For Release: June 26, 1997

Contact: Thomas Dupree 277-1414

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - As residents clean up broken limbs and care for trees damaged by Sunday's thunderstorm - and look ahead to the hurricane season - they should be aware that they should hire only licensed arborists for tree work, says Catherine Sparks, principal forester of the RI Department of Environmental Management's Division of Forest Environment.

"Anyone can clear away small tree branches from your yard, but when you have someone climb that tree to clean the area of the break, or work with a tree that has split, be sure to check for an arborist license, proof of insurance, and references," Sparks said.

"There was a lot of tree damage during Sunday's thunderstorm," Sparks said. "And we have had reports of people with chainsaws but without licenses driving through neighborhoods looking for tree work. Perhaps they, and consumers, don't realize that tree workers need an arborist license issued by DEM after successful completion of an exam to operate in Rhode Island.

"Tree work can be very expensive," Sparks said. "And homeowners can be swayed by lower prices being quoted by unlicensed workers. But there's an art and craft to working with trees, knowing how to treat and save them, knowing how to cut them safely."