What does urban forestry manage?

Urban forestry primarily focuses on the management of both planted and naturally occurring trees within urban environments. This encompasses a variety of activities aimed at enhancing the urban ecosystem by integrating trees into the planning and development of city landscapes. The objective is to optimize the benefits that trees provide, such as improving air quality, enhancing aesthetic values, supporting biodiversity, and providing shade and cooling in densely populated areas.

In urban forestry, professionals evaluate the health, structure, and placement of trees to maximize their positive impact on the urban ecosystem. Effective management practices may include tree planting, maintenance, and conservation efforts aimed at sustaining healthy urban forests that benefit both the community and the environment.

The other options, while important in their own contexts, do not pertain to the specific focus of urban forestry. For example, plantations for commercial timber and rural agriculture relate more to agricultural and forestry practices outside urban settings, and desertification prevention encompasses broader environmental issues not limited to urban areas.