bt 'Whether a tree suffers one way or another, often the best recourse is removal, and replant"
This solution has 2 problems: `1. It ignores the potential for tree care to rehabilitate, and 2. It ignores the many years of contributions lost to the owners until replacements actually replace.
bt "Clearly, true criminal vandalism to trees for no good reason is just that, criminal."
The majority of those pics had clear vandalism--gashes and holes not made by natural forces.
derwoodii, sorry to see that folks are that deranged down under.
I love you, man. lol.
No, no, not ignores...I said 'often' with you in mind.
Naturally leaving the door open to those with your dedicated expertise to see what can, and many times should, be done.
Howbeit, as usual, the case can be made that too often, but not always, the inevitable is simply being delayed, while a potentially hazardous situation is perpetuated, perhaps even allowed to progress.
A liability many are not willing to take on for a number of good reasons, if for nothing else, to 'error' on the side of caution for a greater good.
I believe that arborists have a moral obligation to protect people before trees. Don't get me wrong...I didn't say instead of trees, just before trees. Often times we can do both at the same time.
On your second point, owners are all too often guilty of gross negligence. A crime far more devastating and far reaching than true vandalism. Some even 'vandalize' their own trees every time the mow, or decide to prune.
They might like trees...alot, especially these days will the TV telling them what not, true and false, but they are as ignorant as they ever were about truly caring for trees. That might require something of them, like getting off the couch. The smarter ones at least call a good arborist, the not so smart change the channel and equally care about polar bears that might drown or what have you.
Naturally, you can imagine how often I deal with this in a day’s time. Folks worried about my taking a few branches to maintain clearance, but never cared for the tree any other day in their lives. It is truly a sad situation.
Nevertheless, you are right, trees do take time to grow, and replace. For the good owners, that have ensured proper care through manifold investments over the years, to lose a tree to vandalism is especially tragic.
A replant does little to console, I can see that, but sometimes you are better to cut your losses and start fresh. Why waste x amount of years and funds on a marginal tree with a poor liability factor? This is especially true with poor owners, to whom I’d rather recommend smaller trees. Something they can handle.
In any case, proper location and selection of a replant might insure that the effort is not in vain. Equally important in assurance of such is proper care throughout the life span.
Once again though, ignorant owners may commit some of the most heinous acts against trees with each act of misplanting.
On a final note, I do see some true criminal vandalism in these pics, but mostly just ignorance, willful or not. Sadly, ignorance abounds in both owners and those responsible for some of what we see here.
So I suppose an answer to the op's questions is that education is the best weapon to fight against such as we see here, down under, and abroad.
this forum has turned in to a tree hugger's forum, and no, I will not leave so don't even go there.........good day mate.....
