Cassian

A candidate that starts at project commencement (late September/Early October) will be on full pay with management for a 5 week boot camp in preparation for the project. We are to gain a crash course in NiVan relations as well participate in team building exercises with our client...

Iv'e worked in Vancouver (attended ISA Conference in 2013, back again in 2019), great city, country & great Arb's, I strongly recommend you young Blighty Arb's give it a go...

Just to give a greater perspective to the sustainability of this project our client - a social justice mover & maker has secured funding for mirroring our Vanuatu project in FiJi & Papua New Guinea (PNG)...

Naturaculture - a for profit Arboricultural business (Australia & Vanuatu based) that specialises in working for not-for-profit Social Justice organisations seeks an Arboricultural Consultant to work with our team in Vanuatu. We are seeking a full time consulting level arboriculturist with the capacity to be trained to work at a senior level, though will take a senior level consultant who ticks our boxes. The successful candidate is to be a team player that practises inclusivity for all staff, our preferred consultant is to be more interested in giving than receiving - though we will provide a healthy remuneration package to the right candidate, as well as professional development opportunity (predominantly the greatest growth opportunity within our business relates to plant health care – soil food web science and experience with commercial compost facility management). Our team is made up of highly experienced arboricultural managers, consultants and contractors, run by an arboricultural Director (with 30 years industry experience) and an Executive Officer. Your role will involve co-managing a range of diverse arboricultural initiatives – involving vegetation pruning/clearing/processing (4*4 Isuzu trucks, Bandit 12” & 15”chippers) compost facility management, veteran/ancient tree management (part of our community engagement) program, re-vegetation of mining sites, plant nutrient analysis, as well as assisting with staff mentoring & training. Your role is fundamental to our joint progress, so we need a very sharp mind. Selection criteria - · Minimum Level 5 Diploma in Arboriculture · City & Guilds Certificate 4 in Delivering Training - 6258 (or AUS Cert 4 in Training & Assessment) · QTRA or VALID certified with demonstrated risk assessment experience. · Minimum 5 years consulting experience – post graduation. · Minimum 5 years contractual experience – must be fit enough to assist contractual staff with field work & cyclone response work, as well as be capable of carrying out aerial climbing inspections on ancient/veteran trees. · Proven ability to apply academic knowledge and concepts to practical situations · Experience of AutoCAD software systems, or equivalent · Excellent report writing skills · Solid botanical skills for identifying vegetation · Experience in identifying organisms with a predisposition to impact on tree vitality or tree biomechanics. · Experience in tree planting or re-vegetation projects. · Proven ability to carry out planning, research & to network. · Proven ability to assess & hypothesise on tree body language in the context of VTA. · Laboratory experience is a benefit (training will be given). · High level of personal & professional integrity · Willingness to commit to up to 5 years with a base in Vanuatu & a willingness to participate in Australian/UK projects · Commitment to participate in Naturaculture security program · Commitment to follow staff code of conduct (HSE values) · Drivers license essential, MR lorry license attractive to have. What we will offer to the right recipient based on qualifications & experience – · £44,300 to £50,000 · 10% paid into super/pension fund · Bonus system based on achieving client milestones · Rostered Day Off (RDO) every fortnight · SFW training & further professional development support (RDO sacrifice for PD maybe required) · Paid 8-hour day for 8.5 hrs per day with 1 hours break time, over time rates are paid · Return flights home paid once per year, plus 4 recreational flights to Australia · Resort level accommodation provided · 4 weeks paid holiday per year, with the option to take a further 4 weeks unpaid leave. · Organic food supplied with staff labour contribution to staff community garden. · Company vehicle supplied for work hours. Project start – due September/October 2018, our full time consultant will be needed to join us in Vanuatu soon after our depot is established (we will hold space until January/February for the right candidate) though preference will be given to parties willing to come on board at project commencement. For interested parties please draft a background on yourself, respond to the selection criteria as best you can, provide scanned copies of qualifications & provide a CV. Please email response to Cassian Humphreys – [email protected] Short listed parties will be interviewed on line.

Hi Treemover, sorry, I only just tuned in too your update post. Would be really interesting to see a photograph of the actual cross section, to compare with my records. With CS and that level of internal advancement I would expect to see a greater level of external dysfunction. Any news on the tree's future status. Regards Cassian...

Hi Jules, Your description relating to the trees above has parallels to Gums with advanced CS symptoms, with large panels of thickened bark likewise coming of in sheets though not until the final stages of decline/death. Any chance of supplying some pictures? This disease is very new to S.E. Qld gums. The only arborists here that I am aware of who are familiar with CS have been involved with the Energex VTA Program. We did not see this prior to 2009.

