Certified Arborist Test Urban Forestry and Tree Selection 3

Question 1

What is a urban tree inventory and how is it used in urban forest management?

Accepted Answer

A systematic data collection effort documenting individual trees' species, location, size, and condition — used for maintenance planning, budget allocation, ecosystem service valuation, and management decision-making

Answer

A list of tree species approved for planting in a municipality's right-of-way locations only

Answer

An annual count of trees in a city used exclusively for reporting to state forestry agencies

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A property survey that locates all trees within 10 feet of property lines for legal boundary documentation

Question 2

What is a 'structural soil' system (e.g., CU-Structural Soil) and why was it developed for urban tree planting?

Accepted Answer

A pavement-compatible growing medium that supports traffic loads above while providing uncompacted root growing space below — engineered to resolve the incompatibility between soil compaction requirements for pavement and soil porosity requirements for roots

Answer

A soil amendment formula designed to improve the structural integrity of root systems in newly transplanted trees

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A clay-based soil designed to anchor trees in areas with high wind exposure to prevent blow-over

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A system of concrete forms installed around tree roots to guide directional root growth away from utility infrastructure

Question 3

What role does species diversity play in urban forest resilience, and what is the 10-20-30 rule?

Accepted Answer

Diversity reduces vulnerability to catastrophic loss from pests and diseases; the 10-20-30 rule recommends no more than 10% of trees in any single species, 20% in any genus, and 30% in any family

Answer

Greater diversity reduces maintenance costs because different species have different maintenance requirements, averaging out the total annual work

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The 10-20-30 rule specifies that 10% of trees should be native, 20% adapted non-native, and 30% ornamental

Answer

Species diversity has minimal impact on urban forest resilience because urban stressors affect all species equally

Question 4

What is a tree protection zone (TPZ) specification in development projects, and how does it differ from the critical root zone (CRZ)?

Accepted Answer

The CRZ is the calculated minimum area of root zone requiring protection; the TPZ may be larger than the CRZ, expanded based on tree species, age, health, or site conditions to provide an adequate buffer zone for preservation

Answer

TPZ and CRZ are interchangeable terms — they both describe the same protected area calculated by the same formula

Answer

The TPZ is a smaller, more precise zone calculated from tree structural root architecture; the CRZ is a larger, conservative estimate for general planning purposes

Answer

The CRZ applies to construction projects; the TPZ applies to arboricultural operations — they serve different regulatory purposes

Question 5

What are the primary considerations when selecting trees for planting under or near overhead utility lines?

Accepted Answer

Trees should be selected with mature heights that keep them below utility line clearance requirements, avoiding the need for repeated utility pruning that damages tree structure

Answer

Trees under utility lines should have maximum spread to provide the greatest shade benefit, accepting the need for ongoing utility pruning

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Only evergreen trees should be planted near utility lines to provide year-round screening and reduce line visibility

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Trees near utility lines should be selected based on wood hardness to resist limb failure when contact with lines occurs

Question 6

What is a community forest management plan and what key components does it typically contain?

Accepted Answer

A strategic planning document for municipal or organizational urban forest management covering goals, current forest assessment, programs, resource needs, and performance metrics over a defined planning horizon

Answer

A plan developed by homeowners associations governing which tree species are permitted on private property within the community

Answer

A planting calendar schedule specifying which tree species should be planted in each month across a city's park system

Answer

A legal document required by the EPA establishing pollution mitigation targets for tree canopy in urban nonattainment areas