Urban forests are trees for people! They are dynamic ecosystems that provide environmental services such as clean air and water. Trees cool cities and save energy; improve air quality; strengthen quality of place and local economies; reduce storm water runoff; improve social connections; help promote smart growth; and create walkable communities. Learn more about this critical resource and what the Forest Service is doing to protect it.

Trees are featured in the Pentagon Memorial

Dedicated this September 11th, the leaves of the paperbark maples planted at the Pentagon Memorial will soon be turning the brilliant red that sets them apart. The 94 trees were planted with a grant to the Pentagon Memorial fund from the Forest Service in cooperation with American Forests.  More information on the Forest Service’s involvement in the Pentagon Memorial is available online (html and pdf).  The Pentagon Memorial Fund’s website details site design and construction. The Living Memorials Project registry describes each memorial project by location, community group, and intention.

Tree teams work to save South's storm-hit canopies

Hurricanes that whip the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Southern states take a human toll, but they also claim another victim on an enormous scale -- the majestic trees, many draped in Spanish moss, that form canopies over historic streets across the region.

Become a Volunteer Urban Forester

Workdays like this have helped turn this patch of land into a rich trove of nature. The prairie grasses are more than head-high, and the sunflowers tower over them.

UNEP Billion Tree Campaign

Together, with the United Nations Environment Program's Billion Tree Campaign, let's plant 7 billion trees by the end of 2009! Over 2 billion trees have been planted to date.

City Dweller Laments Loss Of Urban Trees

In the summertime, urban trees are at their most beautiful. But few things planted in the city can be as destructive. Summer storms can bring out their killer instinct. The dangers are evident just steps from my home, leading me to ask: "Can city folk coexist with the trees they love?"

Philadelphia Park Value Report: This report details the economic value of the city's park system from clean air, clean water, tourism, health, etc. Learn more and get involved at the 2008 International Urban Parks Conference - September 21-23, Pittsburgh, PA.

Rep. Doris Matsui Introduces the Energy Conservation Through Trees Act

By promoting the strategic planting of trees, the amount of energy needed to heat and cool homes will be reduced.

Green infrastructure: Conservation planning using a green infrastructure approach helps communities balance environmental and economic goals to achieve smarter, more sustainable land use patterns.

Smart Growth for Clean Water: This EPA report identifies five smart growth approaches that can improve water quality including conservation and revitalization measures.

Urban Forest Health Monitoring: This pilot program provides field data on urban forests throughout the US to assess their status, how they are changing, and what factors might lead to change in the future.

Urban Treehouse: Urban Treehouses are environmental education spaces built outdoors in the city. Run by partnerships of government agencies, businesses, community groups, and nonprofit organizations, there are five treehouses across the US.