Community Forest Management

Explore planning and implementing simple stewardship practices on your lot to create and enhance natural areas and make a positive impact on the environment during this series.

Gain insight into DCNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, including Direct Contracting funding to help communities expand and manage their tree canopy.

After 34 years of providing educational programs and assisting communities in southeastern Pennsylvania, Urban Forester and Natural Resources Educator Julianne Schieffer has retired from Penn State.

TreePennsylvania grants are helping environmental justice communities plant trees that provide a wealth of environmental, health, and social benefits.

Street and park tree inventories provide information for the planning, design, planting, maintenance, and removal of community trees.

A Shade Tree Commission or Environmental Advisory Commission plays an important role in community management of trees and natural resources for the greatest ecosystem benefits.

Timber harvesting is regulated by a fraction of Pennsylvania's local governments, but more municipalities are beginning to regulate harvesting in order to maintain forests for future generations.

Over 1600 large caliper bare root trees were planted by Pennsylvania communities in Spring 2025 with help of mini-grant program.

Designing green parking lots with large canopy trees can reduce urban heat loads, air and water pollution, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on our communities.

Trees and woodlands enhance beauty, property values, health, and community appeal, but many areas lack policies to protect them during development.

A community tree plan does not need to be long or complicated to provide a guiding document for your shade tree commission.

This article contains links to useful resources designed to help municipalities, community planners, shade tree commissions, volunteer organizations, and others that plant and manage community trees.

If you are topping a tree to make it smaller, DON'T. It doesn't work!

If your community has an active tree program, it could be awarded Tree City USA status.

Training held in Luzerne County this past summer will be available to other Pennsylvania communities in 2025.

Working with partners and a long-term strategy key to 39 years of maintaining and enhancing the Lewisburg community forest according to a shade tree commissioner and a Tree Tender volunteer.

Urban forested natural areas are critical to improving the quality of life for residents, but they need some management.

This article explains planning hierarchies and putting tree planning into practice, including effective administration; analysis of hazardous trees; proper site preparation; and proper tree selection.

Podcast tells the stories that made certain trees important witnesses to history and how those trees are being preserved as reminders of that history.

A cursory look at an unhealthy tree may lead to some initial ideas of what is causing a decline in health, but a closer look may reveal other causes initially unnoticed.

If you can't see the trunk flare/root collar at the base of a tree, it may be buried, which can lead to decay and whole tree failure.

Online MyTree tools let you see what benefits your tree is providing to you and your community.

Good design and community input can help downtowns achieve an attractive and comfortable tree lined shopping district.

A systematic approach to detecting and dealing with tree risk can greatly reduce the potential for tree failures that cause injury and damage to property.

Hands-on tree planting and care help students better connect to biology lessons and the natural environment.