Abstract

Rubens, J.M. 1982. Urban forest management in the United States. Arboricultural Journal 6: 13-17.

An efficient and accurate street and park tree management plan is composed of several parts, varying in degree of detail and implementation according to the characteristics of the individual municipality or governmental agency being considered. Public policy regarding planting and maintenance must concern itself with both the trees within public lands and rights-of-way, and with trees and planting sites adjacent to or impacting upon public safety and vegetation within public areas. Ideally, performance of planting, maintenance, and removal of public trees, or to public trees within the legal control of the municipality by other than the municipal forestry agency, should be by permit and inspection only. An inventory of existing urban trees and available planting sites is the foundation of an efficient street and park tree management program. A very few species and cultivars, 20 to 30 or so, will actually be well suited to an individual municipality’s conditions. Within the limitations of almost universally inadequate budgets, priority maintenance needs must be identified first. Maintenance can be accomplished by staff and/or by contractor. The urban forest manager’s most important job is to nourish a close liaison between the public and commercial entities served.