What is Community Forestry?
The term first originated decades ago in Conservation Ecology, describing the empowerment of community members to plan, strategize, operate and benefit socio-economically from a conservation project.
More recently, the term has been co-opted by urban forestry as an attempt to make the public feel more included in government-led projects.
Human ecology, however, is driving a modern definition of Community Forestry as encompassing the human environment---or ecosystem, and stewarding tree populations as integral parts of a greater network of life-support for local communities.
There are a few differences between the applications
All three scenarios involve Government, Community, and NGOs (nonprofits). In Conservation Ecology, the Community is in the primary position of power. In Urban Forestry, it is the Government. In the Human Ecology scenario, which we are terming Community Forestry moving forward, the Nonprofit takes the lead in championing voluntary efforts to proactively meet and exceed environmental goals in Climate Readiness, Carbon Storage, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduction.
Regardless of the application, people are the most important part.
Community Forestry incorporates the power-to-the-people quality and free market independence of Conservation Ecology, with the administrative strength and overlapping market of Urban Forestry.
Community Forests Council™ is a nonprofit organization
whose focus is improving the standard of care for tree populations on commercial and private land for the purpose of making a measurable improvement in their climate-readiness and carbon storage capacity.
We do this by educating consultants, contractors, and land owners & managers and certifying them in this higher standard of care.
Memberships and grants further this mission, and our continuing education offerings keep our industry informed on the latest advancements in Community Forestry.
