ISA Municipal Specialist flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Urban forest management plan

A written multi-year document linking inventory data, canopy goals, maintenance cycles, staffing, and budget to adopted municipal priorities; typically updated every 5-10 years with public input.

Performance metric examples

Measurable indicators such as trees planted versus removed, pruning cycle length, percent of inventory inspected, hazard response time, and canopy change per decade used to report program progress.

Storm response priority routes

Pre-identified corridors such as hospital access, evacuation routes, and power substations that crews clear first after a storm, documented in an emergency response annex.

Complete tree inventory

A census recording every public tree with unique ID, species, DBH, condition, and location; highest accuracy and cost, best suited to mature programs with stable budgets.

Stratified random sampling

An inventory method dividing the city into strata (by land use or maintenance zone) and sampling plots within each; results are reported with a confidence interval, often plus or minus ten percent.

DBH measurement rule

Diameter at breast height is measured 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) above ground on the uphill side; the measurement height is adjusted for slope, swellings, and low branches per standard practice.

i-Tree Eco

A software suite that estimates urban forest structure and ecosystem services such as carbon storage, stormwater interception, and air pollution removal from inventory and local climate data.

Benefit-cost ratio

Total annual benefits divided by total annual costs; a value above 1.0 means the tree program returns more in ecosystem services than it costs to run.

Street tree ordinance

Local law defining jurisdiction over public trees, permit requirements, prohibited species, planting spacing, clearance standards, and penalties for unauthorized removal or damage.

Heritage tree designation

A formal status granted to a specimen of exceptional size, age, or historical value after nomination, arborist assessment, and public hearing; removal then requires special approval.

Trunk formula appraisal

A method estimating tree value from replacement cost, trunk area, species rating, condition rating, and location rating; commonly used for damage claims and permit mitigation.

Clearance standards

Codified vertical clearances over sidewalks and streets, often 8 feet over walks and 14-16 feet over roadways, cited in pruning permits and utility vegetation contracts.

10-20-30 diversity guideline

A planting composition rule limiting any one species to 10 percent, one genus to 20 percent, and one family to 30 percent of the urban forest to reduce catastrophic pest loss.

ANSI Z60.1

The American national standard for nursery stock specifying root ball size, caliper, branching structure, and quality; cite it in purchase contracts to reject substandard trees.

Root flare placement

The widening where roots meet trunk must sit at or slightly above grade; planting hole width should be two to three times the root ball diameter to allow root spread.

Establishment period

The two to three years after planting when supplemental irrigation, mulch maintenance, and structural pruning determine survival; inspections at 30 days, one year, and two years catch failures.

Structural pruning

Young-tree training that establishes a dominant leader and well-spaced scaffold branches; performed over multiple years rather than in one heavy cut to avoid weakening the tree.

ANSI A300 Part 1

The national pruning standard defining cut types and limits, including the guideline that no more than roughly 25 to 33 percent of live crown be removed per cycle.

Branch collar cut

A pruning cut made outside the branch bark ridge and collar so the tree can seal the wound; flush cuts and stub cuts are defects that invite decay and sprouting.

Tree risk matrix

A rating combining likelihood of failure, likelihood of impact, and consequence of failure; the resulting risk level sets mitigation urgency from immediate to routine cycle.

Critical Root Zone

The soil area containing roots essential to tree survival, commonly a radius of one foot per inch of DBH; construction activity inside it requires arborist review and protection.

Tree protection fencing

Barrier installed at the Tree Protection Zone boundary before demolition or grading and kept until final landscaping; installation is inspected and photographed for enforcement records.

Grade change effects

Lowering grade within the root zone severs roots; raising grade buries roots and reduces oxygen; both require arborist review, root pruning, or aeration systems before approval.

Directional boring

A trenchless installation method that passes utilities beneath a root plate without cutting roots; preferred over open trenching inside a Tree Protection Zone.

Risk communication message

A public statement naming the hazard, the action being taken, the timeline, and a contact; it avoids jargon and does not minimize legitimate resident concerns.

Engagement ladder

A spectrum from inform through consult, involve, collaborate, and empower; the level chosen should match the stakes and the decision authority being shared with the public.

Canopy equity analysis

Mapping canopy cover against income, race, and heat vulnerability data to prioritize planting in underserved neighborhoods and to communicate distributional inequities publicly.

Volunteer planting waiver

A signed liability release plus safety briefing and tool training required before volunteers plant; minors need guardian consent under most municipal risk policies.

Cost-per-tree metric

Total program cost for an activity divided by trees treated; separating planting, pruning, removal, and inspection allows year-over-year and crew-to-crew comparison.

Procurement thresholds

Dollar limits set in purchasing policy: informal quotes below the threshold, sealed bids above it, and emergency purchases requiring documented justification and council approval.

Contract specification standards

Contract language citing ANSI A300, Z60.1, and Z133, plus scope, unit pricing (per tree or per DBH inch), and inspection and acceptance criteria for the work.

Crew productivity benchmark

A planning estimate of trees pruned per crew-day, often 15 to 30 for a trained two- to three-person crew depending on tree size and site access; local data should replace generic figures.