Current Urban Forestry Policy of U.S. Governments

Abstract

US urban forests are financed and managed primarily by local, state and federal governments. More correctly, these forests are actually underfinanced and mismanaged. Improving the condition of our urban forests may depend upon an increase of planting and maintenance expenditures by an estimated $100 to $150 million annually, and by increasing the cost-effectiveness of the approximate $300 million now spent. Improvements will also result only from retaining more skilled practitioners and managers, or from upgrading the skills of existing personnel. Governments must also be restructured so that innovation and efficiency are encouraged and rewarded. Urban forest policy should be directed to the needs as expressed by urban forest managers, rather than to the somewhat inaccurate preconceptions of policymakers from traditional woodland forestry backgrounds. In depth communication among all levels of government and private practitioners will be the first step toward significant improvement of the condition of urban forests.