Arborists play a big role in shaping the future of the arboriculture industry as it continues to grow at a rapid pace. In 2023, the tree services market was valued at $1.2 Billion and is projected to reach $2.5 Billion by 2031.
Many different factors are playing a role in this growth – from technological advancements to corporate involvement. As we grow and evolve as an industry, there are a few different areas in particular that everyone in the business should be paying attention to because of where the most change is happening.
Corporate Involvement
I am seeing more and more large corporations and private equity firms acquiring smaller tree care businesses – leading to industry consolidation and fewer independent companies.
On one hand, consolidation often leads to better technology and stronger advocacy for those of us in the industry. Larger companies have the resources to invest in shaping regulations and making huge strides in innovation. However, this kind of change comes with some potential downsides. Consolidation can limit competition and prioritize profit over what is best for the industry. It’s too soon to tell whether this change will be more beneficial or harmful, from my perspective.
Keeping Workers Safe
It’s no secret that the work we do is dangerous at times. From best practices for climbing and suspending from trees to using power tools to prune and trim, our workers go through an abundance of training to ensure their safety, but there are still a disturbing number of injuries in our industry.
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) plays a big role in shaping the safety of our industry for workers. There isn’t currently a unified OSHA clause that our industry falls under, but that could soon change. Back in 2008, a new OSHA standard called 29 CFR 1910 or the Tree Care Operation Standard went into development. The standard will apply to companies like ours that perform tree care in some way, shape, or form. This would be a game changer for our industry as it sets a baseline for safety standards.
Technology Advancing
I think our industry as a whole has always been behind in technology, and advancements in tech will have the biggest impact on our future.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has made a major impact in every single sector of business and technology, and I foresee it making a difference in our industry as well. There are AI-powered programs that can help identify tree diseases and problems as well as offer recommended treatment. Some programs can do everything from imaging to creating optimal watering schedules to monitoring for environmental factors that can be harmful for trees. AI isn’t just a marketing tool. It can drastically improve our operations.
Technology will never fully replace the human skill needed in our industry, but it will make our workers’ lives easier. We can currently use drones for canopy assessments and risk assessments, but I think we are still a long way off from drones cutting branches. I’m sure, down the line, there will be big enough drones to make their own cuts, but the limiting factor is getting drones inside the canopy of a tree and navigating the branches. That can only be done by a human with the skills to navigate the ins and outs of a tree. While the trend is to invest in the latest and greatest in technology, we will always value manual labor and hands-on work because it allows us to do the best job preserving trees. We’re intentional about our methods, manually climbing trees and removing brush, ensuring a meticulous and preservation-focused approach.
With all of these changes and advancements, it can be easy to get overwhelmed and think about how you’re going to stay ahead of the curve. My advice to other arborists and people in the industry is to control what you can control. Some people get so worried about what everyone else is doing, and it takes their eyes off their own business. I think you should focus on your business. Keep improving, and be aware of what’s out there, but be careful of chasing every brand-new innovation that promises to change the way we work.
At the end of the day, my hope is that the focus remains on tree preservation rather than tree removal. I am seeing more and more companies go after removals because it’s an easier way for them to make a buck. True arborists will care for trees, and that is true of our work at Ahlum & Arbor. We consider ourselves tree doctors, not tree huggers. Our focus is on maintaining the health and longevity of trees. We use our years of expertise to nurture them rather than opting for the easier route of cutting them down.
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