The City of Schenectady, New York, in partnership with the community and urban forestry consultants at PlanIT Geo, completed this Community Forest Management Plan in 2022. This Plan is a guide to maintain, protect, and enhance Schenectady’s already extensive community forest. Fill out the form to download the full 99-page Plan. To download the 14-page Executive Summary, click here.

Any inhabited area that has trees and vegetation is considered a community forest, though more urbanized communities often refer to this resource as an urban forest. Based on Schenectady’s population density, tree population, and the public interaction with and received benefits from trees, Schenectady’s resource is referred interchangeably as an urban and community forest in this Plan.

The Community Forest Management Plan extends beyond maintenance and operational guidance to include a variety of long-term goals, strategies, and priorities to achieve optimal levels of community forest management, sustainability, and equity. Achieving the goals set forth in this Plan requires a shared commitment and partnership between the City, its partners, and residents to sustain a rich community forest, thriving economy, and improved well-being for future generations. The Community Forest Management Plan focuses on the City-owned trees in public rights-of-way and parks, but also has implications for the private trees and attention to these are addressed through community outreach and education efforts.

Fill out the form to access the complete Community Forest Management Plan