SGSF Urban & Community Forestry Committee
The South is experiencing the largest population growth in the nation. In 2000, eight of the 10 fastest growing counties in the United States (U.S.) were located in the South.
It is estimated that by 2020, approximately 23.2 million more individuals will live in the South (Southern Forest Resource Assessment). More than 80 percent of this population resides in an urban or sub-urban environment.
The growth has impacted the environment in loss of tree cover, decreased water quality, increased water run-off from road surfaces, increased energy use, and the reduction in the South's air quality.
The Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program provides financial and technical assistance to communities in order to protect, establish, and manage trees, forests, and related resources. This includes planting or managing trees on public and private land, along streets, in residential areas, and in parks and commercial developments.
Recognizing the need to help communities manage their lands, the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF) established the Urban and Community Forestry Committee. Collectively, the Committee provides advice and counsel to the SGSF in their delivery of the Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program, and on how best to enable rural and urban communities and non-profit organizations in their management and improvement of the forests where people live, work, and play.
Further information on Urban & Community Forestry: