Davey Tree Flipbooks

10 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | January/February 2024 500 894 402 148 142 300 2,872 TREES DO NATED T HRO UG H O UR PARTNERS IN 2023 VISION Davey supports the Treesilience Orlando Metro Program along with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Pine Hills Community Council, Infinite Zion Farms, and IDEAS For Us. Treesilience formed in 2020 as a partnership between Davey Resource Group (DRG) and TNC to improve equitable access to the benefits of healthy trees for underserved communities by teaming with residents to participate in the tree maintenance decision-making process. Jacob McMains, area manager, Environmental Consulting services (EC), DRG, helped the Treesilience program in St. Louis, Missouri, succeed and was tapped by Josh Behounek, business manager, EC, DRG, who initiated the original Treesilience pilot program in Chicago, to coordinate Davey's efforts with the Orlando program. McMains works with Christianah Oyenuga, sustainable cities manager, TNC Florida, to coordinate the Orlando tree work. "The Orlando metro area is experiencing rapid sprawl and weather events, including hurricanes and tropical storms, which create hazards that threaten the tree canopy," Oyenuga said. "The costs of tree care and hazardous tree removals are prohibitive for many homeowners. Treesilience is designed to 'level the planting field' for tree planting campaigns by TREESILIENCE BENEFITS ORLANDO COMMUNITIES ensuring mature trees are made more resilient through preventive tree maintenance, and efforts to restore the tree canopy are grounded in strong community engagement." McMains brought in Eastern Utility services' Mike Walsh, operations manager, Gulf region, and Marc Pierre, account manager, to provide crews to assist with Orlando tree care. "Representatives from nonprofit Infinite Zion Farms identify trees of need in the Orlando area," Walsh said. "Eastern Utility crews prune and remove trees as needed, beginning in 2022. In 2023, one Davey crew would complete three to four jobs per week over the summer. We expect to continue this important work in 2024." McMains said Treesilience helps change the perception of trees from a liability to a resource. "Homeowners may not come to a decision about tree maintenance until there is a problem. Treesilience encourages conversations about the benefits of trees and how those can be maximized." Jose Lopez, general foreman, Orange County account, Eastern Utility services, (fourth from the left wearing a high vis vest), representing Davey alongside members of the Treesilience Orlando Metro Program, including The Nature Conservancy, Pine Hills Community Council, Infinite Zion Farms, and IDEAS For Us. Photo credit: Roberto Gonzalez Davey planted 2,872 trees through various partnerships in 2023 with: the International Society of Arboriculture; Ohio Employee Ownership Center; International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association; Cleveland Cavaliers "Trees for Threes" program; Cleveland Guardians "Swing for the Trees" program; and the Pittsburgh Penguins "Score for the Trees." One tree was donated for all 300 Davey Bulletin digital subscribers who signed up in 2023. Follow Davey on social media for updates on these programs that are continuing in 2024. 2023 PARTNERSHIP TREES

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