Urban/Community Forestry in the Intermountain West    (View PDF)

Michael R. Kuhns

Abstract: This paper summarizes the people/population factors, site factors, and program factors influencing urban and community forestry (U&CF) in the Intermountain West, including information gathered through a limited survey of U&CF experts in the region. The major factors that emerged include a relatively low population living in cities and towns scattered over a large area, major population growth now and in the future, lack of native trees in the valleys where most people live, harsh conditions for growing trees, poorly funded and staffed U&CF programs, and lack of community and citizen awareness and knowledge, particularly regarding tree selection and landscape design and care. An improving future is predicted for U&CF in the region, based on population growth and demographic change, increasing citizen interest and awareness, enhanced funding and staffing of U&CF programs, and the availability of better-trained arborists.

Keywords: Urban forestry; community forestry; Intermountain West; population; demographics; site; programs.

https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.1998.034