As tree planting campaigns gain traction in Phoenix, a nonprofit is trying to grow the workforce needed to support those plants.
Unlimited Potential is partnering with American Forests to hold a paid 120 credit-hour training program.
Curriculum designer and arborist Chris Geldis says the program hopes to fix an economic gap in the fight against climate change and extreme heat.
"Anybody who has tried to hire an arborist or a tree company knows that it’s extremely expensive- in a way that basic economics would tell you that there is a shortage of workers," Geldis said.
So while it’s a boon to the environment that Phoenix and other Valley cities are boosting efforts to plant trees, the nonprofit hopes to train a new generation of arborists and landscapers.
"... We don’t have a workforce to support it already. And now we’re planting hundreds, thousands, potentially millions of trees," Geldis said.
Students learn skills such as tree climbing and equipment maintenance, as well as sustainable planting techniques and proper care procedures for each species of tree in the Valley.
The program is optimized for students to become certified tree climbers and workers. After graduation, students are provided opportunities to interview with horticultural organizations like the Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona State University Grounds Services and Bartlett Tree experts.
“A tree can either be a monument to success that a person is proud of, or it can be a monument to disaster. In which case, y’know, the tree has fallen, it's not been maintained. We don’t want that to be happening with city trees that are meant to be something that helps us in the future,” Geldis said.
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