ARBORISTS: Urban Tree Care for Sustainable Cities in the Baltic Sea Region Erasmus Project

Project Title

ARBORISTS: Urban Tree Care for Sustainable Cities in the Baltic Sea Region

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

The project has brought together 6 partners from Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: VIESOJI ISTAIGA VILNIAUS JERUZALES DARBO RINKOS MOKYMO CENTRAS (VJDRMC) – LT; Jyväskylän koulutuskuntayhtymä – FI; European Arboricultural Council – DE; IPC groene ruimte bv – NL; Bulduru Dārzkopības vidusskola – LV; Luua Metsanduskool – EE. 5 of the partners – vocational training schools that already trained or planed to train Arborists in the future. The project aimed to develop Arborist training in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). ARBORICULTURE is an innovative type of the urban tree care which is understood as the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees and other woody plants that grow within the human populated and urban areas. Trees in the city add value to the property, make city streets cozy and beautiful, provide Eco-niches for birds and other species, and generally present the level of environmental sustainability of the city. The innovation of Arboriculture consists in the multiple approach to tree treatment. An ARBORIST must possess the theoretical knowledge of ecology, biology and chemistry such as fertilization, pest and pathogen control, root, trunk and canopy treatment, and in addition – practical techniques such as selection, planting, pruning, shaping, working in heights, and removal of dead trees.
The international urban tree care community recommends that the urban tree care must be performed by people who have a qualification of an Arborist, or with equivalent skills and knowledge. In many countries this understanding has been supported, and is now being strongly considered or even supported at some level in the BSR countries. This opinion is grounded in research which reports many tree damages in cities that make City Councils/Municipalities (CCM) to lose significant amounts in their budgets.
In order to cover the skill gaps in the urban tree care in the BSR, the project developed the Arborist qualification descriptions, Arborist training instruments for Trainers and trainees, the project experts prepared suggestions for the strategy on the urban tree care which will contribute to the sustainable and high quality performance. The project results offer possibilities to gain relevant skills and competences to the workers of 3-4 EQF in the Arboriculture field.
A productive partnership to further strengthen the key competences of Arborists in the BSR – LT, LV, EE and FI with the participation of 2 more experienced countries DE and NL was created.
The project was focused to 2 main target groups: 1. Direct target groups: young people and adults who want to gain the profession of an Arborist; 2. Indirect target groups – citizens, VET schools, urban tree care/Arboriculture community, Environmental ministries, City Councils.
Target groups inside partnership: staff of partner organizations, trainers of partner organizations, trainees, boards of stakeholders. Target groups outside partnership: member organisations: national organisations in Europe, certification centers in Europe, partner organisations of gardening, urban forestry, urban tree care and landscaping all over Europe, decision making bodies, CCM, local communities, Ministries of environment, education, regional development, Urban forestry workers, Arboriculture companies, other schools, boards and members of national Arboriculture organizations.
In the learning, teaching and training activities there were involved more than 70 people. It was piloted 14 Trainers; 24 Arborists; 40 partitcipants of CCM. Also the consortium counts that approximately 1620 persons who didn`t receive a specific grant from the project were targeted by the activities organised by the project. These people were involved in various events and training (the round table discussions, international networks, articles, dissemination events etc.).
The project sought to achieve these outcomes:
O1 – Producing expert guidelines for arborist training. Developing national/regional/city recommendations
O2 – Developing arborist trainer training instruments
O3 – Developing arborist training instruments
O4 – Developing textbook
The activities & results that have a significant impact on the urban tree care quality in BSR
•4 sets of National/Regional/City Recommendations (LT, LV, EE, FI languages)
•10 round table discussions with the decision making bodies and Arboriculture sector organizations
•A comparative study of arborist training programmes in the Baltic region
•Tree Technician qualification description (LV language)
•Arborist qualification description (LT language)
•1 set of Arborist Trainer Training programme (in English); 4 adaptations in LT, LV, EE, FI languages; piloted 14 Trainers
•4 sets of Arborist training programme (ATP) in LT, LV, EE, FI languages (EQF level 3-4) and piloted 24 Arborists
•1 set of textbook (for Trainer and for trainee training) (EN, LT, LV, EE, FI languages)
•3 sets of CCM training programme (piloted 40 participants)

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 289475,81 Eur

Project Coordinator

VIESOJI ISTAIGA VILNIAUS JERUZALES DARBO RINKOS MOKYMO CENTRAS (VJDRMC) & Country: LT

Project Partners

• Sabiedriba ar ierobezotu atbildibu Bulduru Darzkopibas vidusskola
• Luua Metsanduskool
• Priekulu tehnikums
• JYVASKYLAN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA
• IPC groene ruimte bv
• European Arboricultural Council