Urban and Community Forestry

Urban and community forests are the trees, plants and associated ecosystems anywhere where people are - country roads, new developments, small towns or large cities. While the goals of traditional forest management and urban forestry may be similar: to grow, harvest and replant trees that are suitable for their location; the products from that management are quite different. The products from traditional forestry and silviculture are wood, building materials, paper and more, created from the trees grown in forests. The main products from urban forestry are trees that are healthy, live long and are structurally sound, created by trees that are growing in and around people and their infrastructure.

Urban and Community Forestry Program

• The U&CF Program supports urban forestry in North Carolina by...
• Administering a cost-share federal grant program for municipalities, local governments, non-profits, educational groups and schools
• Providing technical and/or educational assistance regarding:
  • Community forest inventories and management plans
  • Community and county tree ordinances
  • Grant project applications and implementation
  • Tree City USA, Tree Campus USA and Tree Line USA designations
  • Proper tree selection, installation, care and maintenance
  • Educational information
  • Coordination and operation of training workshops
• Technical assistance with and through the county forest rangers in all NC counties.

• Both directly and through NCFS field staff, the program assists...
• Communities of any size, including Home Owner's Associations
• Individuals with questions or concerns about their trees
• Professional, civic and volunteer organizations
• State and regional government and organizations
• Educational institutions and schools