I’m Presenting at the ASCA 2026 Annual Conference

More than half of all urban trees die before they reach maturity.

In this session, I walk through forensic analysis — the art and science of tracing tree damage or death back to its real causal agent, using the same investigative process I bring to every site: examining the tree itself, exhuming and inspecting the site, gathering off-site evidence, and taking statements from the people who knew the tree.

It’s the same approach that uncovered what was actually killing the palm population in a case I worked on in Mexico City — the real cause was never what anyone assumed going in.

Most people are surprised by what they learn are the most common causal agents. If we can’t correctly identify why our urban trees are failing, we can’t fix the pattern — we just keep repeating it. This session is about learning from those past mistakes so we can actually build toward longevity, sustainability, and long-term canopy value.