Arboriculture and forestry are two distinct disciplines related to the management of trees, but they differ in their scope and focus.
Arboriculture is the science and practice of cultivating, managing, and caring for individual trees in urban and suburban environments. It involves the selection, planting, pruning, and maintenance of trees to enhance their growth, health, and aesthetic appeal, as well as to minimize risks such as falling limbs or tree failure.
Arboriculture is often focused on trees in parks, residential areas, and other urban environments, where the primary goal is to create safe, healthy, and attractive landscapes.
Forestry, on the other hand, is the science and art of managing forests and woodlands for the sustained production of timber, fiber, and other forest products, as well as for the conservation of biodiversity and other ecosystem services.
It involves the management of entire forest ecosystems, including tree planting, timber harvesting, forest regeneration, and wildlife management. Forestry is often focused on rural or wildland areas, where the primary goal is to manage forest resources for economic, ecological, and social benefits.
Arboriculture and forestry are two distinct fields, though they share some similarities. Here’s a breakdown of the differences, based on the sources provided:
Arboriculture is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. The science of arboriculture focuses on proper tree planting, pruning, fertilizing, water, and other maintenance issues, as well as overall individual tree health.
Arborists care for individual trees on private property, often providing services such as pruning, planting, removal, pesticide application, and fertilization. A practicing arborist may or may not have a college degree, and the terms “arborist” and “tree expert” are not always regulated at the state or municipal level.
Forestry, on the other hand, is the branch of horticulture concerned with the planting and growth of trees, as well as the art and practice of cultivating, exploiting, and renewing forests for commercial purposes.
Foresters manage populations of trees, making decisions regarding when and how to plant and harvest trees in order to meet their management objectives.
Urban foresters manage the population of public trees in a community to maximize the benefits provided by trees, while minimizing the inherent risk posed by living in close proximity to these trees.
Urban forestry is a social science that incorporates arboriculture and includes landscape-level management such as urban forest inventory, valuation, planning, policy, etc. It deals with forests as systems (groups of trees) in a developed setting.
Businesses often need to hire arboriculturists to complete “tree hazard surveys” and generally manage the trees on-site to fulfill occupational safety and health obligations.
Arboriculture is primarily focused on individual woody plants and trees maintained for permanent landscape and amenity purposes, usually in gardens, parks, or other populated settings, by arborists, for the enjoyment, protection, and benefit of people.
Arboricultural matters are also considered to be within the practice of urban forestry, yet the clear and separate divisions are not distinct or discreet.
Arborists can be divided into two broad categories: practicing arborists and consulting arborists. Consulting arborists make tree care recommendations to improve the health and safety of trees, often as part of a “free estimate.”
We invite you to read our previous article on Arboriculture without irrigation.
Practicing arborists, also known as commercial arborists, provide tree care services such as pruning, planting, removal, pesticide application, and fertilization.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) oversees the “ISA Certified Tree Worker,” “ISA Certified Arborist,” and “ISA Board Certified Master Arborist” credentials.
An ISA Certified Arborist has met certain education and skill requirements and passed an examination to demonstrate that they possess a solid working knowledge of all aspects of arboriculture. The ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) is the highest level of certification offered by the ISA, recognizing individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their profession. Fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists currently hold the BCMA certification.
City & Guilds Forestry and Arboriculture qualifications are available for those interested in pursuing a career in either field.
In summary, arboriculture involves the care of individual trees, while forestry deals with forests as systems and focuses on the cultivation, exploitation, and renewal of forests for commercial purposes.
Urban forestry incorporates both fields and includes landscape-level management such as urban forest inventory, valuation, planning, policy, etc. Arborists care for individual trees, and can be divided into practicing and consulting arborists. The ISA oversees the certification of arborists, with the highest level being the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist.
Overall, while both arboriculture and forestry involve tree management, arboriculture is more focused on individual trees in urban areas, while forestry is more focused on forest ecosystems in rural or wildland areas.
The difference between arboriculture and forestry resorces:
Forestry and Arboriculture (0077)
Different Types of Tree Care Professionals
What is the difference between arboriculture and urban forestry?
No comment