12 City Trees
Congrats to Palo Alto Urban Forester Walter
Passmore, who shepherded the City's pro-
gram to SMA Accreditation, and to all the staff
of the Palo Alto Urban Forestry department,
most of whom are ISA Certified Arborists.
Can you tell us about your educational and career
background leading to your current position?
Walter Passmore: I received a bachelor's degree in natu-
ral resources management from California Polytechnic State
University and then later a master of public administration
degree from California State University at Dominguez Hills.
My professional career started with the US Forest Service
first on the Sierra National Forest and then with the Southern
Forest Experiment Station - Forest Inventory and Analysis.
I next worked for the Mississippi Forestry Commission
progressing to a senior administrative role which included
coordinating the state's urban forestry program. I then tran
-
sitioned to municipal government as the first city forester for
Dallas, Texas. Following Dallas, I served as the urban forester
for Austin, Texas. At present I am the urban forester for the
City of Palo Alto, California.
How do you feel SMA Accreditation benefits your
community and your program?
WP: SMA Accreditation is an industry-recognized extensive
audit of an urban forestry program. The result of accreditation
is to validate the professionalism of the municipal program
while also improving public image. Elected officials and part-
ner groups appreciate the value of third party evaluation, thus
accreditation represents a prominent level of success.
What publicity did or will you receive from the
local press?
WP: Publicity to date has come from local nonprofit part-
ner Canopy in their
September 2016 electronic newsletter.
Additional publicity will follow the presentation of the accredi-
tation award to City Council.
Palo Alto, California Earns SMA Accreditation
Photos Courtesy City of Palo Alto except where noted
Palo Alto's extensive canopy cover
(right) Arborist Robert Booty conducted root mapping of the El
Palo Alto Redwood using ground penetrating radar, an inno-
vative non-invasive technology for assessment of tree roots and
internal wood. Photo Courtesy Robert Booty
