History of Urban Forests

While the term “urban forestry” did not become part of America’s vernacular until the 20th century, urban forestry work and practices actually extend to ancient times, and it has been a topic of interest to American Forests for more than a century.

On the following pages, we provide a brief history of urban forestry from the time of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and others to the present, as well as a look at American Forests’ work over the years in support of urban greenspaces.

Critical Issues