Urban forestry
Urban forestry is the planning, planting, care, and management of trees and other forest resources in and around towns and cities.
Urban heat island: The higher temperatures of built-up areas compared with nearby rural surroundings, caused by heat-retaining surfaces and reduced vegetation. Tree shade and evapotranspiration can reduce heat exposure in city neighborhoods.
Urban forest canopy: The combined layer of tree crowns covering an urban area when viewed from above. Canopy cover is a practical measure of how much shade and foliage the urban forest supplies.
Environmental justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decisions and outcomes. Tree cover and its benefits are often distributed unevenly across neighborhoods.
Forest ecology: The study of interactions among organisms and their physical environment in forest ecosystems. Urban forestry adapts forest-ecological knowledge to fragmented, heavily modified settings.
Climate change adaptation: Adjustments to natural or human systems that reduce harm from actual or expected climate change. Urban forests must withstand changing heat, drought, storms, and growing conditions.
Green infrastructure: A network of natural and designed features that manages water, supports ecosystems, and provides other benefits. Urban forests function as living infrastructure alongside wetlands, parks, and stormwater systems.
Tree planting: The placement of a tree in soil or a growing medium so it can establish and mature. Planting choices determine species, location, and the long-term prospects of new urban trees.
Nature deficit disorder: A popular, nonmedical phrase for concerns about reduced contact with nature in modern life. Nearby trees and green spaces can increase everyday opportunities for contact with nature.
Urban soil: Soil in cities, often altered by construction, contamination, compaction, or imported materials. Its structure and chemistry strongly constrain root growth and tree establishment.
Assisted migration: The deliberate movement of species or populations to locations where future conditions may better suit them. It raises choices about whether urban planting should anticipate shifting climate zones.