Assistant instructor Annamaria Cervantes works with a student in the canopy, helping with movement and the use of a work-positioning lanyard. Photo by Felipe Villegas | Santiago Rosado.

Tree climbing has always occupied a unique position within arboriculture. It exists at the intersection of technical trade, physical discipline and a craft refined through judgment and experience. In production environments, success is often measured in efficiency and output. In recreational contexts, it is defined by movement and enjoyment. But within conservation work, climbing takes on a distinctly different role. It becomes a means of access, which allows entry into environments that would otherwise remain largely unreachable.

Discovering the Canopy

Founded in 2019, Discovering the Canopy is an international training program designed to equip biologists and conservationists with the technical skills required for safe, efficient canopy access.

Hosted in Colombia and led by sister nonprofits Canopy Watch International (USA) and Alianza Natural (Colombia), the program brings together arborists, instructors, academics and industry partners to deliver a structured, hands-on curriculum. To date, it has trained more than 150 participants from 14 countries, who return home and apply these skills directly to field research and conservation initiatives.

Participants pay a nominal fee, but the program is largely supported through donations – both financial and equipment-based – that reflect a collaborative effort between industry and conservation.

While the mission – to enable access to the canopy for scientific work – is straightforward, the execution reflects a deep arboricultural approach. The systems, standards and instructional philosophy are rooted in professional tree climbing, adapted for an audience that often arrives with little to no prior climbing experience.

Access as a limiting factor

For many working in arboriculture, access is assumed. With the proper equipment and training, reaching a tie-in point or navigating a canopy is part of the job. In tropical forest ecosystems, however, that access has historically been inconsistent, improvised or unavailable.
This presents a meaningful limitation to conservation work.

A significant portion of biodiversity exists in the canopy, including flora, insects, birds and mammals rarely observed from the forest floor. Without reliable access, data collection is restricted. Without consistent data, conservation strategies lack the depth needed to be effective.
Discovering the Canopy addresses this gap directly by transferring arboricultural climbing techniques to the scientific community.

Participants are not trained as production climbers, but they are held to comparable standards in safety, system integrity and decision-making. The objective is to provide a repeatable, defensible method of canopy access that can be deployed in remote field conditions with confidence.

Equally important is the network that develops around the training. By connecting Latin American biologists with North American arborists and instructors, the program facilitates an exchange of knowledge that extends beyond the course. These relationships often evolve into long-term collaborations supporting both research and refinement of canopy-access techniques.

Building competence through repetition

The training framework is deliberately structured and highly experiential. Participants are introduced to concepts in controlled environments, given time to practice and then required to apply those skills under increasing complexity.

This progression mirrors effective skill-acquisition models used in arboriculture: isolate the task, build consistency and integrate it into real-world application.

From the outset, emphasis is placed on risk management. Before any ascent, participants are trained to evaluate four key variables:

1. The tree.
2. The equipment.
3. The environment.
4. The climber.

This framework becomes a constant reference point. Every decision in the canopy is tied back to these elements, reinforcing a systematic approach to hazard identification and mitigation.

Safety is not presented as a standalone module. It is embedded into communication, system setup, movement and descent. Participants are also introduced to structured decision-making tools, including a “green, yellow, red” model used to guide go/no-go decisions.

A core principle reinforced throughout the course is the value of depth over breadth. Rather than exposing participants to a wide range of techniques, the program focuses on developing a smaller set of core competencies to a high level of proficiency. For inexperienced climbers, this reduces variability and increases reliability under stress.

De Vries assesses a student’s skills during a knot-tying challenge. Photo courtesy of Felipe Villegas | Santiago Rosado.

Establishing the fundamentals

For most participants, the course begins at ground level, both literally and figuratively. Building a competent climber from this starting point requires clarity, repetition and discipline.

1. Equipment literacy.

Participants are introduced to arborist-specific equipment and are expected to understand both function and application. This includes ropes, harnesses, friction hitches and hardware used in stationary rope systems (SRS) and moving rope systems (MRS).

A critical component is distinguishing this equipment from superficially similar gear used in rock climbing or mountaineering, where load profiles differ significantly.

Inspection protocols are emphasized early. Participants are trained to identify wear, damage and incompatibility, reinforcing that equipment management is an ongoing responsibility and not a one-time check.

2. Knot proficiency.

Knots are treated as a foundational skill underpinning all aspects of climbing. Instruction focuses on essential knots such as the figure-eight, clove hitch, alpine butterfly and commonly used friction hitches.

The standard is uncompromising; knots must be tied correctly, dressed properly and set before loading. Repetition is built into the daily routine, often reinforced through peer-to-peer teaching to improve retention and consistency.

3. Pre-climb assessment.

Participants are trained to conduct thorough pre-climb inspections, evaluating structural integrity, environmental conditions and hazards such as deadwood, decay, wildlife and weather.

A clear hierarchy of response is established:

• Avoid the hazard.
• Mitigate or remove it.
• Disengage from the climb.

