SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

LEAD THE WAY TO GREENER, HEALTHIER CITIES WITH THE SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

  • The world’s first forest standard for communities
  • Promotes nature-based solutions and resilience to climate change
  • 16 objectives for urban and community forest certification
  • Third-party audits demonstrate effectiveness of management
  • Applicable to cities and town of all sizes, anywhere in the world
  • Perfect for corporate, hospital, and university campuses
  • Helps maintain and enhance the many values of urban trees

Learn more about the thematic certification options:

    1. Community Well-Being and Human Health
    2. Environmental and Conservation Leadership
    3. Climate and Disaster Resilience
    4. Urban Forest Improvement

Download the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard here. (English  |  French  | Spanish)

Guidance For SFI Urban & Community Forest Sustainability Standard  (English  | French  |  Spanish)

Facts and Information: SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard  (English  |  French |  Spanish)

Auditor List

How to Certify

Frequently Asked Questions

SCOPE

This standard is appropriate for organizations that own, manage, or are responsible for urban and/or community forests. These organizations can come from all facets of the urban and community forest sector, including, but not limited to: governmental organizations (i.e., municipalities, counties, states, provinces), non-governmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples, community groups, healthcare organizations, educational organizations, and corporate organizations.

FAQs

There are many reasons an organization may want to certify their forest. Addressing pressing issues such as climate change, extreme heat, or wildfire risk are just a few. Proper management and care of the urban or community forest will maximize benefits and minimize risks. Third-Party Certification takes it one step further and proves that the organization is meeting the sector-developed standard.

The UCFSS is designed for cities, communities, and other organizations, such as corporate, university, and hospital campuses. There is no minimum or maximum size. Everyone can access and utilize the standard.

The process is the same for all SFI standards:

See forests.org/how-to-certify.

Yes, we have a guidance document that includes the language from the standard, but also includes recommendations, suggestions, examples, and tools to help you manage your forest and meet the standard.

All audits must be conducted by independent, accredited certification bodies. Click here for a list of accredited certification bodies.

There are three categories of costs to consider: Preparing your organization for an audit, the audit, and the SFI Trademark License fee.

Preparing for the audit costs will vary by organization based on size, complexity, and certification option selected.

SFI does not assess fees for audits. Costs for UCFSS audits can vary based on operations and scope and organizations should contact an SFI-accredited certification body for audit cost estimates.

SFI’s SFI Trademark License fees are $1,100 per location for most organizations and $550 per location for universities and local or regional non-profits. For example, if a corporation or other organization wishes to certify campuses in three cities, the total fee would be $3,300.  If a state university system wishes to certify three separate campuses, the fee would be $1,650.

SFI certificates are valid for five years. A check-up (surveillance) audit is needed every 12 months to maintain SFI certification.

Yes. We offer thematic certification. The themes are:

  1. Community Well-Being and Human Health
  2. Environmental and Conservation Leadership
  3. Climate and Disaster Resilience
  4. Urban Forest Improvement

An organization may seek certification to one or more of these options.

No, Arbor Day Foundation is a partner in the development of the new standard. Both organizations see the programs as complimentary. Some organizations will start out as a Tree City and add SFI certification. Others will start out with SFI certification and realize they can add Tree City, Tree Campus, Tree Line, or Tree Cities of the World.

Yes, the standard is also available in French and Spanish.

Contact

Paul Johnson
Vice President, Urban and Community Forestry and Career Pathways
202-719-1389, ext. 473
paul.johnson@forests.org

Or contact

Alix Olson
SFI Coordinator, Urban and Community Forestry
403-917-9434
alix.olson@forests.org

LEARN MORE

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SFI’s New Standard Aims to Bring Holistic Protection to Urban Forests

SFI’S NEW STANDARD AIMS TO BRING HOLISTIC PROTECTION TO URBAN FORESTS

It’s all about trees and people for Paul Johnson, SFI’s Senior Director, Urban and Community Forest

IT’S ALL ABOUT TREES AND PEOPLE FOR PAUL JOHNSON, SFI’S SENIOR DIRECTOR, URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST

SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD FACT SHEET

SFI Urban and Community Standard Development Process

SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Leading Standards and Urban Forestry Partners Collaborate to Develop A New SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard

LEADING STANDARDS AND URBAN FORESTRY PARTNERS COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP A NEW SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

WEBINAR: STANDARDS FOR URBAN FORESTRY – A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABILITY

UCFS LEARNING SERIES WEBINAR: CERTIFICATION 101 – SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

DID YOU KNOW

SUPPORTING FACTS AND RESOURCES

Objective 1. Community, People, and Indigenous Rights
Objective 2. Human Health and Well-Being
Objective 13. Communications
Objective 15. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Objective 16. Reporting

Supporting Facts and Resources: 

  • Urban forests promote mental well-being and reduce stress, heart rate, blood pressure and incidence of obesity, asthma, and diabetes  
  • “more neighborhood tree cover in urbanized areas, independent from green space access, is related to better overall health, primarily through lower overweight/obesity and better social cohesion, and to a lesser extent through less type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.” 

