The company Arborismo, founded in 2020 by Cristian Schiefelbein, specializes in urban arboriculture and applies scientific criteria to extend the life of trees up to four times longer than those without professional maintenance.
Their proposal seeks to replace indiscriminate logging with diagnostic evaluations and responsible pruning, convincing clients that intervention does not always mean removing the specimen.
Schiefelbein, an agricultural technician with experience in the plant world, discovered in Australia that what he was doing in Chile had a formal name, international certifications, and global standards. Upon returning, he founded Arborismo in the midst of the pandemic, with the aim of professionalizing the care of urban trees.
Environmental Arguments
A 20-year-old tree cannot be replaced in the short term:
- Ecosystem Contribution: regulates temperature, captures carbon, and improves air quality.
- Social Value: part of the identity of neighborhoods and the memory of those who grew up with it.
- Irreversibility: logging eliminates decades of growth and environmental benefits.
Therefore, Arborismo applies techniques that extend the useful life of trees, avoiding irreparable losses.
The company operates under the criteria of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the European Tree Workers, organizations that certify the profession globally. Schiefelbein is a member of both entities and also of the Chilean Society of Arboriculture (SOCHAR).
The Problem in Chile
The regulatory landscape is precarious:
- Municipalities contract the care of urban trees without requiring specific training.
- Drastic prunings known as “topping” are carried out, damaging the tree structure and shortening its life.
- After storms, like those in 2023 in Santiago, more than a thousand large trees fell, and others were logged without prior diagnosis.
“If there is no law and no tree count, it is even harder to protect them,” warns Schiefelbein.
The Importance of Responsible Pruning
Correct pruning ensures safety and health:
- Public Safety: removes dry or weak branches that could fall during storms.
- Tree Health: helps heal wounds and prevents pests.
- Balance: maintains the relationship between canopy and roots.
- Citizen Protection: clears paths and sidewalks.
- Light and Ventilation: improves growth by allowing sunlight and air to pass through.
Basic Rules
- Do not cut more than 30% of the canopy in one season.
- Make clean cuts from the base of the branch.
- Prune in autumn and winter when the tree is dormant.
Example in Buenos Aires and Responsible Pruning
In the City of Buenos Aires, urban trees are the responsibility of the city government and the communes. Residents cannot prune on their own: they must make official complaints through the website or the free line 147.
Arborismo’s experience demonstrates that responsible arboriculture can transform the management of urban trees.
Formally recognizing the profession, requiring certifications, and applying scientific techniques are key steps to avoid indiscriminate logging and ensure that trees continue to provide environmental and social benefits for generations.
