Committee Member Discipline Representatives:
Edward F. Gilman, PhD, professor emeritus, University of Florida Subject Matter Expert
Norm Easey, CEO Emeritus, Florida Chapter ISA Committee Chair
Lori Ballard, Florida Chapter ISA, Executive Director Chapter Representative
Rob Calley, Backridge Tree Service, Inc. Small Production Company
Jonathan Frank, Large Production Company
Craig Wilson, City Arborist City of Dunedin Municipal
Dr. Ryan Klein, PhD, Assistant Professor University of Florida Educator
Lindsey Purcell, MS, Lp Consulting Group Urban Forestry
Development
The PPQ provides the knowledge, research, and tools (prescriptions) necessary to remove less living tissue, create a common language, and establish protocol resulting in consistency between the Prescriber and Producer. The use of prescriptive pruning enables the Prescriber to write a pruning prescription to guide the Producer to achieve the objectives. The Producer implements the prescription by practicing proper pruning and minimizing impacts which creates safer, stronger, healthier trees.
Unlike many of the texts, publications, and pruning seminars, this training event is a practical guide for strategic planning, specifying, and implementing a proper pruning approach. It incorporates consistency with the standards and BMPs in collaboration with current research and practice. The PPQ is the culmination of not only decades of Dr. Gilman’s research and the experience of many arborists, but also the commitment of the Prescription Pruning Qualification Committee (Committee) who are passionate about making our trees and industry better. For over two years, this Committee has deliberated over the best methodology for training, testing, and applying this program.
We are hopeful this pruning credential will create a major paradigm shift where no tree or group of trees are pruned without a prescription. Watch for upcoming classes in different locations throughout the state. The Florida Chapter would like to thank the following individuals for their participation on the Committee and dedication to this program.