Finding Common Ground Between Wildlife and Arboriculture: Darrell Pardoe

Finding Common Ground Between Wildlife and Arboriculture: Darrell Pardoe

As an experienced consulting utility forester (CUF) at ACRT, Darrell Pardoe has collaborated with various contractors, entities, and agencies over the years.

Before climbing into the arboriculture industry, Pardoe graduated from Unity College in New Gloucester, Maine, where he studied wildlife biology. He also spent a couple of summers in Jackson, Wyo., at the Safari Club International Foundation’s American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS).

Throughout his career, Pardoe has worked for multiple tree care contractors. He served as a general foreman and a supervisor before stepping into his role as a CUF. He is also an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, ISA Utility Specialist, and Certified Pesticide Applicator.

Pardoe describes his work as a “mixed bag.” His primary responsibility is to plan vegetation work for tree contractors, but his other duties include auditing work and training fellow CUFs on proper planning.

While he no longer works directly with wildlife, Pardoe’s had several opportunities over the years to collaborate with similar-minded agencies, such as the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.

With 17 years of experience under his belt, Pardoe says the key to the success of these collaborations are detailed processes and effective communication, such as this simple, four-step process.

1. Locate and assess the areas where work needs to be performed
2. Conduct a vegetation survey where the percentages of plant and tree species are recorded
3. Identify and mark what needs to be trimmed and/or removed
4. Submit all necessary forms

Despite the constant evolution of agencies, organizations, and processes over time, there’s nothing that can’t be accomplished when our industry joins forces to accomplish one common goal.

Learn how ACRT can become a liaison, like Darrell Pardoe, for your organization’s vegetation management needs.

This article was originally published in the 2023 September/October UAA Newsline.