Brian French founded Portland, Oregon-based tree care company, Arboriculture International LLC in 2013. He is a climbing ISA Certified Arborist and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. Serving as coordinator for the Oregon Champion Tree Registry and Chair of the Portland Heritage Tree Program, he focuses on the preservation of significant, old trees and their associated flora and fauna. Brian facilitated various ongoing wildlife habitat projects including salmon habitat restoration, snag development, red tree vole surveys and developing urban wildlife guidelines. In Oregon, he is a rescue volunteer for organizations that rehabilitate injured birds of prey.
Urban Trees and Wildlife. What are the benefits of snags to wildlife? How do we value deadwood, dead trees and decay? What species use dead trees? As an arborist, it is my job to evaluate trees and offer options to mitigate risks in our urban and rural areas. Wildlife habitat exists in trees in the form of cavities, dead snags, or broken tops. During this class, we will discuss how to recognize wildlife and safely provide habitat for cavity-dwelling species such as wood duck, chickadee, nuthatch, tree swallow, woodpecker and owl. We will also examine laws that protect specific wildlife species and how to steward land under those laws.
