Updated 09/09
Urban Forestry
Contents
- Introduction
- Laws and Regulations
- Urban Forestry Plans
- Urban Forestry Programs
- Reference Sources
- Links to Government Agencies and NonProfits
- MRSC Related Pages
- Forests, Trees, and Landscaping - Topical Listing of MRSC Web pages
Introduction
The purpose of this page is to provide local government decision-makers with information about urban forestry in Washington State. State and local officials work with parks and recreation departments, land use planners, utilities, and citizen organizations to promote and manage urban forestry resources. Urban forestry is the management of urban forest ecosystems. These ecosystems may be varied or complex, in the form of city parks, watersheds, public rights-of-way, and other public lands. These ecosystems include trees, street trees, plants, animals, natural landmarks and waterways. The benefits of urban forests to citizens include heightened recreational and cultural opportunities, energy conservation, improved stormwater management, enhanced biodiversity, plant and animal enrichment, increased environmental educational opportunities, and higher economic and property values.
We would appreciate your comments, leads to additional useful information, and information about your jurisdiction's activities. Send your comments and information additions to the page editor or call 206-625-1300.
Laws and Regulations
- Statutes
- Ch. 35.105 - Urban Forest Management
- Ch. 35A.80.040 RCW - Code cities encouraged to provide utility customers with landscaping information and to request voluntary donations for urban forestry.
- Ch. 76.09 RCW - Forest Practices
- Ch. 76.15 RCW - Community and Urban Forestry
- Ch. 80.28.300 RCW - Gas, electrical companies authorized to provide customers with landscaping information and to request voluntary donations for urban forestry.
- Evergreen Communities Act - Department of Natural Resources
- Administrative Regulations
Urban Forestry Plans
- Bainbridge Island - Community Forest Management Plan, 2006 (
555 KB)
- Lacey - Urban Forest Management Plan, 2006 ( 4.53 MB)
- Tumwater - Urban Forestry Plan
- Vancouver - Urban Forestry Management Plan , 2007 ( 2.45 MB)
- Walla Walla - Urban Forest Management Plan ( 2.93 MB)
- Woodinville - Community Urban Forestry Plan, 1998 ( 2.46 MB)
Urban Forestry Programs
- Lake Forest Park - Tree Walks in Lake Forest Park (
2.77 MB), prepared by The Urban Forest Task Force
2006 - Olympia - Urban Forestry Resources
- NeighborWoods Program
- Urban Forestry Manual ( 631 KB)
- Seattle
- Seattle ReLeaf
- Seattle Parks Urban Forest Restoration Program
- Tacoma - Urban Forestry
- Vancouver-Clark Parks & Recreation - Urban Forestry
Reference Sources
- General Guides
- A Guide to Community and Urban Forestry Programming ( 520 KB), Washington State Department Of Commerce and the Evergreen Communities Partnership Task Force, no date
- Planning for Urban and Community Forestry - American Planning Association provides information preliminary to the publication of a manual in collaboration with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and American Forests (AF) - Includes literature review and case studies.
- Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances - International Society of Arborists
- A Guide to Community and Urban Forestry Programming (
- Gypsy Moth in North America - USDA Forest Service
- Plant Lists
- Exploring Native Plants - Washington Native Plant Society
- Interactive Plant List - Ohio State University
- Seattle Recommended Street Trees - Seattle Transportation's lists of recommended trees to plant within local right-of-ways, planting schedules.
- Pacific Northwest Trees Online - International Society of Arboriculture - Pacific Northwest Chapter
- Trees of Washington ( 1.42 MB), by Milton M. Mosher, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Bulletin EB0440
- Tree Identification - Tree Link
Links to Government Agencies and NonProfits
- Government Agencies
- National Agriculture Library - Natural Resources and Environment
- National Agroforestry Center
- United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service - Urban and Community Forestry
- University of Washington School of Forest Resources
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Community and Urban Forestry Program - Includes grant information
- Washington State University Cooperative Extension
- Private and Nonprofit Agencies
- American Forests - The nation's oldest nonprofit citizen conservation organization
- ACRT, Inc - Private consulting group providing powerline clearing and urban forestry services and training to utilities, municipalities, and government agencies; as well as natural resource characterization and mapping.
- International Society of Arboriculture
- National Arbor Day Foundation
- National Association of State Foresters
- Society of American Foresters
- Society of Municipal Arborists
- Tree Link - The community forest resource sponsored by the USDA Forest Service
- University of Washington - Washington Park Arboritum
- Urban Forestry for Public Works - American Public Works Association - Project supported by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program on the recommendation of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council.
- Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute - Addresses the need for improved management of urban forests. UFEI provides a center for applied research and technology transfer.
- Washington Forest Protection Association - Dedicated to managing private forests.
Related Resources
MRSC Index – Urban forest management