What is Urban Forestry? 

Urban forestry involves the strategic management and maintenance of trees within city landscapes to enhance the quality of the urban environment. It emphasizes the importance of trees as essential components of a community's infrastructure. Professionals in this field are responsible for planting, caring for, and preserving urban trees, as well as conducting studies and educating the public about the ecological, social, and economic value trees provide. Urban forestry is a multidisciplinary effort, carried out by city planners, environmental advocates, arborists, consultants, educators, utility foresters, and researchers.  

Urban Forestry in Lewisville

The Urban Forestry Section oversees the regulation of tree preservation and removal on developing land, as outlined by the Uniform Development Code. The department aims to foster a diverse and sustainable urban forest by promoting a citywide tree canopy goal of 30 percent. This is accomplished by requiring developers to retain part of the existing canopy and to plant new trees when removals are necessary for development or construction. To encourage the conservation of healthy, mature trees, the city offers preservation credits and requires mitigation when such trees are removed. 

Benefits of Urban Trees

• Shade and shelter
• Increase property value
• Enhance the visual landscape
• Decrease cooling costs
• Filter pollutants
• Protection from harmful ultraviolet rays
• Creates desirable living and working spaces
• Encourage patronage of businesses
• Minimizes soil erosion and stormwater runoff