6: Urban Programs
Engage Urban America with Forest Service Programs Other Information:
Outcome: Broader access by Americans to the long-term environmental, social, economic, and other types of benefits provided
by the Forest Service. Overview: The three branches of the Forest Service collectively contribute to an integrated program
of natural resources stewardship to better connect urban residents to the value of well-managed public and private forested
lands and improve their quality of life. The Forest Service works to promote understanding and beneficial management of the
urban forest. We support conservation education, community "greening" efforts, and programs that provide youth with opportunities
to volunteer in tree planting and urban forest inventory activities in their neighborhoods and visit national forests and
grasslands. We work closely with a variety of partners at the Federal, State, and local levels to improve our understanding
of what urban residents think of and want from their local parks, nearby woodlands, and national forests to build productive
relationships with urban neighbors. Through partnerships among the Forest Service, other Federal agencies, and State and local
organizations, we build connections between rural and urban communities. During this strategic planning period, the following
objectives will be our major focus for accomplishing this goal. Means and Strategies for Accomplishing Goal 6: • Continue
urban forest inventory and analysis to monitor the health and benefits of ecological and social services of urban forests
and more effectively manage these complex landscapes.• Develop and disseminate strategies and options such as "green infrastructure"
to effectively manage resources to maintain environmental quality and services in urban and urbanizing landscapes.• Help communities
increase professional urban forestry staffing, ordinances, management plans, and local advisory and advocacy groups for managing
forest resources in cities, suburbs, and towns.• Develop and disseminate tools to ensure that urban trees and forests are
strategically planned and managed to maximize ecosystem services and benefits.• Engage partners and educators in the development,
distribution, and use of high-quality conservation education materials and interpretive programs.• Develop methods to measure
environmental literacy and techniques to engage urban residents in the management of urban forests.• Improve access by urban
Americans to Forest Service resources and information.• Develop partnerships with nontraditional partners to engage urban
and underserved audiences.
Objective(s):
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