Trees are indicators of a community’s ecological health. The field and study of Urban Forestry covers the full spectrum of forest settings – from the inner-city forests to remote semi-developed forests. We have provided links to organizations around the world dedicated to the improvement of the urban forest. One fact you may not be aware of is that the urban forest in America is the largest forest by total acres. It is also the only forest increasing in size at this time. That equates to job security and that is good for our students and their employers.

Additional Forest Facts
*	Who owns the forests? America's forests are owned by private individuals (54%), public agencies (37%), and private industries (9%).
*	How many people work in forestry? Forestry ranks among the top 10 employers in 40 of the 50 states.
*	Trees can help reduce energy costs: Three well-placed mature trees around a house can cut air-conditioning costs by 10-50%, while trees and other landscaping can increase property value by 5-10%.
*	Trees are good for air: One mature tree absorbs approximately 13 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. For every ton of wood a forest grows, it removes 1.47 tons of carbon dioxide and replaces it with 1.07 tons of oxygen.
	Source: Society of American Foresters