UCF Resources and Partnerships

The development of sustainable urban and community forests in California calls for a combined effort using a variety of tools and involving partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels. Resources on this page include best management practices, the benefits of trees, water conservation, and more.

Additional partners include other state agencies, non-profit organizations, private urban forestry, and arboricultural companies, power and utility companies, cities, counties, special districts, and professional organizations. These varied partners are brought together via the Director's advisory committee for urban and community forestry, the California Urban Forestry Advisory Committee (CUFAC). Together they discuss trends, address concerns, develop suggestions for consideration by CAL FIRE management, and provide support and information to their local communities on urban forestry issues.

California's State Urban Forestry Program also works with our Fire Prevention Program in advocating fire-safe landscaping for homeowners and communities. Landscape design, tree selection, and maintenance are critical elements in reducing the spread of fire and the risk to adjacent buildings. Even well-designed landscapes can become hazardous if not properly maintained. The program encourages compliance with the defensible space requirement for communities in the urban-wildland interface areas (PRC 4291) and offers suggestions for types of trees, landscape designs and pruning methods to assist homeowners in meeting that standard.

CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry is dedicated to California's efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change. For more information about CAL FIREs statewide forestry strategies for reducing or mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, please visit our Climate Change and Energy page.

California's Forests and Rangelands 2017 Assessment

CAL FIRE's Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP), The 2017 Assessment covers a broad range of topics across both private and public lands. Each chapter includes a number of indicators that collectively are used to evaluate the sustainability of forest and rangelands. Chapter 3 of this assessment includes a detailed report on California's Urban and Community forests.

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California Tree City Summary 2023

The Arbor Day Foundation has released California’s Tree City USA Summary for 2023 highlighting key accomplishments for the state. California has 164 Tree City USA (TCUSA) communities, providing benefits to over 56% of the state’s population. CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program helps coordinate the TCUSA Program by approving applications and providing urban forestry technical assistance, education, and grants to help advance urban forestry efforts in California. The TCUSA Recognition Program offers opportunities to educate communities about the value of tree resources, highlights the importance of sustainable tree management, and celebrates the individuals and organizations committed to our urban forests and the health of our environment across the state.