Watershed Forest Master Plan
During 2018, the UpstreamPgh team developed the Watershed Forest Master Plan, a comprehensive guide that assesses the current conditions of our urban forest and identifies goal-oriented strategies. The plan focuses on growing, managing and protecting our watershed urban forest, which encompasses all wooded vegetation in and around the city.
The trees of urban forests are a vital part of a healthy ecosystem as they purify and cool the air, collect and clean stormwater and add beauty to the city environment. Our watershed’s urban forests, however, have suffered from continued exposure to harsh pollutants, diseases, invasive insects, drought and poor management. To help take care of our watershed trees, we implemented our Urban Forestry program in 2004 to plant and care for trees and educate the public about their benefits. After years of tree management, we identified the need for a more comprehensive approach to effectively manage the urban forest, and are partnering with municipalities and stakeholders to ensure that we coordinate, collaborate and cultivate the ideas that will produce the best results for our urban forest.
See the full Watershed Forest Master Plan
See the Watershed executive summary
Partners
Tree Pittsburgh
Allegheny County Port Authority
Peoples Natural Gas
Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation
Wilkinsburg Borough
Swissvale Borough
Community Tree Tenders