The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban and Community Forestry Program assists communities and nonprofit groups in protecting, growing, and managing community trees and forest ecosystems. The program provides grants, technical assistance, training, and recognition awards to communities of all sizes throughout Massachusetts.

The program’s monthly e-newsletter, The Citizen Foresteris available by email upon request. Click on the link to view past issues and sign up to receive new ones.

Each fall, the DCR Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Massachusetts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association, and the U.S. Forest Service host a training for tree board members, tree activists, interested citizens, tree wardens, and other green professionals. This Tree Steward Training provides foundation instruction in tree physiology, tree care, and other urban and community forestry issues, with the aim of developing better tree stewardship in Massachusetts communities of all sizes.

View DCR’s Community Status Map to find out how your community compares to other communities in the state as measured against six criteria that DCR uses to measure a community’s capacity to effectively manage its community forest. Send updates about your community’s information to state Community Action Forester Mathew Cahill mathew.cahill@state.ma.us.

DCR Factsheets

DCR has created factsheets on a number of relevant topics to educate and inform the public about the Urban and Community Forestry Program. Digital files of the 14 factsheets are available below.  Send an email to request paper copies.