Springfield Urban Forest Plan

The urban forest is a community resource that is collectively experienced and cared for. Every single tree in Springfield – public and private, roadside and backyard – is a part of our urban forest… and those who own trees, care for trees, and care about trees are (or can be) stewards of the urban forest. Since the urban forest impacts our whole community, decision-making around the future of our urban forest ought to be performed at the community level as well. 

In collaboration with residents, community leaders, industry professionals, and other key stakeholders, we will develop and adopt an urban forest master plan (the Springfield Urban Forest Plan) to produce a long-term vision for growing a thriving urban forest in our city. The Forestry Division envisions a community-centered Plan that aims to improve environmental quality in areas most in need -- guided by those with lived experience of the harms related to insufficient tree canopy and tree management (high heat, poor air quality, presence of hazardous or dead trees, etc.).

In Springfield’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan (CARP – 2017), tree planting & maintenance were identified as important ways to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and create a more resilient city. The Springfield Urban Forest Plan will aim to support the goals identified in the CARP as well as develop new goals and strategies to create a more evenly-distributed urban forest, improve tree maintenance, increase tree planting (particularly in areas with the fewest existing trees), and garner public support for this work.