The Urban Forestry Program
View Arbor Day Activities that are suggested for 2020 due to social distancing.
The Urban Forestry Program provides opportunities for municipalities, organizations and individuals to become engaged in effective urban forestry activities. An important goal of the program is improved care and maintenance of the urban forest.
What is the Urban Forest? Urban forests consist of those trees most closely associated with the human-developed part of the environment. These forests exists in all communities in Connecticut, from the smallest village to the most-densely population city. The trees of the urban forest are those that people encounter most on a regular basis. They are woven into and around our built infrastructure, provide benefits directly to the communities within the state and have a substantial impact on people's lives.
- Technical Assistance
- Connecticut Urban Forest Council
- Urban Forestry Grants
- Tree City USA
- Arbor Day
- Additional Resources
- Contact Us
Technical Assistance: Forestry staff provide technical assistance to municipal tree workers, tree board members, state park workers and others. Staff also work with local communities to assist them in gaining a better understanding of their urban forest. Examples include:
- Assisted the City of Hartford with an assessment of the ecosystem effects of its urban forest. For a summary of the results of this assessment, view Hartford's Urban Forest - the Challenge.
- Worked with the cities of New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport to analyze the urban tree canopy cover in each of those cities.
Connecticut Urban Forest Council: The Connecticut Urban Forest Council brings together individuals from throughout Connecticut who are in an urban forestry leadership role. A range of organizations are represented on the council, including:
- non-profits,
- private tree care,
- urban forestry consulting,
- public utilities,
- tree wardens,
- municipal government and
- educational institutions.
Tree City USA and Tree Campus USA: Eighteen communities in Connecticut have currently been designated as Tree Cities USA. Additionally, one college campus, the University of Connecticut, has been designated as a Tree Campus USA.
The criteria for designating a community as a Tree City USA and for the receipt of a Growth Award are established by the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF). The ADF reviews applications for these designations. For an application to be considered complete, it must receive the support of the State Forester.
The Urban Forestry Program in Connecticut is very active in working with the towns and cities throughout the state, helping them to understand and achieve the qualifying standards for Tree City USA.
Arbor Day: Arbor Day recognizes the importance of trees in our neighborhoods, towns, cities and daily life. In Connecticut, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April.
Organizations and individuals throughout the state use this day as an occasion to:
- plant and honor trees, and
- hold ceremonies celebrating the contributions made by trees.
The Division of Forestry frequently participates in these celebrations. For example, Arbor Day is the traditional date for the awarding of Tree City USA honors.
While Arbor Day initially came about through the efforts of J. Morton Sterling in Nebraska, citizens of Connecticut also made significant contributions to the development of Arbor Day. One such individual was Birdsey Grant Northrop of Kent, CT.
Urban Forestry Grants / The America the Beautiful Grant Program:
The America The Beautiful Grant Program is currently suspended. When this situation does change and ATB grants are again to be offered, that information will be listed here. Please, continue to make use of the services of the DEEP Forestry Urban Forestry Program, including contacting the state coordinator for further assistance on urban forestry related matters. Also, please visit the Trees and Urban Forests web page.
Oak Lawn Cemetery and Arboretum - A successful ATB Grant
Trees and Urban Forests: Learn More (General information)
The Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis
Use of Wood from the Urban Forest - Study conducted in 2014 by Division of Forestry
Publication | Web pages - Urban Wood Utilization in Connecticut
The State Vegetation Management Task Force
USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry
Roadside Keepers: Talking with Tree Wardens (article in CT Woodlands magazine)
In Defense of Tall Trees (article in CT Woodlands magazine)
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station - (for questions relating to the health of individual trees and shrubs)
Emerald ash borer | Asian longhorned beetle
Contact Us:
Chris Donnelly, Urban Forestry Coordinator
DEEP Forestry
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-424-3178
chris.donnelly@ct.gov
Content last updated April 9, 2020