Staff Feature – Forestry Services Team, Restoration and Infrastructure

September 2, 2021

Come floods, storms, infestations, and the pandemic, the TRCA forestry team has been there!

Don’t forget to look up! Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our essential forestry services staff have been working non-stop ensuring public safety, protecting our natural resources from disease and pests, and supplying an industry with a well-managed renewable resource.

Our team of highly trained professional foresters, arborists, forestry technicians, and forestry field staff are a dedicated group that are heard (by the distant buzz of the chainsaw) more often than seen.

Our team members include:

Hazard tree removals and emergency works continue to be the dominant programs of the forestry services team. The team addresses hazardous trees along public trails, around our property boundaries, and within the public use areas of our many properties.

We have removed 37,607 ash trees to date — trees that had the misfortune to have succumbed to the emerald ash borer (EAB) and were of public safety concern.

Since 2019, an additional 7,000 hazardous, non-ash, trees have also needed to be removed. Our team’s creativity has shone, turning this misfortune into beneficial uses. Material has been directed to habitat restoration projects, or converted into high value hardwood whose proceeds have helped to offset management costs.

Alex Bryski, Nick Croker, and Brandon Hoogkamer enjoy a well-deserved break while clearing Ajax trail hazards.

Anna Ketchum, Alex Bryski, and Trevor Hill remove hazardous ash trees in Albion Hills Conservation Park.

The Hazard Tree Program involves highly technical arboricultural skills, as many of these trees are found along property boundaries, public trails, and utilities.

Our arborists are not only experts in technical tree felling. As TRAQ-certified tree assessors as well, they ensure that only trees posing a public health and safety risk are removed. When possible, we leave dead standing trees for wildlife habitat value; as well, we selectively prune hazardous portions, leaving the bulk of the remaining tree standing.

Brandon Hoogkamer undertakes hazard pruning close to private property in York Region.

Jeff Dickie undertakes selective hazard removal at Kortright Centre for Conservation.

Nick Croker undertaking complex utility Hazard Removal.

Climate change brings with it more violent storm events, invasive species, and increasing temperatures. This year has been no exception as our teams have had to: clean up storm-damaged trees, deal with pests such as LDD moth and EAB, and are working with our partners to address invasive species threatening forest health.

No matter the size of the job, the forestry team has been at the ready, undertaking this work while wearing 30 pounds of forestry gear and safety equipment (similar to snow pants) even during the extreme heat.

Nick Croker and Gabe Tamburro bucking a dead hemlock in Durham.

Carolyn Burke and Krysta Sutton treating high value ash trees at TRSC Nursery.

Trevor Hill removing Buckthorn at David Dunlop Observatory in partnership with the City of Richmond Hill.

Our team has faced many challenges so far this year: record setting heat waves, torrential downpours, forest pest outbreaks — all while ensuring safety measures were met during the pandemic.

We would like to sincerely acknowledge the team’s outstanding contributions and dedication to their jobs, and wish them cooler temperatures for the coming months as they continue to be leaders in the field of sustainable forest management.

Alex Bryski and Trevor Hill inspecting the forests of Albion Hills Conservation Park