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PalletCentral • November-December 2023 43 Urban Forestry Complementary to urban sawmilling is urban forestry. Forest management isn't only for vast tracts of wooded land. In the United States, over 140 million acres of forested land are in cities and towns. ese green spaces require a diff erent type of management than traditional forests. Urban forestry professionals choose the most benefi cial tree species, maintain their cities' tree canopies, and work with local governments to maximize the health of their natural spaces. e benefi ts of natural areas are well established. ey provide shade and relief from the heat, clean the air, help fi lter water, and improve people's health and wellness. Over 80% of Americans live in urban communities. Carefully planning, maintaining, and preserving forests in these communities has never been more important. Urban forest managers can benefi t greatly by having urban sawmills accessible for service. Urban forestry depends on cooperation between municipalities, businesses, and individuals. Urban sawmills make it easier and more convenient to dispose of a city tree in a way that benefi ts the environment and the community. Urban foresters are also on the front lines of fi ghting climate change. Milling felled urban trees locally saves energy, keeps carbon sequestered, and creates a local source of sustainable wood. No one wants to lose a tree from their yard or street. But when it happens, urban forest managers with easy access to a sawmill can reduce or eliminate the waste usually involved in disposing of an urban tree. e best urban forests are meticulously planned and maintained. Urban sawmills off er an economically benefi cial, environmentally responsible way to help keep city forests healthy while giving back to the community. Locally Salvaged Timber One of the greatest benefi ts of urban sawmills is that they are local. Transporting a harvested urban tree to an industrial mill can be inconvenient and expensive. A tree that is milled locally helps create the type of circular economy that is a key part of practicing sustainability in urban communities. When a tree is taken down by a city and locally milled, the lumber can be used for community projects or sold. Many urban trees are valuable hardwood that is in high demand for wood furniture, fl ooring, and other wood products. Some cities will also have fallen trees that are salvageable. Urban forest managers oversee parks, green spaces, and other wooded areas that are less controlled than a city street or individual yard. ey determine if a fallen tree is more valuable as part of the urban ecosystem or as salvaged lumber. Using urban wood for city projects saves money. Selling it makes money. at money can be used to plant new trees. Most cities and towns have space for many more trees than they plant. Some estimates indicate that cities in the U.S. could support an additional 400 million trees. Urban sawmills play a huge role in this circular economy. Locally salvaged trees stay local, reducing emissions from transport, supporting local businesses, and keeping the benefi t of valuable wood in the community. Milling locally does more than benefi t cities. Urban trees are harvested for a lot of reasons. Disease, old age, and damage are among the most common. Many of them are mature hardwood trees that have been part of their neighborhoods for generations. As people become more conscious of where their raw materials originate, they prefer local goods of all kinds, wood included. Knowing that the lumber they use is sustainably produced makes it more desirable. Urban sawmills also help cities, businesses, and individuals make the best use of reclaimed wood. is wood, the product of construction and Urban sawmills offer an economically benefi cial, environmentally responsible way to help keep city forests healthy while giving back to the community. iStock/SkyF