Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works

The American Public Works Association received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to develop a series of best management practices on effective urban forestry management. Teaming up with the Society of Municipal Arborists and Davey Resource Group, American Public Works Association developed this project to strengthen communications between urban foresters and public works professionals by creating a series of reports and conducting an education campaign on urban forestry management.

The first phase of the project was a literature review on the key components of effective urban forestry programs. The committee then defined what they believed were the key components of municipal forestry programs. These components were incorporated into a series of four reports on effective urban forestry management for public works professionals.

These guides highlight best management practices in:
1. Budgeting & Funding
2. Staffing, Hiring, and Recruitment
3. Ordinances, Regulations, and Public Policies
4. Urban Forest Management Plan and Trees Inventory Systems

Developing and Managing an Urban Forestry Program for Public Works