Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024 - 74

KASEY KROUSE:
Tree Advocate Wears Many Hats
Knoxville's urban forester since 2012 promotes the benefits of trees while growing the region's tree
canopy. He was educated at Purdue and, with his wife, Beth, is the father of two young daughters.
INTERVIEW BY MARY LEIDIG | PHOTO COURTESY KASEY KROUSE
T
his former Tennessee
director
of the International
Society
grew up in Indiana and
calls Knoxville home. As the city's urban
forester, his robust range of experiences
includes ecological restoration,
invasive
species control
and taking tree inventory
for local organizations and
municipalities.
Please share your journey
from Indiana to Tennessee
and a favorite family
activity.
I met my wife at Purdue
University, and she went
on to the University of
Tennessee for her Master's
degree. During her time at
UT, I was an urban forestry consultant
with Davey Resource Group and fortunate
to visit East Tennessee often. We
loved the area and knew it was a place
we could see ourselves living. In 2011,
the City of Knoxville was developing
an urban forest management plan, including
hiring an urban forester. The
rest is history!
We love camping in the Appalachian
region. We have camped along the Blue
Ridge Parkway and always find it difficult
to leave. My girls share my passion
for trees and love to quiz me. This summer
they would sing " Let it Grow " from
" The Lorax " movie. I have never seen
the movie but know the song by heart.
74 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
of Arboriculture
You have passionately overseen the
planting of more than 8,000 city trees
in Knoxville, and you say " the more
trees, the better. " Why more?
Cities are under immense pressure to
provide resources and infrastructure
to dense populations, often leaving
little space for trees and greenspace.
The trees we plant and the space we
provide them greatly appreciates in
value in time, where other infrastructures
often deteriorate and lose value.
Maintenance costs are easily offset
by the benefits. Trees greatly reduce
stresses that concrete and heat put on
those living in the urban environment.
You describe this as a social job-
" keeping trees alive for a living. "
What makes a great urban forester,
and do you really have a phone for
tree emergencies?
Urban forestry is growing faster than
a tulip-poplar (fast-growing tree)! The
demand for professional arborists who
can articulate the benefits of trees to
the public is high.
The phone is there for all issues including
emergencies. And yes, we must
be available 24/7 as we live in a densely
populated area of both trees and people.
With increasing intensity and frequency
of storms, being ready to clear a road
of a fallen tree is even more important.
A successful urban forester must
communicate well, have strong knowledge
of trees and know which battles
to choose. Decision-making is critical,
and knowing how to communicate
your decisions goes a long way. You
also need to be good at changing uniforms
quickly in a phone booth, as one
minute you may be in the field treading
through poison ivy and the next be
presenting at a city council meeting!
How are residents and downtown
businesses valuable for your work,
and what is the #1 killer of trees?
Businesses and residents can be the best
supporters of my work and provide feedback
that helps ensure we're working
within public expectations. Vehicle collisions,
uneducated decisions like tree topping,
poor planting, intense development
and too much love make people the
number-one killer of trees in Knoxville.
Fall is your favorite season. Where are
some great views?
Higher elevations provide the greatest
view, but maybe not the best color.
Appalachian cities have trees from
both northern and southern ranges
that provide great fall color. Get out
to community parks. I like black gum
and ginkgo trees in the fall. It's never
just one tree. A diverse population of
trees makes the best experience.
What do you love most in your work?
There is a great sense of achievement
at the end of the day, and typically not
many ethical challenges on decisions I
must make. Specifically, tree planting
and pruning are my favorite parts.

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Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2024

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