Bob,
Uh, you may notice we ARE linked on the VA Big Tree Program home page. I have spoken to the VA coordinator several times and actually planned to meet up at Montpelier a while back. He seemed very open to the ENTS methods when we last spoke. Will F. Blozan President, Eastern Native Tree Society President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc. "No sympathy for apathy" _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 9:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ENTS] Re: VA Big Trees link ENTS, Tomorrow Monica and I head to Virginia to visit two great friends: Dr. Nancy Weiss and Carol Wise. Nancy has set up some kind of tree measuring session for me. Other VA friends are supposed to be there. Hopefully, I will be able to make some inroads. VA is a former state of residence of mine. I have deep roots in Virginia and a great fondness for the Old Dominion. Virginia isn't geographically far from Pennsylvania, but sadly, its champion tree program lags. Below, I've copied the VA champion tree program description of how to measure tree height. It is inexcusably weak. The VA coordinators need to pay attention to what is going on in the tree-measuring world. They can simply reference Will Blozan's tree measuring guidelines on the ENTS website. Will has done all the work. The VA boys just need to cash in - for free. Thanks to enlightened Ents Scott Wade, Don Bertolette, Will Fell, etc. PA, AK, and GA are at the top of the food chain. VA is still bottom feeding. Gotta help out my former state of residence. Bob >From VA champion tree website: Tree Height Measuring Height <http://www.americanforests.org/images/resources/bigtrees/height2.gif> There are many tools that can be used to estimate the height of a tree including something as simple as a stick, but if at all possible height measurements should be confirmed by an expert such as a local arborist, forester, or Big Tree Coordinator. The vertical height of a tree is measured in feet. It can be measured using an Abney hand level, a hypsometer, a transit, <http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/faq.php#16> a clinometer, a relascope, a laser or other instrument designed for that purpose. Alternatively, you can use the stick method: Hold the stick at its base vertically, making certain that the length of the stick above your hand equals the distance from your hand to your eye. Staying on ground level (or on the same contour as the base of the tree), move away from the tree while sighting the trunk base above your hand. Stop when the top of the stick is level with the top of the tree. You should be looking over your hand at the base of the tree and, moving only your eyes, looking over the top of your stick at the top of your tree. Measure how far you are from the tree and that measurement - in feet - is the tree's height. -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