Ulmer, J. M, Wolf, K. L., Backman, D. R., Tretheway, R. L., Blain, C. J. A., . . . Frank, L. D. (2016). Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription. Health & Place, 42, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.08.011 

  • Urban forests promote social interaction and a sense of community, including stronger ties to neighbors, a greater sense of safety, and more use of outdoor public spaces
    O’Brien, L. E., Urbanek, R. E., & Gregory, J. D. (2022). Ecological functions and human benefits of urban forests. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 75, 127707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127707. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866722002503 
  • Urban forests can promote healing – people in hospital rooms with views of trees heal faster
    Hanson, P., & Frank, M. (2016). The human health and social benefits of urban forests. Dovetail Partners, Inc. https://www.dovetailinc.org/upload/tmp/1579728766.pdf  
  • Urban forests provide space for recreation.
    Fagerholm, N., Eilola, S., & Arki, V. (2021). Outdoor recreation and nature’s contribution to well-being in a pandemic situation-Case Turku, Finland. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 64, 127257. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:237403261  

Objective 3. Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity
Objective 4. Stewardship of Natural Resources
Objective 5. Forest and Tree Health and Vitality
Objective 6. Special Sites including Natural Areas
Objective 15. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Objective 16. Reporting

  • Urban forests help provide habitat for wildlife and help preserve biodiversity
    • Aronson, M., Christopher, F. J., Lepczyk, A., Evans, K. L., Goddard, M. A., Lerman, S. B., . . . Vargo, T. (2017.) Biodiversity in the city: key challenges for urban green space management. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(4), 189-196.
  • Urban forests improve water filtration, store water, and reduce stormwater runoff
    • Berland, A., Shiflett, S. A., Shuster, W. D., Garmestani, A. S., Goddard, H. C.,. . .Hopton, M. E. (2017). The role of trees in urban stormwater management. Landscape and Urban Planning, 162, 167-177.
  • Urban forests reduce air temperatures from increased tree canopy cover
    • S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p.
  • Urban forests create spaces for habitat and food sources for wildlife helping to increase biodiversity.
    • S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p.

Objective 7. Climate Smart Management
Objective 10. Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery
Objective 12. Urban Wood Utilization
Objective 14. Research, Science, and Technology
Objective 15. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Objective 16. Reporting

  • Urban forests reduce the urban heat island effect and reduce the temperature of cities, helping cities adapt to climate change
    • Brandt, L., Derby Lewis, A., Fahey, R., Scott, L., Darling, L., Swanston, C. (2016). A framework for adapting urban forests to climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 66, 393-402.
  • Urban forests enhance carbon storage in trees and ecosystems
    • S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p.
  • Urban forests increase sustainable production through urban wood utilization.
    • S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p.
  • Urban forests intercept and absorb stormwater, which reduces flooding

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p. 

Objective 8. Urban Forest Planning
Objective 9. Management and Care of Urban Forests and Trees
Objective 10. Disaster Readiness, Response, and Recovery
Objective 11. Capacity Building
Objective 15. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Objective 16. Reporting

  • Urban forests reduce erosion and stable slopes from improved plant cover, which helps maintain water quality
    • S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2018. Urban nature for human health and well-being: a research summary for communicating the health benefits of urban trees and green space. FS-1096. Washington, DC. 24 p.
  • Urban forests add value of between $1.88 and $12.70 for every dollar spent on maintaining them, depending on the city.
  • Urban forests increase property values
GUIDANCE FOR SFI URBAN & COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD
SFI LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP FOR URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTS
STANDARD DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
FACTS AND INFORMATION: SFI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD
SFI URBAN FOREST IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM

Meagan Hanna
Director of Urban and Community Forestry for Canada
Tel: 613-800-3074

Michael Martini
Director of Urban and Community Forestry for US
Tel: 202-918-4701

Gregor Macintosh
Senior Director, Standards
Tel: 778-351-3358

Rachel Dierolf
Director, Data Analytics and Reporting
Tel: 613-274-0124

Paul Johnson
VP, Urban and Community Forestry and Career Pathways
Tel: 202-719-1389 ext 473