As we look back on 2024, the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA) had a year of growth, celebration, and educational excellence. From expanding membership and certifications to supporting groundbreaking research and celebrating our 75th anniversary, it has been a year filled with accomplishments that have strengthened our community and advanced the arboricultural profession. Here are the key highlights:
We were excited to welcome 684 new members into our community this year. The increased involvement in the Chapter strengthens our collective mission to promote arboriculture and enhance the quality of tree care across the region. The engagement is a strong testament to the growing interest in advancing the science and practice of arboriculture. Each new member contributes to strengthening our vibrant network of professionals.
Our commitment to providing top-tier education continued with 20 regional educational events across our geographic areas of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii, offering specialized training on key topics that help arborists stay at the forefront of the industry. Some topics from this year's schedule included: Trees and Construction, Best Management Practices for Wildlife, Veteran Trees, Botany for Arborists, the latest Arboricultural Standards, and Pests and Diseases. We offered multiple climbing and skills events - with multilingual opportunities to learn and grow. We also hosted a highly successful series of educational events in the Hawaiian Islands, focusing on Palms in the Landscape. These sessions provided invaluable knowledge to arborists working in tropical and subtropical climates. We are wrapping up the 2024 year with the introduction of the Prescription Pruning Qualification (Florida Chapter ISA) and the reintroduction of the Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification (American Society of Consulting Arborists). The introduction of these programs is an ongoing initiative of the chapter board to bring multifaceted professional growth to our members and credential holders.

 
We offered a diverse range of online education hosting six webinars in 2024, covering topics such as Fruit Tree Pruning, Bio Fuel Alternatives, Emerging Pests Affecting Trees in the West as well as a special engagement with Past President, Donald Blair, who took us back in time with the legend of "Oak versus Euc". Throughout the summer, we had the opportunity to partner in 9 multi-chapter webinars, enabling arborists from across the country to collaborate and share insights on industry trends, challenges, and solutions. This program fostered collaboration and learning across regions, connecting professionals from different parts of the U.S. for shared experiences and insights.
In response to the growing demand for professional credentials, we facilitated 16 credentialing exams, empowering arborists to expand their qualifications and expertise. Our emphasis on safety continued with the offering of 29 Tree Risk Qualification courses, providing participants with the critical knowledge and tools needed to assess tree risk effectively and responsibly.
As a result of these programs, 606 professionals achieved ISA Certified Arborist status, underscoring our ongoing dedication to improving industry standards and supporting career advancement for arborists Additionally, 215 received specialty credentials through the ISA program in Board Master Arborist (45), Utility (116), Municipal (17) and Climber Specialist (36) designations. With a growing emphasis on safety and risk management, 542 new Tree Risk Assessors successfully completed the TRAQ qualification exam this year, enhancing their expertise in assessing and mitigating tree hazards.
In April, we celebrated our 75th Anniversary with an outstanding Annual Conference in San Diego, focusing on Cultivating Competence. The event drew 433 attendees who participated in over 50 educational sessions, covering crucial topics such as Climate Change and its Impact on Urban Forests, Tree Protection and Risk Management, Understanding the Urban Forest and so much more. To better serve our diverse community, we expanded the conference to include a Spanish language track. This initiative marked an important step toward inclusivity and accessibility within the industry. The session was met with great enthusiasm by our Spanish-speaking members and attendees.
During the conference, we honored outstanding contributions to the Chapter and the field of arboriculture through our chapter awards program. This year, we were pleased to present 17 deserving recipients for their dedication to the mission of the Western Chapter. It was an honor to present the Award of Merit to Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, a leading expert in horticulture and plant and soil science and Editor of our magazine, Western Arborist, for her exceptional service and contributions to the chapter and industry.
The Britton Fund continued to support innovative research in arboriculture and urban forestry. This year, we awarded two research grants to Dr. Joanna Solins, Environmental Horticulture Advisor at the UC Cooperative Extension. The grants include A $29,280 grant for a two-year study on the effects of turf conversion on mature landscape trees and another $3,285 grant for a one-year study exploring the cooling benefits of climate-ready trees.
Research outcomes will be shared through online platforms, WCISA publications, industry seminars, and conferences, ensuring that this valuable knowledge reaches the wider arboricultural community.
Our commitment to the next generation of tree care professionals was evident through our continued participation in California Arbor Week activities. Including What Trees Give Us assemblies at schools throughout California. We continued our partnership with TreeCircus to engage and educate the public about the importance of trees in the urban environment. Our exhibits at both the LA County and the California State Fair reached thousands of students and the public, inspiring them to appreciate and care for trees. This hands-on, entertaining educational experience continues to be a favorite at the fair.
As we reflect on the many accomplishments of 2024, we are energized by the opportunities ahead. Our commitment to education, professional development, and the advancement of the arboricultural profession will continue to be our guiding principles in the years to come.
Thank you to all our members, partners, and volunteers for your continued support in making 2024 a year of growth, learning, and innovation. A special thank you goes out to the team at Epicenter Management. Ensuring the programming and events are delivered at the highest level of service is always the priority of the Epicenter team. Their effort shows. We look forward to an exciting 2025 as we build on this momentum and continue to shape the future of arboriculture.