Ribbons of different colors and other markings were placed on some trees on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution in the spring of 2024 as part of our Buildings and Grounds team’s ongoing urban forest conservation process. These ribbons are signals for the Institution’s certified arborist who will evaluate the trees for heath and a care plan. In cases where the evaluation indicates the tree cannot be saved and it poses a safety issue, the tree will be removed. Many of the trees on the grounds are 100 years old or more; some will need to be removed eventually because they pose a hazard to life and property. When we plan to remove a tree, we post a message to the Google Group CHQ FAQ. In unusual cases when trees need to be removed immediately due to storm damage, for example, pre-notification may not be possible.

Here’s a key to what the ribbons and other tree markings mean:

Pink Ribbon = Slated for evaluation by the certified arborist

Green Ribbon = Pruning scheduled

Orange X Painted on Trunk = The tree needs to be removed