Urban and Community forestry

Community forests and trees provide vital environmental and social benefits, from mitigating stormwater and cleaning the air, to improving mental health and reducing the impacts of heat island effects. The Urban and Community Forestry program's goal is to sustain Minnesota's community programs and help them manage diverse and healthy urban tree canopies that are resilient against climate change. Communities and their residents can find information on how to plant and care for your trees, how to hire an arborist, tree pests and diseases, grants for communities and resources on community forestry.

Caring for your tree

Urban environments can be stressful for your trees. They may need some extra care especially during a drought to keep them healthy. Visit our caring for trees page for tips and short videos on property watering and mulching both young and mature trees in your community. We also partner with the Minnesota Tree Care Advocate program who can help you answer questions about your trees.

Tree pests and disease

Tree pests and diseases can become a major problem to a community when there is only one species of trees planted. For example about twenty percent of Minnesota's community trees are ash, which will be lost to Emerald ash borer without sustained treatment. To create a resilient canopy be sure to plant a diverse mix of trees that are well suited for where you are planting them. Below are additional resources on tree pests and diseases.

• Minnesota's Urban and Community Forest Best Management Practices for Preventing the Introduction, Establishment, and Spread of Invasive Species
• Guidelines to Slow the Growth and Spread of Emerald Ash Borer
• Diagnosing plant diseases
• Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors
• DNR Forest Health

Resources for communities

• Best management practices to Conserving Wooded Areas in Developing Communities
• Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating Tree Ordinances opens in a new browser tab
• Plant Selector
• Environmental Justice in Community Forestry – Alliance for Community Trees

Partners

• Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (MNSTAC) – Their mission is to be the leading advocate for Minnesota’s community forests and to empower and educate Minnesota’s citizens to maximize the coverage, health, quality, function and future of our community forests.
• Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA) – Their mission is to foster a passionate and professional community for those who care for trees. Through education, they advance the practice, science and technology of tree care.
• WIDNR- Urban and Community Forestry
• UMN-UFOR
• USDA-FS