Forestry Resources

More information about Urban and Community Forestry:

• NYS Urban Forestry Council
• Urban and Community Forestry Upcoming Activities - A list of upcoming activities for people interested in Urban and Community Forestry.
• Managing Community Forests - Four Steps to a Well Managed Forest include a tree board, a tree ordinance, use of professionals, and a management plan.
• Urban and Community Forestry Contacts - Find your local DEC office and local urban forester
• Cost-Share Grants - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation annually announces the availability of community state assistance grants for tree planting and urban forestry projects. These grants are reimbursement cost-share grants that must be equally matched by local resources.
• How To Plant A Tree - Choosing the right tree for the right site, proper planting and proper care will give your trees the healthy start they need to grow strong and live long.
• Heat Island Effects - trees reduce the heat island effect
• Recognizing Hazardous Defects in Trees - Recognizing Hazardous Defects in Trees
• Why Leaves Change Color - Information about why leaves change color
• How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service - How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service.
• Tree City USA -Tree City USA is a program sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the state forestry agencies. It provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in thousands of towns and cities that more than 93 million Americans call home.
• Tree Campus USA - a National Arbor Day Foundation program which provides recognition for colleges and universities, at the state and national levels, that make a commitment to trees on their campus and to their surrounding community.
• Tree Boards - A tree board (committee, commission or council) is a group of people responsible, usually by ordinance, for overseeing management of the community trees, also known as the urban forest. It may be made up of municipal staff, local citizens and/or tree care professionals
• Tree Ordinances - A tree ordinance provides the framework for managing the community forest. It provides legal authority for conducting forestry programs; defining municipal responsibility for public and private trees; and passing regulations and setting minimum standards for management.
• New York ReLeaf - Statewide effort that brings people together to share information about trees and to improve the future of trees where we live
• Arbor Day - Arbor Day is a national observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.
• Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute (UHI) The Institute's mission is to improve quality of life by enhancing the functions of plants within urban ecosystems. Our program integrates plant stress physiology, horticultural science, plant ecology and soil science.
• Cornell UHI’s Recommended Urban Trees Designed to help you choose appropriate trees for a variety of urban and community forestry situations.

Last updated January 9, 2025