visit West Kowloon Cultural District

Oct

* Seminar for members * TRAQ course and exam + renewal assessment

Nov

* Workshop on native tree identification * Hong Kong Tree Climbing Championship 2018

Dec

* Workshop on basic tree climbing and rigging technique

* Events are tentatively scheduled and subject to further confirmation

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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FEATURE ARTICLES - 1

URBAN FORESTRY SERIES 1: WHAT IS URBAN FORESTRY? Chiky WONG Immediate Past President, ISAHK

The terms “Urban Forest” (「城市森林」or「都市林」) and Urban Forestry (「城市林務」) have gained promotion by the government and are gradually adopted by the industry recently. The boundary of these terms, however, appears blurred to most people. Even practitioners may find it confusing or may sometimes mis-use “Urban Forest (ry)” as an interchangeable term with arboriculture, landscape and urban greening. They are different fundamentally.

Urban Forestry was defined as early in 1974

by American Biologist Erik M. Joegensen as "… a specialized branch of forestry and has, as its objectives, the cultivation and management of trees for their present and potential contribution to the physiological, sociological and economic well-being of urban society. These contributions include the over-all ameliorating effect of trees on their environment, as well as their recreational and general amenity value."

This implies that the term was derived from traditional “Forestry”, in which the management of trees are usually (if not mainly) for economics purposes (e.g. wood harvesting). In urban scenario, however, policy and action of forest management was reconfigured to benefit activities of city dwellers (i.e. urban services), not necessarily from tangible products. In this sense, the scope of urban forestry appears wider with involvement of more related professions and coordination with many more stakeholders. Many trees in urban Hong Kong have been planted and/or managed in different extent since WWII. Such human manipulation (government as the major stakeholder) occurred sporadically along our history due to specific needs. This has shaped our current urban forest asset and formed the primordial management model, which is expected to be further enhanced to tackle increasing challenge. Urban forestry, in this sense, should not be played as just a fancy term or old wine in new bottles. This concept, however, provides a comprehensive framework for further transformation of the current management model.

Note: Full version of this article is accessible by members only

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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FEATURE ARTICLES - 2

Improve Urban Landscape to Elevate Livability and Place Ecology

By Deborah KUH Head, GLTMS, DEVB, HKSAR LIFE-CYCLE OF URBAN TREES IN HONG KONG: AN OVERVIEW Trees, like other living organisms have a natural cycle. They grow, age, become weak and eventually pass away. A tree’s growth is subject to a combination of internal or bio-physical constraints as well as external or environmental, landscape and urban factors. Different tree species have different growth patterns. In general, as trees grow older and larger, their ability to maintain a healthy condition and recover from impacting factors will decline and one day – cease to function. In a compact and dense urban environment such as Hong Kong, our urban trees are susceptible to higher stresses. Trees in the city will always have a shorter life span, or life-cycle, to trees in a natural or country park environment.

For proper urban arboricultural practice, trees should be replanted as they age and become senescent, placing intermittent stock to maintain mature canopies and protection for the new trees as they grow and establish. If we try to keep trees contrary to their life-cycle, then the trees will die-off around the same time. This leaves us with no mature stock, no protection for young trees, and improper urban arboricultural and landscape practice.

Different Life Stages to Senescence Life-Stage

Note: Full version of this article is accessible by members only

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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ISAHK MEMBERSHIP In order to raise the professional standing of the arboriculture industry in Hong Kong and to promote quality performance and career prospects of practitioners, ISA HK Chapter offers the following Membership Scheme: A Chapter member enjoys several membership benefits: • Obtain the latest industry update and information through conferences, seminars, workshops and events.

• Establish and maintain a network of professional arborists in Hong Kong and worldwide.

• Maintain ISA credentials through CEUs offered by the Chapter.

• Obtain discounts on seminars, book purchasing and services.

By becoming a Chapter’s member, you are also helping to: • Maintain and improve the industry standards in Hong Kong • Encourage education and research • Raise public awareness on proper tree care and management Professional Membership, Ordinary Membership and Student Membership: Membership Form: https://goo.gl/zJXGQi Or scan this:

Corporate Membership Corporate contributions are important to support the development of our local arboriculture industry. ISA Hong Kong Chapter treasures the connections with local companies and organizations that are embracing the values of trees in benefiting the urban environment and citizens’ living. Our Corporate Membership Program provides your company / organization a chance to show your support to our industry professionals, as well as industry and public education initiatives. Become a Corporate Member of ISA Hong Kong Chapter today you can enjoy a lot of benefits more than justify the reasonable cost of membership including increased exposure of your company in various local arboricultural events.

ISAHK Corporate Membership Form: https://goo.gl/Gbe2sq Or scan this:

NEWSLETTER – ISAHK – Inaugural Issue (MARCH 2018)

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