Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? Conflict and Collaboration in Urban Forest Management

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AbstractUrban forest management is crucial for supporting human well-being, ecosystems, and society, particularly with expanding global urban population and multi-uses of these urban greenspaces. This literature review examines the conceptualization and factors that contribute to conflicts and/or collaborations in urban forest management, including, but not limited to, diverse actors’ uses, needs, and perceptions. Using PRISMA methods, we systematically reviewed 176 scholarly articles published between 2013 and 2021 and found that most articles were primarily from the United States, Australia, and Canada. Findings highlight the need for clearer definitions of collaboration, emphasizing communication, operational tasks, planning, and shared beliefs among actors. Positive collaborations involved multi-level engagement and inclusive decision-making. In most cases, multiple issues contributed to conflict, including a variety of stakeholders with differing viewpoints on a given situation. Conflicts are commonly complex situations that do not lend themselves to a one-size-fits-all solution and tend to be a unique manifestation of the people, places, and perspectives involved. Our review can inform practitioners about more inclusive practices and adaptive management of urban forests. We conclude by providing lessons learned and suggestions for future research on stakeholder involvement, public education, governance, policy, decision-making, and the role of biophysical and ecosystem services in urban forest collaboration and conflicts.