Protecting Mature Trees, meeting held on June 2, 2021

Protecting Mature Trees

Meeting held on June 2nd 2021 11am-1:30pm

Large mature trees provide amazing benefits of shade, wildlife habitat, and sense of neighborhood–yet our region is losing trees to development, drought, pests, storms, sidewalks, and more.  Little will change if we don’t understand how to protect and advocate for these trees. Join us to discuss how to work together with municipalities, communities, and tree care professionals toward the mutual goals of preserving, evaluating, and protecting San Diego’s mature trees.

 View recording of meeting. The meeting started with a two-minute virtual tour of some of San Diego’s mature trees, set to music.  Delia Juncal presented a short presentation covering the most basic concepts of mature tree care, tree risk assessment and code compliance.  The Panel of local experts offered specific actions that could be taken to “work together to preserve, evaluate and protect San Diego’s mature trees,” from their perspectives (arborist, community member).  Questions and answers.

Our panel included:

Moderator – Anne Fege is an urban forester, co-leader of the Kate Sessions Commitment project for growing healthy trees in communities, adjunct Professor of Biology at San Diego State University, and retired Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest. 

Delia Juncal is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and a Certified Urban Forester, with more than 40 years in the environmental, development, and arboricultural industry. She retired as the City Forester for the City of Oceanside, after working for the City for 30 years.  Delia has instructed horticulture classes, helped manage volunteer-driven events for the Western Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture, and does tree consulting work.

David Roger is a California certified urban forester and ISA certified arborist. He consults with cities on urban forestry issues and has served as the City Forester for Riverside and Claremont. Dave has chaired CalFire’s Urban Forest Advisory Committee, served as treasurer of the Inland Empire Urban Forest Council and past president of the California Urban Forests Council, and has taught classes at the University of California Riverside Extension.

Butch Everett is a Registered Consulting Arborist, Certified Tree Risk Assessor, and co-owner of Tree Life Consulting. His firm provides arborist consulting and technical services to real estate professionals, homeowner associations, attorneys, private estates, institutions, facilities and communities throughout southern California. 

Lynn Langley is a trained Master Gardener and Balboa Park Tree Steward, an avid gardener and active in the San Diego Horticultural Society. She volunteers on the Master Gardener “hotline” (858) 822-6910) to answer questions and refer callers to online and other resources.