Webinars and Tree Talks
Check our Events page for upcoming webinars.

Dead Trees Support Wildlife
Presented by
Brian French
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October 2025
Brian French drew from his 25 years of experience to speak on the critical role that dead and fallen trees play in supporting wildlife and broader environmental challenges. He discussed how pruning practices have changed and stressed the importance of having your arborist consider wildlife impacts during tree work. Brian described the process he has used to make thousands of chainsaw cavities that support nesting.. And guess what— leaving habitat snags is often cheaper as well as more environmentally beneficial than removing trees entirely!
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Decade of the Oaks
Presented by
Brian French
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September 2025
Brian French, principal at Arboriculture International, presents “Decade of the Oak”, which describes local Oregon white oaks, their life cycle and traits, and how to care for these special trees. Brian presents some problems that can plague oaks and offers recommendations for managing them. The talk will showcase some champion trees and local places to enjoy oaks.
Brian is also a skilled climber with 25 years of a broad range of arboriculture related experience and certifications. He is dedicated to and contributor of cutting-edge research for a better understanding of trees and safer work practices for arborists worldwide. Much of his work focuses on the preservation of significant, old trees and associated flora and fauna.
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Trees in Urban Watersheds
Presented by
Eric Butler, Riparian Specialist
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July 2025
Riparian Specialist Eric Butler discusses how trees relate to the water cycle, protect streams and water quality, support the in-stream environment — and how to use them in restoration.
Eric is a landscape ecologist interested in protecting, restoring, and reconnecting ecosystems at the watershed scale.
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Winter Pruning for Tree Health
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Presented by
Dustin Marchello, Tillis Tree Care
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February 2025
Explore the art of winter pruning with Dustin Marchello from Tillis Tree Care, where 20+ years of arborist expertise meets community service. Learn how strategic pruning can enhance tree health and resilience, insights drawn from Dustin's work on landmarks like the Bellagio and post-Katrina recovery efforts.
Dustin Marchello, owner of Tillis Tree Care in Portland, OR, is a certified arborist with over two decades of experience, featured on "America Outdoors." Dedicated to community outreach, Tillis Tree Care offers free advice to promote tree health and sustainability in our neighborhoods.
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The Surprising Benefits of Trees:
Improved Health and Reduced Crime
Presented by
Dr. Geoffrey Donovan
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September 2024
Urban trees provide a wide range of benefits from the intuitive—providing shade, for example—to the surprising: improved human health and reduced crime. This talk will summarize these findings and show that trees are an under-appreciated, but essential, part of our public-health and public-safety infrastructure.
Dr. Donovan, our speaker, received his PhD is forest economics from Colorado State University in 2001. Since then, he has worked as an economist for the USDA Forest Service in Alaska and Oregon. His primary research focus is quantifying the benefits of urban trees. Currently, he is focusing on how exposure to plant diversity may protect against a range of immune diseases.
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Tree Ordinances:
How Communities Can Protect
Existing Trees During Development
Presented by
Ryan Gilpin, Principle Consultant at Nidus Consulting
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July 2024
This talk on root problems and soil care for trees facing seasonal stressors such as drought underscores the critical role of soil health in maintaining tree vigor and resilience. Root collar disorders, often exacerbated by environmental stressors, can lead to significant decline or mortality in trees. Supportive soil management practices, including mulching, can help trees better withstand the challenges of fluctuating weather patterns and climate stress. This ultimately enhances their long-term survival and ecological benefits.
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Tree Health from the Roots Up
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Presented by Logan Collier, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
Bartlett Tree Experts​
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May 2024
This talk on root problems and soil care for trees facing seasonal stressors such as drought underscores the critical role of soil health in maintaining tree vigor and resilience. Root collar disorders, often exacerbated by environmental stressors, can lead to significant decline or mortality in trees. Supportive soil management practices, including mulching, can help trees better withstand the challenges of fluctuating weather patterns and climate stress. This ultimately enhances their long-term survival and ecological benefits.​​
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Insect Pests That Bug Our Trees
Presented by Christine Buhl,
PhD, ODF State Entomologist
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March 2024
Most insects are native and beneficial, but some types of insects become problems if trees become stressed. Christine Buhl, Phd, is a Forest Entomologist with the Oregon Department of Forestry. She will review some of the major native and exotic insect pests of urban and forest trees that affect our Washington County trees, such as the recently discovered Mediterranean Oak Borer and Emerald Ash Borers. Find out what they are, ways to identify them, and how to prevent them from spreading. Christine comments: “The healthier you can make your trees, the better they are going to be able to resist and tolerate invasive insects.”
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Managing Tree Risk in Winter Storms
Presented by Will Koomjian,
Board Certified Master Arborist
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January 2024, February 2024, April 2024
This talk on root problems and soil care for trees facing seasonal stressors such as drought underscores the critical role of soil health in maintaining tree vigor and resilience. Root collar disorders, often exacerbated by environmental stressors, can lead to significant decline or mortality in trees. Supportive soil management practices, including mulching, can help trees better withstand the challenges of fluctuating weather patterns and climate stress. This ultimately enhances their long-term survival and ecological benefits.
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Trees for Cooler Schools
Presented by Rachel Pringle, Dana Hellman, and Ted Labbe
April 2023
This talk on root problems and soil care for trees facing seasonal stressors such as drought underscores the critical role of soil health in maintaining tree vigor and resilience. Root collar disorders, often exacerbated by environmental stressors, can lead to significant decline or mortality in trees. Supportive soil management practices, including mulching, can help trees better withstand the challenges of fluctuating weather patterns and climate stress. This ultimately enhances their long-term survival and ecological benefits.
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How a Washington County
Urban Forestry Program
Can Save Our Trees
Presented by Scott Altenhoff, Oregon Department of Forestry's Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program Manager
January 2023
This talk on root problems and soil care for trees facing seasonal stressors such as drought underscores the critical role of soil health in maintaining tree vigor and resilience. Root collar disorders, often exacerbated by environmental stressors, can lead to significant decline or mortality in trees. Supportive soil management practices, including mulching, can help trees better withstand the challenges of fluctuating weather patterns and climate stress. This ultimately enhances their long-term survival and ecological benefits.
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