Essentials to become a tree manager

‘We prepare you for both the European Tree Technician (ETT), tree technical advisor as the VETcert exam.’

The Tree Manager training prepares students for the 3 roles of a European Tree Technician (ETT): tree expert, organizer/supervisor and consultant/adviser.

An ETT focuses on technical tree management and sustainabilty principles, but the Tree Manager goes further with additional knowledge in Urban Forestry, GIS and new technologies, such as drones. This is necessary because of the urban context in which trees are increasingly managed as part of an ecosystem. Tree Managers learn to switch between the micro level (individual trees) and the macro level (cities with thousands of trees), with attention to sustainability and the future, such as climate change.

If you want more information watch the video(in dutch) below ‘wat is treemanager’

There are various training courses and certificates in tree expertise, with the European Arboricultural Council (EAC) as the European reference. The distinction between the European Tree Worker (ETW) and the European Tree Technician (ETT) is important:

  • ETW: Performs practical work such as pruning, planting and safe disassembly, with a focus on executive skills.
  • ETT: Advises researchers and organizes, with a broader knowledge of trees and skills in reporting, project guidance and management

There is also VETcert, aimed at veteran trees, and the Tree Manager training from VIVES, which goes further than the ETT training. Tree Managers also learn about urban forestry, GIS and communications, with a focus on sustainable tree management in an urban context. A similar course exists in the Netherlands, but it is not officially recognized by the EAC.

If you want more information watch the video (in dutch) ‘boomcertificiëring in Vlaanderen’.

Any questions or want to know more, send a mail to bregt.roobroeck@vives.be