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The California Tree Failure Report Program (CTFRP) was established in 1987 to collect quantitative information on the mechanical failure of urban trees (trunk breaks, branch breaks, and uprootings). This information is used to develop "failure profiles" for genera and species to more accurately assess failure probability in standing trees and thereby reduce failure potential in urban forests.

Over 200 tree care professionals in California are cooperating in this effort by systematically inspecting fallen trees and reporting failure details for entry into the CTRFP database. To date (February 27, 2013), 5519 failure reports have been filed.

California Tree Failure Report data is being merged with the International Tree Failure Database.

http://svinetfc8.fs.fed.us/natfdb/
To participate in the international effort, please visit the ITFD web site for instructions.

An occasional newsletter, BREAKTIME, is circulated to CTFRP cooperators and Annual Regional Meetings addressing issues relevant to hazard assessments and failure analysis are presented in January for northern California and April in southern California.

incense cedar root failure

Photo: K. Jones

Monterey cypress trunk failure

Photo: K. Jones