Provenance in arboriculture

[squiralsquasmosis]

Hi everyone,

 

It has been some time since I have posted and some of you many have thought I had fallen from a tree or any of the other potential hazards encountered in this profession but no, I have been fourtunate enough to enter the academic side of the industry.

 

Recently I have been envolved in procuring this seasons stock for replanting and although I cant fault the nurseryman for the condition of the trees there is little opportunity for provenance of stock to suit the city I service.

 

This issue should concern our industry and is highlighted with threat posed by ash dieback and how it has exposed the working of tree nursery industry.

 

If the tree nursery industry continues to work to economies of scale in my view the likelyhood potential problems listed will increase:

1. Monoculture of stock
   
2. Weak potential disease resistance
   
3. Transit cost and disease importation
   

I fail to see how the industry in its current state can tackle these problems as my experience in trying to source trees recently has shown me.

 

I only want to highlight this issue with the beginning of this thread as I wonder if anyone has any ideas/plans in regard to providing provenance for future planting already in place or can give me more insight into how the industry functions.

 

Regards, squiralsquasmosis.

[HCR]

ICF and Confor are currently working on a chain of custody scheme for plants, which will help people such as yourself to make informed decisions.

 

Be careful using the word provenance - all it tells us is where the parent tree grew. Origin can be a more useful word.