Urban & Community

The intent of the Shade Tree Planting Prioritization (STPP) analysis is to:

• Rapidly and strategically assess Arizona’s urban forest communities to inform Urban and Community Forestry planning
• Identify Arizona’s underserved cities and communities based on state-wide, best available, and relevant socio-economic and environmental data
• Account for a city’s commitment to their urban forest (sustainability) as it applies to UCF partnerships and projects
• Keep spatial and quantitative analysis simple and transparent
• Generate summaries and geospatial products for internal and public dissemination

The analysis and products will inform future DFFM priorities for program delivery and may be used directly by communities for their management needs. 

How Can The Prioritization Maps Help Me?

Products And Services

Major funding provided by the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Use Disclaimer

Use is granted to public agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and private individuals for non-commercial purposes. For commercial use of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management maps and data see Arizona Revised Statutes 39-121.03. The Department makes no warranties, implied or expressed, with respect to the accuracy of and the use of this data for any specific purpose. Users are required to make their own assessment of the data for any specific use.

Disclaimer Of Non-Endorsement

References herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department or USDA Forest Service. The views and opinions of individuals expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Department or USDA Forest Service, and shall not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes.

Geospatial Disclaimer

Property line representations and/or any other type of boundary, linear or point location representations contained within this data or displayed within this product are approximate, and cannot be used for authoritative location purposes. Users should independently research, investigate and verify all information before relying on it or using it in the preparation of legal documents. Legally-defensible property boundaries can only be established by state-registered professional land surveyors. A list of Arizona Registered Land Surveyors is available at btr.az.gov.

DISCONTINUED - see updated 2017 Shade Tree Planting Prioritization

The intent of the Shade Tree Planting Prioritization (STPP) analysis is to:

• Rapidly and strategically assess Arizona’s urban forest communities to inform Urban and Community Forestry planning
• Identify Arizona’s underserved cities and communities based on state-wide, best available, and relevant socio-economic and environmental data
• Account for a city’s commitment to their urban forest (sustainability) as it applies to UCF partnerships and projects
• Keep spatial and quantitative analysis simple and transparent
• Generate summaries and geospatial products for internal and public dissemination

The analysis and products will inform future DFFM priorities for program delivery and may be used directly by communities for their management needs. 

How Can The Prioritization Maps Help Me?

Major funding provided by the USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Program. 

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Use Disclaimer

Use is granted to public agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and private individuals for non-commercial purposes. For commercial use of the Department of Forestry and Fire Management maps and data see Arizona Revised Statutes 39-121.03. The Department makes no warranties, implied or expressed, with respect to the accuracy of and the use of this data for any specific purpose. Users are required to make their own assessment of the data for any specific use.

Disclaimer Of Non-Endorsement

References herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Department or USDA Forest Service. The views and opinions of individuals expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Department or USDA Forest Service, and shall not be used for advertising or product-endorsement purposes.

Geospatial Disclaimer

Property line representations and/or any other type of boundary, linear or point location representations contained within this data or displayed within this product are approximate, and cannot be used for authoritative location purposes. Users should independently research, investigate and verify all information before relying on it or using it in the preparation of legal documents. Legally-defensible property boundaries can only be established by state-registered professional land surveyors. A list of Arizona Registered Land Surveyors is available at btr.az.gov.

Public and commercial orchards and nurseries that provide edible trees in Arizona.

Project Partners: Arizona State Forestry, City of Phoenix, New Mexico EMNRD Forestry Division, City of Albuquerque, City of Las Cruces, Texas A&M University Forest Service, and the City of El Paso.

Public Information Dissemination Partner: Arizona State University/ Sustainable Cities Network, Julie Anne Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability

Project Summary

A multi-state project funded by the USDA Forest Service to conduct urban forestry ecosystem services assessments in partnering communities. This project utilized i-Tree Eco to capture baseline data that may be used to assist communities to develop municipal and regional planning goals and implement strategies that address regional attainment of federal air quality standards. Four communities (Phoenix, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX) located in regions at-risk of not meeting federal air quality standards partnered in this effort to complete assessments. This project aligned a diversity of committed partners and programs in the arena of southwest green infrastructure, and was focused on improving environmental health and community livability. This project was also initiated as a comparison to similar research that has been conducted in other parts of the country. Through this project, tools and other products are made available to assist Southwestern communities in their efforts to improve community livability. This project addressed community priorities identified in Statewide Forest Action Plans for Arizona, New Mexico and Texas: (1) Recognition of ecosystem services provided by forests; and (2) Implementation of strategies that improve community health and address environmental health factors.

Project Goals

1. Produce community forest assessments in four targeted municipalities that quantify current ecosystem services being provided (including improved air quality, energy conserved, carbon sequestered, and much more);
2. Develop and implement municipal goals, planning tools and community forest strategies (planning, development and management) that are recognized by environmental regulators as mitigating factors for air quality;
3. Develop planning tools and outreach materials and use these tools through traditional and non-traditional partnership forums to increase awareness and develop similar projects and efforts throughout the Southwest and the United States.

This project involved extensive collaboration with municipal, state and federal partners to develop agreed-upon sampling strategies; data analysis and reports; results distribution/dissemination; and in the creation of outreach materials. Community reports and additional information are provided as links below.

Brochure and Fact Sheets

• City of Phoenix, Arizona – Fact Sheet
• El Paso, Texas – Fact Sheet
• Albuquerque, New Mexico – Fact Sheet
• Las Cruces, New Mexico – Fact Sheet
• Project Brochure

Reports

• Phoenix, Arizona – Community Forest Assessment
• El Paso, Texas – Community Forest Assessment
• Albuquerque, New Mexico – Community Forest Assessment
• Las Cruces, New Mexico – Community Forest Assessment
• Southwest Region – Community Forest Assessment (comparison of four communities)

The Department of Forestry and Fire Management has many tree experts on staff who are happy to answer any of your questions. However, before you contact us, see if your question is answered below.

An arborist is a specialist in the care and maintenance of trees.

ISA Certified Arborists are individuals who have achieved a level of knowledge in the art and science of tree care through at least three years of experience and have passed a comprehensive examination. They are also required to recertify every three years with a mandatory 30 hours of continuing education.

The tree trunk flare (The area at the base of the trees trunk that becomes wider to form roots) should be just above grade approximately 1-2”. This will help as the tree will naturally settle.

Archived Urban Tree Talk Newsletters      

2024: 

• Fall 2024 Forestry in Focus
• Summer 2024 Forestry in Focus
• Spring 2024 Forestry in Focus

2023: 

• Winter 2023 Forestry in Focus 
• Fall 2023 Forestry in Focus
• Summer 2023 Forestry in Focus 
• Spring 2023 Forestry in Focus

2022: 

• Winter 2022 Urban Tree Talk 
• Fall 2022 Urban Tree Talk 
• Summer 2022 Urban Tree Talk 
• Spring 2022 Urban Tree Talk 
• Fall 2021 Urban Tree Talk 
• Spring 2021 Urban Tree Talk 
• Summer 2021 Urban Tree Talk