Strategic planning in urban forestry: A 21st century paradigm shift for small town Canada

The pressures created by urban sprawl are leading to a reduction in foreste d land in Canada and North America. Poorly controlled land-use planning con tributes to the haphazard urbanization of many small communities within com muting distance of major urban centres. Urban forests are largely ignored a s an asset and the potential benefits they can offer to communities are oft en not acknowledged in the planning process. Relatively few communities acr oss Canada have any form of urban forest management. A new definition of th e urban forest is proposed that recognizes the need for an ecosystem approa ch to urban forest management and the integral role that humans play in tha t ecosystem. To facilitate the implementation of urban forest management pl ans in small communities, a simple strategic planning framework is presente d. Using this approach, many small towns can maintain their rural character and benefit from a wealth of environmental, social and economic benefits.