The decision not to climb is framed as a professional judgment, not a failure.

4. Rope systems and movement.

Initial exposure to climbing systems is intentionally conservative. Participants are introduced to SRS and MRS in low-risk environments with limited heights and close supervision.

As competence develops, the scope expands. Climbers begin working at greater heights, incorporating limb walks, redirects and tie-in point adjustments. By the midpoint, most participants can navigate the canopy with a degree of independence.

Developing judgment alongside technique

One of the defining characteristics of Discovering the Canopy is its emphasis on decision-making. Technical skills are essential, but the ability to assess and respond to dynamic conditions defines a competent climber.

1. System assembly and verification.

Participants are responsible for building and verifying their own systems. Instructors may introduce faults such as misrouted lines or improperly dressed knots that require the students to identify and correct them. This reinforces attention to detail and cultivates critical evaluation.

2. Anchor selection and load assessment.

Selecting an appropriate tie-in point is treated as a core competency. Participants evaluate branch structure, attachment strength and load paths using visual assessment and dynamic testing. These principles align directly with professional arboricultural practice.

3. Redundancy and contingency thinking.

While not all systems are fully redundant, anticipating failure is consistently emphasized. Participants are encouraged to consider the consequences of component failure and reduce exposure to risk. De Vries and fellow instructor Kevin Bingham look down from above, keeping a close eye on students practicing newly learned climbing techniques. Photo courtesy of the author.

4. Communication protocols.

Clear communication is critical in dense canopy environments where visibility is limited. Participants use structured call-and-response protocols to confirm actions such as rope deployment, system loading and descent.

Working within variable tree structures

Exposure to a variety of tree types is a key component of the training. These include:

1. Tropical hardwoods.

These species often provide strong anchor points but may require advanced line-setting techniques due to height and spacing.

2. Palms.

Palms present unique risks, as external appearance may not reflect internal integrity. Participants are trained to approach them cautiously using specific inspection techniques.

3. Dense canopies.

In tightly branched structures, rope management becomes more complex. Participants learn to manage redirects, minimize friction and maintain efficient rope paths.

4. Environmental conditions.

Humidity, precipitation and biological factors influence climbing conditions. Participants must adapt their techniques to account for reduced friction, increased wear and additional hazards.

Integrating ecological awareness

Climbing in these environments requires more than structural awareness. The canopy is an active ecosystem.

Encounters with wildlife are common. Participants are trained to recognize signs of activity and respond appropriately. Unlike arboriculture, where wildlife may halt a climb, biologists often seek these encounters, sometimes capturing animals for study before releasing them safely.

This awareness becomes part of the assessment process. Features such as cavities, dense foliage and canopy movement are evaluated for both structural and biological significance. The objective is to reinforce that climbers are entering a habitat, not simply a structure.

Measurable progress in skill and confidence

As the program progresses, participant development becomes evident. Early climbs marked by hesitation give way to more deliberate, controlled movement. Participants are assigned canopy- based tasks requiring independent problem solving, including navigation, redirects and system adjustments.

Obstacle-style scenarios simulate real-world challenges, testing both technical ability and decision-making under pressure.

Confidence is not built through exposure alone; it is earned through demonstrated competence.

Beyond the course

The long-term value of Discovering the Canopy lies in its multiplier effect. Participants return home with a skill set often rare within their local context. Many go on to train colleagues, integrate canopy access into research and advocate for safer, standardized practices.

In regions where formal arboricultural training is limited, this transfer of knowledge is particularly impactful. Participants also leave with a structured approach to risk, respect for system integrity and a clear understanding of their responsibilities when working at height.

Lessons for the arboricultural industry

For the arboricultural community, Discovering the Canopy highlights broader applications of climbing expertise. Techniques developed for production and recreational climbing are being adapted to support scientific research and conservation.

This underscores the value of arboricultural training beyond traditional industry boundaries. It also reinforces the core principles that underpin effective climbing: preparation, precision and sound judgment.

Conclusion

Discovering the Canopy is, at its core, a technical training program. But it also represents an intersection between arboriculture and conservation with both practical and human significance. The emotional impact of the course is substantial. Participants frequently describe their experience as life changing.

For many, the transformation extends beyond professional development into personal growth. By providing reliable canopy access, the program enables research that informs conservation. By emphasizing safety and decision-making, it establishes a standard participants carry forward into their work.

For arborists, the takeaway is clear; climbing skills are not confined to a single context. When applied with intention, they support a much broader range of outcomes.

And for anyone who has spent time in the canopy, it reinforces a familiar truth – the work is never just about reaching the top. It is about how you get there, the decisions you make along the way and the responsibility that comes with operating in that space.

Peter de Vries is an ISA Certified arborist based in Ontario, Canada. He is a certified firefighter and rope rescuer. For more information on how you can support or participate in this program, go to canopywatch.com or alianznatural.org.

De Vries and fellow instructor Kevin Bingham look down from above, keeping a close eye on students practicing newly learned climbing techniques. Photo courtesy of the author.