Hi Treemover, the pics you supplied are classic VTA symptoms of what we would call early to mid range symptoms of canker syndrome. When I say we I make reference to a relatively small team or arborists two at management level working for the S.E. Qld Utility company Energex (we were contracted to) and one who was my assistant working on the Energex VTA Program (Jonathan Cowan brother to UK Andrew Cowan), a project which ran from 2007 until June 2012 (currently suspended due to Qld Gov cutbacks). In the case of advanced symptoms once the trees are at the point of failure DBH’s are generally up around 1.5 to 2.5m, though we have seen scores of young trees (DBH .5 to 1m) with early CS symptoms. The embrittled wood is expected to be soft rot induced and looks very much like a brown rot type decay in the hardwood, where as decay in the sapwood looks like a white rot (I understand this is normal for simultaneous soft rot wood decays in Europe). We have very limited data on wood decay fungi in Australia, with very limited data shared between Australian arborists. I will be very interested to hear news on the clients analyisis.

Note - Tree Mover -The pics above are indicative of early symptoms, our experience in Oz is that with drought the disease is considerably slowed (3 year timeframe to ringbarked and standing dead with high rainfall). If this is new to Britain then with the climate there I would expect rapid spread and gum decline/death. Check pages 8-9 of the report for symptoms ranging from early to advanced. I just remembered the old post was named Sudden Gum Death... Regards Cassian.

Gday Gents, as a Qld consulting arborist I have been gathering the data on this significant disease for Energex a S.E. Qld Utility company for 4 years. The first tree that I found was 2009 on Mt Glorious, since then the disease has spread to 50 locations in S. E. Qld (hundreds of trees), 35 locations recorded on Google Earth. It’s a scary one has it is spreading and killing so fast. The symptoms in your globulus are identical to symptoms affecting E. saligna, pilularis, and grandis and are similar to those effecting Corymbia intermedia and Lophostemon confertus in S.E. Qld. The data I have gathered has gone into 3 ETS/Energex reports (of mine) the most recent I had published as a two part article in the Australian Arbor Age (Oct-Nov 12 & Dec-Jan 13). Gums are going from having early symptoms (infection into bark) to advanced within a 3 year time frame and are being ring barked and killed, as part of the advanced process wood is embrittled resulting in shear failure within 2m of ground level (Out of 9 tree failures 2 where still live at point of failure and where 90% ringbarked). The disease is unknown by the Arb profession and forest pathologists in S.E Qld, though since my alerting DAFF pathologists (QLD) I have received recognition that the disease/disorder is present. I have named the beastie Canker Syndrome as it appears that a number of organisms may be involved (as opposed to a single causal agent). The key causal factors for spread are high rainfall, with gums in disturbed sites where soil compaction is prevalent. I ran a presentation on the syndrome for The Qld Arboricultural Association earlier this year. To see a copy of the original report check our website – Education | NaturaCulture. The Canker Syndrome update report (29/8/12) is second from the end in the list of past reports/articles. I made comparison to the canker disease Chrysoporthe cubensis in the update report. I would greatly appreciate feedback on the report from the British profession as I am getting nothing from Australia. I discussed this in an earlier Arb Talk thread under the name Popcorn Canker. Bad news if its in the UK too. Regards Cassian (expat Brit Merrist Wood Arb).

To whoever is interested, I commend Guy's (TreeSeer)and my efforts to generate a movement that will hopefully create a collective human action to manage and hopefully suppress a fungal organism/s gone rouge. As with all rouge pathogens the issue lies with an (altered) environment that favours the minority -the pathogen over the majority -the antagonists (from the pathogens perspective) or the beneficials (from a trees). Like you Fungus I see harmony in the tree world as a result of working with the soil food web. For the few of us in a position to take action in relation to this SE Qld epidemic we will achieve success by harmonious interaction. I encourage you to take a leaf out of your own book and be like a mycorrhizae - supportive. Cassian

As far as conclusions can be reached in this phase of the analyses and with the present macroscopical documentation, I would attribute the dramatic effects to a combined strategy of the Cryptonectria and K. deusta, where the Cryphonectria is the primary parasitic and not wood degrading pathogen and K. deusta is the secondary pathogen starting off as a saprotrophic soft rotting the heart wood inside out and becoming parasitic once the living tissue is reached through invasion of radial rays and the remaining living cambium is killed, after which it fruits with anamorphs within a year developing into teleomorphs. If this is the case, the FB's of Cryphonectria should be found scattered over the trunk (causing local bark and cambium necrosis and/or canker ?) and the FB's of K. deusta should be found at the base of the trees. This perspective really fits our story and the perspectives given me by other Oz Arbs involved (Sean Freeman). There is another fungi (3rd) in this equation. In all the failed dead Eucalypts I have observed (and photographed) another fruiting body (small thin and brown - below) has been present. Have also seen it on standing dead and live gums with the advanced canker symptoms and prolific wood decay. The presence of this FB is I believe an indicator the tree is close to failing. This 3rd FB is indicative of stage 3 and snap time.

