We are a membership-based group dedicated to building the confidence, competence and camaraderie of all people who manage trees and forests in cities.
The Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) is dedicated to supporting the people who make or support daily tree planting and care decisions.
Our organization is committed to education and professional development for urban and community foresters and advocacy for the urban forestry profession.
You connect with and become part of an international community of urban forestry professionals who:
Grow healthy trees in the communities where people live
Understand that trees can save the world by building community and a sense of belonging
Implement smart, innovative, practical ideas and solutions to improve their community’s tree canopy.
Join us this year in St. Louis, Missouri!
Each year UCFS hosts a conference and tradeshow. This exciting event brings together members and non-members alike to network, learn, and knowledge share.
City Trees is one of the premier publications focused on urban and community forestry stewardship. Inside each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community from experts and peers within the field of urban forestry.
Have you hit a “road bump” since graduating from UCFS’s Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) or generally in your career?
Swap places with a professional like you to get a new perspective and share techniques.
Learn leadership skills catered to the your industry!
Monday, November 16 from 1:00-4:00pm
To join us, add the tour with your registration!
Before conference sessions begin, join fellow urban and community forestry professionals for a guided tour of St. Louis that explores the city’s urban forest through the lens of history, resilience, equity, and community investment. From iconic parks to neighborhoods experiencing both environmental challenges and revitalization, you’ll discover how planning decisions, natural disaster recovery, and community partnerships are shaping a healthier, more equitable future.
Our journey begins at Brickline Greenway near Energizer Park, where an ambitious green infrastructure vision is reconnecting neighborhoods and expanding access to greenspace. From there, we’ll travel through the iconic Forest Park to explore the legacy of one of America’s great urban parks and the stewardship practices that continue to make it a model for urban forestry and public space.
As we travel through St. Louis neighborhoods, we’ll view the city’s history through its trees. We will see firsthand how communities are restoring and reimagining their urban forests through community-driven initiatives that are reversing damage from recent devastating tornado and the legacy of historic redlining and its influence on tree canopy distribution.
Along the way, we’ll stop at O’Fallon Park to explore ongoing restoration and neighborhood revitalization efforts before concluding at Kiener Plaza Park, where thoughtful landscape design and thriving urban greenspace showcase the power of trees to create welcoming, resilient downtown environments.
Don’t miss the opportunity to see examples of these critical urban forestry practices:
More than a sightseeing tour, this is an opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, exchange ideas, and connect with colleagues who share a passion for building stronger urban forests. Come see St. Louis through a new lens and leave inspired with innovative ideas and practical insights.
Special Guests:
We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the City of St. Louis Forestry, Great Rivers Greenway, and Forest ReLeaf who will share insider perspectives on organizational collaboration.
