Treesilience: Cultivating Safe Trees, Equitable Canopies, and Resilient Communities

A UCFS Learning Series Webinar. Thank you to Bartlett Tree Experts for their support of the entire Learning Series! Dead or dying trees don’t just create safety hazards—they also threaten public trust in the value of urban trees and the long-term health of our city canopies. When a tree looms as a danger to a […]

Mapping the Future of Urban Forests: Explore the National Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Planning Tool

Join us for a UCFS Learning Series webinar - sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts! What if every city—no matter its size or resources—could instantly visualize the size and history of its urban forest? Now, it can. For the first time ever, communities across the U.S. have access to utilizing high-resolution aerial imagery, and local, regional and nationwide […]

UCFS Annual Conference and Tradeshow

The M Resort 12300 Las Vegas Blvd S, Henderson, NV, United States

Learn about What Works (and What Doesn't) in Urban Forestry! Join us in Henderson, Nevada for this year's annual UCFS Conference and Tradeshow! There's nothing like a conference to help you gain new, actionable ideas all while gathering with people who know and understand your work. At the November 18, 2025 conference, held in conjunction with […]

Municipal Forestry Institute 2026

Mark your calendars for the Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) 2026! Applications to apply for MFI will open on August 1, 2025 and accepted applicants will be notified by mid-November 2025. Watch the MFI page for more details.

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.