The changing governance of urban forests

Trees, woodlands and other vegetation make crucial contributions to the health, well-being and resilience of urban communities. A body of evidence has accumulated in recent years on, for example, the roles of urban forestsin mitigating the impacts of climate change and urban “heat islands” and the case has also become strongfor urban forests and other green spacesas important contributors to public health. Urban forestsare often under pressure, however, from development and urban densification, poor management and their low political status. Better urban and peri-urban forestry(UPF) programmes are needed in com-munities worldwide. The interdisciplinary field of UPF operates in a complex context,with rapidly changing conditions, driversand “storylines” (such as biodiversity loss,and the need to adapt cities to climatechange and to enhance public health), and many issues compete for the attention of decision makers and local communities.