Washington State Community and Urban Forestry Program
Purpose:
The Washington State Community and Urban Forestry Program works to educate citizens and decision-makers about the economic, environmental, psychological and aesthetic benefits of trees and to assist local governments, citizen groups and volunteers in planting and sustaining healthy trees and vegetation wherever people live and work in Washington State.
Mission:
Provide leadership to create self-sustaining Community and Urban Forestry programs that preserve, plant and manage forests and trees for public benefits and quality of life.
The four main goals of the Program:
Goal 1 Education and Outreach
Increase the level of understanding, protection and management of Washington's community trees and native vegetation while increasing the number of people involved in Community and Urban Forestry activities.
Goal 2 Financial and Technical Assistance
Maintain high quality public service from program staff and provide the best information to our clients.
Goal 3 Building the Program's Capacity
Develop additional monetary support for the Community and Urban Forestry Program and the people it serves.
Goal 4 Planting Trees
Encourage the planting of more trees and appropriate follow-up management.
The Washington Community Forestry Council advises the Department of Natural Resources on policies and programs related to community and urban forestry. The Council's primary role is to provide leadership for the citizens of Washington, function as a clearinghouse of information, cultivate cooperative relationships within the field of urban forestry, and advise the Legislature and the people of Washington on the best ways to preserve, protect, expand and improve Washington's community and urban forests.
The Council was formed in 1990 in response to the 1978 United States Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act. The Council's existence is a federal requirement in order to receive funding for the State's Community and Urban Forestry Program from the United States Forest Service.
For more information or to volunteer for the Washington Community Forestry Council, email us at: urban_forestry@dnr.wa.gov