Hey Fungus - I really appreciate your input - best regards Cassian.

Below are a series of photos giving perspective of what a psuedo mycologist would call FB's. The Grey/white and Black FB are the same with a 12 month time gap. We are seeing what we think at present is Cryphonectria cubensis & Kretzschmaria deusta. Gents if I could show you the outbreaks I am witnessing and the spread tree to tree and on individuals I am sure you would agree this disease is as bad as they get. The Orange FB on the next post is another common form we are finding.

Hi gents, based on Genuses/species affected Sudden Gum Death is a better name. The attached are examples of what I have been calling White rot. Whichever it is this is a consistant across all infected trees. The bark becomes infected first then pockets of wood, in some cases Gums are killed (E. grandis & E. saligna) without signs of canker & with outer growth increments colonised by the white rot.

Bugger, replied to your first 3 questions Fungus and can't see where they were posted. In answer to Decay type - Pockets and galleries of white rot is a consistent, the fractured stems appear highly embrittled an indicator of soft rot, yes? Failed stems look much like K. deutsa. The wood is brittle and shiny. No signs of brown rot associated with any of the failures studied so far. Having great difficulty to attach pics - Decay sample and FB's.

Based on my visual observations/records I suggest both types of FB are present. Am due to check samples microscopically next week. Truth is we Arbs in Oz have yet to be exposed to the level of fungi assessment detail in Europe. See Pics in next post. We will obtain this detail, our challenge is gaining support/funding. Though based on my field assessments today and observation of disease symptoms on trees up to 200m into forest (very scary observation considering the extensive microbiological diversity that must be surrounding them) I suspect big brother support will come. Most of the sick trees surveyed so far are in denuded environments - road side, HV corridors & agricultural land. I maintain this beast is to become an epidemic, with the extensive gum tree cover and the many locations I have recorded the disease government support will be a necessity. The good news is thanks to the Utility we have support to get to a third report, which I hope to have drafted by next week. I would like to post the reports I have developed so far, any idea how? I am working on an action plan and will share as it develops.

The following illustrate early to advanced symptoms, in areas of highest rainfall this is occuring within 3 years. You can see what I mean by fast. Eucalyptus grandis, E. pilularis, Eucalyptus major, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Lophostemon confertus, Corymbia gummifera - the list is growing. Will reply again tonight. Cassian.

Thanks for your help re- image attachment. Will give a decent reply to our micologist mate response. In the meantime the following images tell a story. Pictures of fungal activity (mycelial mass/fruiting bodies to come).

Say, can you help I am having a problem posting images - thanks Cassian...

Hi, thanks for the Prompt Guy. I am the consultant arb (Brisbane/Sunshine Coast - SE Qld Based) responsible for gathering data on Gum trees with this disease over the last two years (for utility and main roads stakeholders). Guy went on a tour with me of infected trees the weekend just gone. What we have here is a fungal disease wihich causes lesions leading to ringbarking and death. With some trees failing within 2m of groundlevel after being killed (dead gums usually slowly fragment from the top unless a brown rot is present) and some failing whilst still live. The disease has a failure mode and similar symptoms to Kretzschmaria deusta, I have found fruiting bodies identical to K. deutsa (both resupinate types - grey/white then black) as well as fruiting bodies akin (thanks Guy) to Cryphonectria cubensis (resupinate beige - orange). Regardless what the fungal disease is, it is killing Gums faster than anything I have seen in 20+ years or Arb (18 years in Qld). I never recognised it prior to 2009 and have recorded out breaks within a 180 km area (Brisbane to Gympie). It is truer to refrence the disease as Sudden Gum Death as it is infecting and killing Corymbia, Eucalyptus & Lophostemon. I have completed two major reports and am now preparing a third for a Utility client. Once drafted I aim to seek greater support in ID, as well as publish my observations. I will attach a series of photographs in support of this post. Best regards to all Cassian.

