What are urban forests?
An urban forest is the interconnected network of trees on public and private properties that make up a community's green infrastructure. Urban trees provide many significant ecosystem services to human society by improving air quality, managing stormwater, and improving our mental and physical health. However, trees in urban forests are often at odds with their environment due to injury, disturbance, inadequate planting space, or lack of care. For these reasons, proper urban design and proactive management are required to ensure that trees thrive in urban spaces.