2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the Urban and Community Forestry Society. In October 1964, this organization was founded as the Society of Municipal Arborists, and through the years, mergers have happened and a new identity has been found – hello, Urban and Community Forestry Society! What remains constant, though, is the mission to serve members, get them a seat at the table, lift up their voices, and connect them with a vast network of like-minded people who grow healthy trees where people live.

Please join us in marking this diamond jubilee year! To celebrate, we would love for you, our members, to share something you love about your work. Over the course of the year, we’ll gather 60 reasons members like you love being the person responsible for growing healthy trees in your community. Head on over the UCFS member portal to tell us why you love your work. You may see your response featured in an upcoming issue of City Trees, on the website, in the enews, or other UCFS publications!

A couple examples include:

One thing I love about being an urban forester … is that because my crew and I start work so early, most days of the year I get to see the sunrise on my way to work. 

One thing I love about being a community forester … is how well I’ve gotten to know the town in which I work. I’ve found all the best architecture, the best delis, and the best places to go for a head-clearing walk. 

One Response

  1. I used to think taking a ‘walk in the park’ was a great past-time. Now my favorite thing is to walk on a tree-lined street, because I’ve come to recognize that the entire city is a park. EVERY tree in the city, private and public, is part of what we call the urban forest.

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2025 UCFS Pre-Conference Tour

Climate Resilience Through Smarter Landscapes

Monday, November 17 from 1:00-4:00pm

To join us, add the tour with your registration!

Join the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) and the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation for a half-day bus tour exploring how urban forestry practices are evolving to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier climate. This tour is designed for practitioners, planners, and policymakers interested in practical, replicable strategies for building climate-resilient urban landscapes with limited water resources.

Throughout the tour, we’ll explore how cities can proactively adapt to aridification by redesigning public spaces, rethinking irrigation systems, and collaborating across departments and with community partners. Expect a balance of big-picture strategy and actionable detail.

Featured Tour Stops and Highlights:

🌿 Turf Removal & Tree Replacement at Community Parks
See how traditional grass lawns are being replaced with water-smart landscapes by the City of Henderson. At one park site, learn how a communication challenge over tree removals evolved into a model of public engagement, resulting in more—and better—trees planted with long-term resilience in mind.

🦉 Bird Preserve and Partnership with Audubon Society
Explore a vibrant bird preserve developed through a partnership between the City of Henderson and the local Audubon Society. Discover how external collaborations can unlock funding (including grants) and expand habitat while boosting urban canopy goals.

🚧 Street Diet and Green Infrastructure
Visit a transformed urban street where pavement removal made way for tree planting pits and green infrastructure. This site demonstrates how every tree in Henderson is planted with a sustainable irrigation plan—and how all cities can innovate in the right-of-way.

💧 Irrigation Systems & Incentive Programs
Get practical insights on installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems in challenging settings. Learn how internal and external partnerships (including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority) are creating incentives that drive real change toward water-wise tree planting and landscaping.

What You’ll Take Home:

  • Practical tips for managing urban forests with less water
  • Strategies for working across departments and building collaborative teams
  • Lessons from real-world partnerships with nonprofits, utilities, and the public
  • Inspiration to rethink green infrastructure in your community

Special Guests:

We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the, local Audubon Society, City of Henderson Sustainability Office and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, who will share insider perspectives on interagency collaboration and the mechanics of water incentive programs.