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Urban Forestry Undergraduate Program

University of Maryland

Nearly 8 out of 10 Maryland residents live in urban settings. A growing percentage of these individuals recognize the importance of urban forests, which cut energy needs through the shade they provide, reduce runoff, provide wildlife habitat and enhance property values. With this recognition comes an increased demand for trained individuals to manage urban forest ecosystems.

The University of Maryland is addressing the demand with the addition of an urban forestry concentration to the Natural Resource Sciences undergraduate program in its Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture. Beginning this fall students in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources can receive a Bachelor of Science concentration in urban forestry. This program will complement the thriving urban forestry program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service, which has been a national leader in the development of efforts to protect trees in urban settings.

The new urban forestry curriculum meets the demand for trained tree care professionals in an increasingly urban state, as well as the entire Mid-Atlantic region. Its development was spearheaded by an Urban Forestry Steering Committee comprised of University of Maryland faculty and representatives of public agencies and private tree care companies.

It was a unique circumstance to be approached by forestry leaders and potential forestry employers with a plan to meet an educational need in the state by adding four core forestry coursed to other existing courses essential to the urban forestry curriculum, said Dr. Thomas A. Fretz, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

State Forester Steve Koehn expressed pleasure that a state-based educational institution will be involved in essential forestry education. The addition of an urban forestry program at the University of Maryland goes a long way towards protecting and maintaining Maryland's trees for the future, he said.

For more information about the urban forestry curriculum, contact either Dr. Joe Sullivan at (301)405-1626, js128@umail.umd.edu or Mrs. Kathy Hunt at (301)405-4355, kh26@umail.umd.edu. Details about the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service urban forestry program can be obtained from Mr. Steve Koehn at (410)260-8501.

       The Forest Conservancy District Board for Baltimore County

9405 Old Harford Road

Baltimore, Maryland 21234

(410) 665-5820 

Email Robert Prenger ....... rprenger@dnr.state.md.us

 Melvin Noland ....... mlnoland@bcpl.net