Shade and park trees in Vermont towns provide a multitude of benefits to citizens, businesses, and visitors alike. Beyond the aesthetic values, trees also have practical benefits and monetary values in which many communities are unaware. Unlike other public infrastructure components, properly planted and maintained trees increase in value over time. To enjoy and maximize these benefits, communities must strategically employ proper arboricultural techniques and management practices. The resources below are intended to support the development of a management plan to best care for and manage your community tree resource. 

VT UCF assists Vermont communities in assessing the urban forest and developing management and invasive forest pest preparedness plans. VT UCF program offers annual grants to help communities understand their forest, develop a future forest plan, and take action.

The Sustainable Urban Forest: A Step-by-Step Approach is a comprehensive guide developed by the USDA Forest Service and the Davey Institute of Tree Science.

The Urban Forest Management Plan Toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to develop urban forestry management plans.

Community Tree Plans: A Guide for Tree Commissions and Environmental Advisory Councils was developd by Penn State Extension and puts planning for the urban forest into practice.  

Our brief Management Plan Guide can help urban forest managers, tree committees, and Tree Wardens start to think about what a management plan -- or action plan -- for their urban or community forest might look like.  

Examples of Vermont urban forest management plans:

• City of Burlington Urban Forest Master Plan (2002)
• Peacham Village Tree Management Plan
• Williston Community Forestry Plan
• St. Albans Urban Forest Strategic Action Plan
• Shelburne Public Tree and Street Tree Management Plan
• Village of Essex Junction Urban Forest Management Plan
• Chester Village Canopy Management Plan
• Town of Essex Street Tree Management Plan