New FAO publication – Urban Forests: a Global Perspective

Urban and peri-urban forestry offers multifunctional benefits that positively impact both the environment and human well-being by providing recreational areas, reducing stress and enhancing social cohesion, as observed, for example, in the initiatives of the Natural Health Service in the United Kingdom.

FAO
Oct 2023

Latin America and the Caribbean: Germán Tovar Corzo, Gabriela López Damian, Luiz Octavio de Lima Pedreira, Elena B. Craig, Analía Scarselletta

North America: Phillip Rodbell, Adrina Bardekjian, Michael Petryk, Ernesto Herrera Guerra, Peter Smith, Lauren Marshall, Paul Johnson, Richard Hauer

Asia-Pacific: Stephen Livesley, Kiri Joy Wallace, Wendy Y. Chen, Cheng Wang, Jiali Jin, Ruzana Sanusi, Tan Puay Yok

Europe: Clive Davies, Ian Whitehead, Rik De Vreese, Mariateresa Montisci

Near East and North Africa: Federica Di Cagno, Simone Borelli, Michela Conigliaro

Sub-Saharan Africa: Jessica Thorn, Nero Bertrand Festus, Brigitte Nyirambangutse, Patrick Likongwe, Charlie Shackleton

Excerpt:

The main goal of this publication is to provide a snapshot of the current state of urban forestry around the world and inspire individuals and communities by sharing insights and experiences in urban and peri-urban forestry (UPF) from different regions. From the regional perspectives we can show how the approach to urban environments is undergoing a transformative shift, transitioning from holding cities accountable for environmental degradation to recognizing their potential as biodiverse and cultural arks.

Each region covered in this publication has a unique environmental, cultural and socioeconomic context, leading to the development of distinct perspectives and strategies in UPF. There are differences in the approaches to urban forestry between regions that have experienced slow and gradual urbanization and those undergoing sudden and exponential growth. For instance, in North America and Europe, urbanization was a steadier process, peaking around the mid-20th century. As a result, these regions have long recognized the importance of urban forestry and urban greenery, and have developed specific policies, financing mechanisms and well-defined decision-making processes that have fostered an enabling environment for increasing green areas in cities. North America, for example, laid the foundations for UPF through organizational coordination and federal investments, while Europe’s effective governance models (e.g. the Boscoincittà Park in Milan, Italy) and promotion of social equity (e.g. the Picasso Food Forest in Parma, Italy) have led to other significant advancements.

Advanced research on ecosystem services, tree species selection and emerging technologies have significantly contributed to optimizing UPF practices by enhancing our understanding of the benefits of urban nature and providing evidence-based guidance. Remote sensing, combined with data analysis, e.g. the i-Tree tool, has assisted North American countries in identifying suitable locations for tree planting and monitoring the growth and health of urban forests. With tools like the Tree Equity Score, the United States of America is now trying to address environmental injustices by identifying areas with limited access to green spaces and by prioritizing interventions to ensure an equitable distribution of urban forest benefits.

Complete report here.