Landowners, Forest Products Industry,
Professional Foresters & Conservation Groups
Working Together to Sustain New York’s Forest Resources
Issue Sheet – 2015
URBAN FORESTRY
Objective: To promote the appreciation and understanding within all New York State (NYS) communities regarding the
environmental, economic and social benefits of each municipality’s urban forest, and to encourage planning efforts within
these communities to ensure a diverse, healthy urban tree canopy and green infrastructure.
Rationale: It has been proven that the quality of life within NYS’ cities, towns and villages is greatly improved by
maintaining a healthy urban forest. The benefits of the urban forest, which range from increasing property values to shade to
slowing storm water runoff, can be quantified and assigned a dollar value. For instance, in 2013, an i-Tree analysis of Beacon,
New York’s urban forest alone determined that their 855 street trees provide $109,304 in annual environmental benefits.
The care of the NYS urban forest requires dynamic partnerships among federal, state, local and volunteer programs. Some of
the government agencies and programs that currently support the development and protection of our urban forests as well as
combating multiple destructive invasive species are:
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US Forest Service
NY Urban Forestry Council
NYS Agriculture and Markets
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
o (Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy)
o (Open Space Conservation Plan)
NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
Municipal Tree Commissions
Action Items: The Council of Forest Resource Organizations is asking for the following support:
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Support S.2604/A.3004 which was included in Governor Cuomo’s 2014 Executive Budget, under Capital
Projects, which call for the allocation of $500,000 for urban forestry projects in any community over 65,000
people.
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Continue to support NYS’s EPF’s Open Space Program - Urban Forestry and Invasive Species items.
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Encourage municipalities, organizations and residents to promote urban forestry partnership efforts and
recognized best tree management practices.
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Support planning board efforts in making sure new developments have diverse urban tree plantings.
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Support local urban forestry activities with an education component, such as Arbor Day, Save the Rain programs
and Tree City Celebrations.
AFFILIATED
ORGANIZATIONS
Adirondack Landowners Association American Forest and Paper Association Audubon New York  Catskill Forest Association  Empire State
Forest Products Association  NY Biomass Energy Association  NY Forest Owners Association  NY Farm Bureau  NYS Sustainable Forestry
Initiative State Implementation Committee  NYS Society of American Foresters  NYS Tree Farm  NYS Urban Forestry Council  SUNY College
of Environmental Science & Forestry  The Nature Conservancy  Watershed Agricultural Council For More Information, Contact: Matthew
McArdle, CFRO Chair at matt.mcardle@mesabioenergy.com or (315) 704-0004