Arboriculture

surveying & management of trees

Mark Laurence is an experienced, ISA certified arborist, specialising in trees in the Middle East, GCC region. For commercial/development sites, assessing the existing tree stock with surveys to BS 5837:2012 is the starting point for all planning requirements.

Understanding what a tree needs, its condition, vigour, flaws and weaknesses is essential to making the right decisions when assessing health. I view a tree not just as a physical entity, but as a holobiont - the centre point of a microbiome, upon which many forms of life depend. Gone are the days when decay or fungi are automatically assumed bad, as they are a natural part of a tree's cycle and essential part of the ecosystem.

Surveying of Trees

in urban & leisure development sites

Surveys to BS 5837 and beyond

I survey and assess trees, conforming to British Standards and tailored to suit the project.

I am UK based but work in the UAE, KSA and other GCC countries, and have been working with trees in desert environments gor over 15 years.

Survey using GIS pinned onto OSM Map provides location, canopy size and Root Protection Area.

Surveying trees to the grounds of a private palace, Abu Dhabi.

Services Offered

relating to tree health, planning and maintenance

Tree assessment and surveying
Care plans for tree management
Assessment/enhancement of ecosystem health
Soil & irrigation assessment to rootzones
Management of trees on development sites
Staff & management training
Planting & transplanting design/advise

Trees as Ecosystems

trees as the basis of our ecosystems

The Tree Holobiont

A holobiont is the tree's evironment and associated communities of organisms, plus all their interactions.

Many of the things we have traditionally seen as a pest or disease are now recognised for what they are - ecological assets. This is why understanding a tree this way is so important and why the thinking of a tree in isolation, or as mere an amenity asset is insufficient.

Modern arboriculture recognises that 'defects' can be ecosystem assets, given assessment for risk and benefit. Ghaf tree, Abu Dhabi

A tree is home to many insects, birds, lizards and bats. This is a Red Sea Leaf Toed Gecko in a ghaf tree limb tearout, UAE.

I would be very happy to discuss your project by phone, email or Zoom/Teams.

Contact details are on the Home page.

mark laurence design ltd | ecological treescapes