ISA Past, Present and Future
A Rich Heritage
Editor's Note: See the Spring edition of WoodNotes, our online magazine, for
brief overviews of five additional U.S. organizations that work in urban and
community forestry on a national level.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has
served the tree care industry for over seventy years as a
scientific and educational organization. ISA was
founded in 1924 when a group of forty individuals,
each engaged in a phase of tree work or research, were
called together by the Connecticut Tree Protection
Examining Board to discuss shade tree problems and
their possible solutions. It was during this meeting this
group identified a need for gathering tree care
information and to provide a means for its
dissemination. The National Shade Tree Conference
(NSTC) was founded soon thereafter.
NSTC experienced gradual growth until 1929 when the
economy in the United States collapsed and
membership in the young organization sank to fourteen
and continued to look bleak for several years, but in
1936, membership grew from thirty-three the previous
year to one hundred forty-seven. With few exceptions,
steady growth has been seen every year since.
Due to its influence and membership spreading beyond
the borders of the United States, the organization
changed its name to the International Shade Tree
Conference (ISTC) in 1968. Only a few years later, in
order to more accurately reflect its broadening scope,
the name was again changed, this time to the
International Society of Arboriculture in 1976. Today
membership in the organization has topped 13,000 world-wide.
ISA continues to be a dynamic medium through which
arborists around the world share their experience and
knowledge for the benefit of society. ISA, aligned on
many fronts with other green organizations, is working
hard to foster a better understanding of trees and tree
care through research and the education of
professionals as well as global efforts to inform tree
care consumers.
The Strategic Plan: ISA 2000
Over one hundred fifty volunteers collectively wrote
ISA's ambitious seven-point plan of action for the
remainder of this decade. ISA 2000 calls for research
and educational opportunities within the tree care
profession and also considers education opportunities
for the general public as well. Each of the following
ISA 2000 goals has specific in-depth strategies to
ensure its implementation:
Goal #1 - To provide effective and efficient member services.
Goal #2 - To improve the quality of arboriculture practice.
Goal #3 - To promote research and increase the knowledge of urban tree care.
Goal #4 - To increase public awareness of the benefits of trees and proper tree care.
Goal #5 - To maintain a healthy, growing organization.
Goal #6 - To broaden the educational opportunities for arborists.
Goal #7 - To improve the transfer of technology from research to practice.
When successfully completed, this plan promises to change the face of
arboriculture and shape the future of the tree care industry for many years
to come.
For more information visit the ISA website at www.isa-arbor.com
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