SMA Municipal Accreditation's Relevance and User-Friendliness Grows
Compiled by Michelle Sutton, City Trees Editor Compiled by Michelle Sutton, City Trees Editor
Beautiful Aspen, Colorado is an SMA-Accredited Municipality where narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) is one of the pre- dominant community forest trees. Photo by Chris Forman
Arlington, Texas City Forester Matt Churches has found there are many benefits to being an SMA Accredited Municipality. The most surprising one, he says, is that "it has brought dialogue with other forest- ers. I have been approached by a large number of urban foresters in Texas and other states, inquiring about the accreditation. They ask 'How hard is it to get? What do you have to do to get it? What does the application process entail?'" Expect these questions when, like Arlington, you are the first municipality in your state to achieve SMA Accreditation.
Fortunately the accreditation process is now more streamlined than ever, and city foresters can expect their applications to be reviewed within one month's time by the Accreditation committee headed by Dan Hartman, city forester in Cleveland, Tennessee (dhart man@cityofclevelandtn.com). Applicants can anticipate that questions will be answered by the committee in a timely fashion.
8 SMA Accreditation is based on the following criteria:
1. at least one ISA Certified Arborist on staff (ISA Certified Municipal Specialist preferred)
2. a local Forest Master Plan approved by appro- priate local body
3. current Tree City USA status or equivalent out- side U.S.
4. a National Arbor Day Foundation Growth Award, or equivalent outside of U.S., in at least one of the past five years
5. preference to TCIA-accredited tree care com- panies when private arborists are contracted
6. incorporation of ANSI Z133.1 safety standards or equivalent standards outside U.S.
7. incorporation of ANSI A300 tree care perfor- mance standards or equivalent standards out- side U.S.
8. adherence to the SMA Code of Ethics and will- ingness to promote SMA objectives
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