A decade of urban forestry in Europe

Abstract

Major changes in society have led to a call for structural changes in forestry, also in Europe. Urbanisation as one of the major driving forces has had a clear impact on European forestry. One of the new approaches emerging in response is the concept of urban forestry. It was developed in North America during the 1960s as innovative approach to managing natural resources in urban environments. Aimed at the integrated planning and management of all tree-based resources in cities and towns, the concept found broad support in North America after initial resistance from both foresters and urban green professionals. Similar resistance was met in Europe, and here it took until the early 1990s before the concept of urban forestry found broader acceptance and support. Since then, a European urban forestry research community has emerged, as have policies, programmes and higher education incorporating elements of urban forestry. Urban forest resources in Europe might be small in relative terms compared to other natural resources. They do, however, cover millions of hectares of land and provide multiple, highly demanded goods and services. Forestry can benefit from urban forestry experiences and innovations, for example in terms of better meeting the expectations and demands of urban society. Urban forestry, on the other hand, is firmly rooted in some of the basic concepts of traditional forestry, such as sustained yield. Review of a decade of urban forestry in Europe shows that strong links should be maintained for the benefit of both.