Hi, thanks for the Prompt Guy. I am the consultant arb (Brisbane/Sunshine Coast - SE Qld Based) responsible for gathering data on Gum trees with this disease over the last two years (for utility and main roads stakeholders). Guy went on a tour with me of infected trees the weekend just gone. What we have here is a fungal disease wihich causes lesions leading to ringbarking and death. With some trees failing within 2m of groundlevel after being killed (dead gums usually slowly fragment from the top unless a brown rot is present) and some failing whilst still live. The disease has a failure mode and similar symptoms to Kretzschmaria deusta, I have found fruiting bodies identical to K. deutsa (both resupinate types - grey/white then black) as well as fruiting bodies akin (thanks Guy) to Cryphonectria cubensis (resupinate beige - orange). Regardless what the fungal disease is, it is killing Gums faster than anything I have seen in 20+ years or Arb (18 years in Qld). I never recognised it prior to 2009 and have recorded out breaks within a 180 km area (Brisbane to Gympie). It is truer to refrence the disease as Sudden Gum Death as it is infecting and killing Corymbia, Eucalyptus & Lophostemon. I have completed two major reports and am now preparing a third for a Utility client. Once drafted I aim to seek greater support in ID, as well as publish my observations. I will attach a series of photographs in support of this post. Best regards to all Cassian.

I understand and respect the saying that 'a little bit of knowledge is dangerous' but on the other hand if our clients and the public as a whole have a greater appreciation for trees, how they live, the dynamics of their reactive growth, etc. This can only be a good thing because understanding creates respect. Gents, I am sure that if trees were understood by people to the same level as the conditioned arborist (tree culturist) that we would be a part of the most dynamic and well supported profession on the planet. With an endless supply of funds to better understand and care for the backbone of most land based eco-systems – the tree. One of the challenges that I am facing with my attempt to re-enter the UK Arb profession after 20 years in Australia is just how poor the pay arborists in the UK receive. As a conditioned consulting arborist in Queensland I cannot match my current business package (equivalent to UK £49,500 a year) with salary packages in Britain. This directly correlates to the lack of value the public place on trees. For Landscape Architects to now be employing consulting arborists to assist with trees on development sites (to assist with BS 5837) yet be paying them half what they pay their other land based profession staff is a clear example. For our profession to be taken seriously, for us to be paid equivalent to the other highly developed professions and for the tree to be valued it has to be respected. For trees to gain the respect they deserve for their evolutionary capacity for adaption, for the biological, biochemical, biomechanical genius that generates their bodies and the benefits that they give humanity then people need to be educated. Not neccesarily in arboriculture but in how trees function, knowledge of the tree system leads into people realising tree-culture. Let’s face it if all arborists understood that there would be considerably more tree cultural activity happening at ground level and considerably less activity occurring in the upper crowns of trees. I believe that to become potent as professionals Andrew is spot on, we have to provide education to the people. Best regards Cassian

Mozza - Tree World & Janey thanks for your help - Cassian

To the UK Arboricultural Profession - 5/6/10 My name is Cassian Humphreys. I am a highly experienced Arboricultural professional seeking work in Southern Britain. After nearly 20 years of living and working overseas (mostly Australia) I am returning to my home country. With 25 years exposure to urban vegetation management the following is a breakdown of my background – • 5 years Horticulture (1985-90). • 13 years contractual experience specialising in tree crown and tree vitality management (private industry – 1990-2003). • 7 years experience with tree assessment, consultancy and report writing (2003-current). • Over an 11 year period I have worked as an arboricultural educator with practical and theory delivery, involving tree climbing, aerial rescue and presentation on the science established by Shigo & Mattheck (more recently Ingham & Lonsdale). • 3 years development and implementation of a tree assessment program for utility clients on the east coast of Australia. My role also involved a staff training program as well as working as a tree assessor on numerous HV power lines throughout SE Qld (2007-current). • 6 years with an east coast wide Utility Arboricultural company (2004-current). • Extensive experience with a variety of local government and land based industry clients/ tree managers (Germany & Aus 1992-Current). • For 18 months (2008-9) I ran a specialised Arboricultural crew carrying out a Hazard Reduction Pruning program on trees for a SE Qld Council. This linked in with our tree assessment program. My role involved consultancy, staff training, supervisation and head climber for complex jobs involving veteran and ancient trees (program due to recommence next financial year). • I have extensive mature tree transplantation experience and experience of managing trees on development sites. • Over a 10 year period I have worked as regular contributor of articles on trees for the Australian Arbor Age. • Qualifications – Nch - Arb Merrist Wood (1990-91), National Diploma Arb - AQF5 (Aus, 2009), AQF4 Trainer & Assessor (Aus, 1993 - re-qualified 2007) AQF = Australian Qualifications Framework. QTRA license 1372. • Ongoing professional development through ISAAC (ISA Australian Chapter) • Australian & UK referees For a copy of my CV and qualifications prospective employers can email me at [email protected] I am interested in working in a local government position or utility arboriculture, though will also consider a position in private arboriculture. Note – my key interests are in benefiting the Arboricultural profession through education and in mutual growth through organisations working in association for the benefit of trees and people. Thank you for your attention. Cassian Humphreys.