A Short History of Urban Forestry in Europe

Abstract

In Europe, more attention is being given to the concept of urban forestry. However, it is applied more to forests under a strong urban influence than to urban greenspace at large. Urban forests especially differ from other forests in terms of the dominance of local actors in policy-making processes to determine which functions the forests should fulfill. As large parts of Europe have become urbanized, these forests are extremely important particularly as pressures on nearby recreation settings and on Europe's urban forests are high. In the context of a European study of urban forest policymaking, a tentative overview of urban forestry history is presented. In spite of existing cultural, socio-economic and political differences between countries and cities, some general developments can be described. Over time, more forests have become incorporated and planted in and near urban areas, with a growing number being opened to the public. Urban forest policy-making processes have become more complex, involving a larger number of people. The role of urban forests in the development of forestry practice and science deserves special mention.