Urban "Forests"

Ecology: By definition, urban forests occur near or within urban boundaries. Although they sometimes include remnant stands of native forests, more often they're a mix of native and introduced trees that have been planted along our streets and in our parks for recreational and landscaping purposes. Without careful tending urban forests would perish, or be overrun by native forests. As Oregon communities grow in area and population, urban forests will play an increasingly significant role in our lives.

These are not the forests that we escape to for the weekend; they are the forests that enrich our daily lives where we work and play.

Climate: With appropriate care, urban forests can be maintained in almost any climate. Rather than being a product of the climate in which they occur, they are often valued for the climate they help create. Their canopies reduce air pollution, filter rainwater, and create shade that cools city temperatures.

Management: Trees in the urban f orest increase property values, help businesses attract shoppers, and support both migratory and resident wildlife. Some benefits of urban forests are less understood, like their role in capturing carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, while others are difficult to quantify, like their role in the cultural well-being of our communities.

Many communities in Oregon employ urban foresters. Others rely on volunteers to complete tasks associated with urban forestry. The management of urban forests usually involves the care of individual trees (arboriculture) rather than of entire forests (silviculture). Community education is also an important part of urban forestry.

FORESTS HOME Douglas-fir forests western hemlock/Sitka spruce forests urban forests
Siskiyou mixed conifer forests coast redwood forests hardwood forests ponderosa pine forests
lodgepole pine forests subalpine forests western larch forests western juniper forests