"Do
not confuse a certified arborist with a Consulting Arborist. Anyone who passes
the test administered by the International Society of Arboriculture, the trade
organization for the arboricultural industry, may become a certified arborist.
While there are many certified arborists who may be qualified to serve as consultants,
there are many more whose only qualification is that they have a pickup truck
and a chainsaw. A Consulting Arborist with forensic training, regardless of "certification,"
is the appropriate expert to look at questions of causation and valuation. To
find a qualified Consulting Arborist in your area, contact the American Society
of Consulting Arborists in Rockville, Maryland, at 301/947-0483 (asca@mgmtsol.com)
or check their online referral database at www.asca-consultants.org. You could
also consult a local attorney specializing in tree disputes for recommendations.
"
Tree Law: The "Top Ten" Issues
Attorneys Should Consider When Handling Disputes Over Trees
By Barri Kaplan
Bonapart
California Lawyer
March 2002