Governments (other than non-Federally recognized Tribal governments), nonprofits, institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations
U.S. & Territories
Urban forests provide trees for people, where they live, work, and play. These natural resources, on public and private property, contribute to quality of life, support community development, green infrastructure, and provide a wealth of benefits to cities and towns. The USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry (U&CF) Program is the only dedicated urban forest program in the federal government. It is a technical, financial, and educational assistance program that delivers nature-based solutions to more than 84 percent of Americans. The program works to restore, sustain, and manage more than 140 million acres of urban and community forest lands for the benefit of communities across the United States and its Territories. Healthy urban & community forests and green infrastructure are not only critical to all our nation’s forests, but research and studies have also shown that our urban and community forests are essential to the economic, environmental, physical, and mental well-being of our citizens.
According to the National Ten Year Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan (2016-2026), (Action Plan) urban and community stewardship has made progress over the last decade to address the health of urban and community forests. For example, sixty (60%) percent of cities are utilizing new and emerging tools to assist propagation, planting, management, maintenance, and stewardship.