Welcome

There have been 31 worker deaths in the tree trimming and removal, landscaping and site preparation industries since 2016 that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration New England region has investigated. To reduce the risks workers in these industries face, OSHA’s Boston regional office has established a Regional Emphasis Program that combines enforcement and outreach with employers. If you are contracting tree companies in your municipality, please ensure they are working safely!

Check out this great new resource! The Urban and Community Forestry Program of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently revised and updated the Tree Bylaw and Ordinance Guide, an indispensable reference for Massachusetts tree wardens. Download the PDF here. For more resources from DCR, including bylaw and ordinance examples from specific cities and towns, visit the Picks and Shovels resource page of their website.

Congratulations to the recipient of this year’s award for Tree Warden of the Year, Dennis Fazio of the Town of Wakefield. The award was presented by President Arthur Goodhind at the association’s annual meeting on February 16, 2021. View this page to read more about the award and scroll down to view a press release about Dennis.

The order brochure for the 2021 Arbor Day Seedling Program is available now. Time to hop on board and order your seedlings for delivery this spring. Read more about the seedling program.

Introducing a different format this year: a bundle of Zoom webinars will replace the annual in-person conference but continue the tradition of quality professional education you’ve come to expect and value. The online events will all take place within the same two-day time period as the traditional January gathering in Sturbridge. On January 12-13, 2021, add to your knowledge and skills, get a head start on earning those needed CEUs, and gain a sense of accomplishment in the first month of the year! See the conference webpage for the details, program, and schedule, and then register here. Please note that each person must register with a unique email address. Each registered attendee will be sent two Zoom links, one for each day of presentations. To earn CEUs you must be logged into the webinar the entire time AND you will be asked to answer intermittent quiz questions as proof of attention.