Arbor Day Foundation to Co-Organize 2023 World Forum on Urban Forests

Event will gather global tree advocates in Washington, D.C. Oct. 16-20

LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Arbor Day Foundation announced that it will co-organize the second World Forum on Urban Forests in Washington, D.C. alongside the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and several other high-profile organizations.

The forum — held Oct. 16 to 20, 2023 — will convene hundreds of global experts to discuss how urban trees can create more resilient, healthy, and inclusive cities worldwide. The Arbor Day Foundation’s annual Partners in Community Forestry Conference and Alliance for Community Trees Day will also be woven into the weeklong event.

“As climate change progresses and city populations continue to grow, our urban canopies are more important than ever,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We are proud to take part in this global stage as the best and brightest come together and help create a greener future for us all.”

The first World Forum on Urban Forests was held in 2018. Five years later, the event is coming back with a renewed energy and vision.

“At our first World Forum, we launched the Tree Cities of the World program in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Simone Borelli, urban forestry officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Today, that program has more than 130 participating cities. It’s an exciting time for urban forestry, and this event will help carry that momentum forward.”

The USDA Forest Service will also take part in the event.

“Sustainable management of our nation’s urban and community forests has long been a core part of our mission,” said Beattra Wilson, assistant director for urban and community forestry at the USDA Forest Service. “We’re excited to provide valuable perspective at the World Forum, and connect with many other partners and representatives at such a pivotal point of change and opportunity.”

Other forum co-organizers include the Polytechnic University of Milan, the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, the International Society of Arboriculture, the Smithsonian Institution, and the City of Washington, D.C.

For more information, visit WorldForumOnUrbanForests.org.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.