This could get long, which is not my intention, so I’ll try to keep it short and simple, but seriously, there’s a lot more to the story!
By just Googling “urban,” the same definition appears over and over: “related to a town or city.” The U.S. Census Bureau defines anything urban as “densely developed territories, with at least 2,000 housing units or 5,000 people.” Okay, Billings fits that! If I Google “forestry,” essentially repeating definitions echo that it’s a practice or science of managing, planting, and caring for forests. Some definitions even describe forestry as both a science and an art. The “science” of forestry seems obvious. Biology, chemistry, earth science, and mathematics are applied sciences that relate to ecology and silviculture (growing trees). The “art” of forestry has more to do with working with people or stakeholders in forests and finding creative solutions that not only preserve forests but also meet the needs of humans.
Putting it together: Urban forestry is the management and care of trees, forests, and green spaces in urban and suburban areas. The practice focuses on planting, maintaining, and protecting trees to improve the environment, provide economic and social benefits, and enhance public health. Urban forestry helps to mitigate the effects of air pollution, heat, and climate change. Trees protect against flooding by managing stormwater runoff and buffer against strong winds. Stakeholders include arborists, city planners, government & policymakers, land trusts and foundations, and everyday citizens…to keep this short, I left a few out, but know, there are more.
In future blog entries, I’ll cover more of the story, but this is an interdisciplinary field and is not just a job but rather a profession and passion for anyone who enters this field. More to come…