Community Forest Management

This article explains how communities can form a tree commission to create and sustain an urban forestry program.

This article explains how to create successful volunteer projects that can help gain the citizen support needed to establish a comprehensive community forestry program.

This article explains the essentials of budgeting for the costs of a community tree program each year. It includes a community tree budget worksheet.

Develop an annual work plan for a municipal tree commission to ensure public trees receive the regular care they need to remain attractive, healthy, and safe.

This article offers tips and advice on how citizens and communities can find revenues and develop strategies to create a community tree program.

This article explains how citizen advocacy groups can work with community officials and develop working relationships with local leaders to put "green issues" on the agendas of local governments.

This article explains planning hierarchies and putting tree planning into practice, including effective administration; analysis of hazardous trees; proper site preparation; and proper tree selection.

Street and park tree inventories provide information for the planning, design, planting, maintenance, and removal of community trees.

This publication provides information about public relations, rules for working with the media, and communications tools, as well as sample letters to the editor, op-ed pieces and news releases.

Timber harvesting is regulated by a fraction of Pennsylvania's local governments, but more municipalities are beginning to regulate harvesting in order to maintain forests for future generations.

A Shade Tree Commission or Environmental Advisory Commission plays an important role in community management of trees and natural resources for the greatest long-term ecosystem benefits.

In 2004, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources launched a public-private partnership title TreeVitalize with a mission of planting over 1 million new trees and restoring tree cover in Pennsylvania communities.

By understanding the process of placemaking, we can create meaningful physical spaces that help build community.

Designing green parking lots with large canopy trees can reduce urban heat loads, air and water pollution, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on our communities.

Awarded annually by the National Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA recognizes communities working to plant and maintain trees.

Online guide from the US Forest Service provides an interactive way to learn about this fungal disease that is found in parts of Pennsylvania.

If you are topping a tree to make it smaller, Don't. It doesn't work!

This article contains links to useful resources designed to help municipalities, community planners, shade tree commissions, volunteer organizations, and others that plant and manage community trees.

Thirty-nine Pennsylvania communities received trees through a mini grant program this fall.

Logs from urban trees can gain a second life when used in a variety of playground components.