Throughout history, towns and cities have been a focus of human activity, culture, and prosperity, and many people have sought to improve their surroundings by planting trees for shade and beauty. 

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In a similar way, the canopy shading most western communities represents, instead of natural cover, people’s deep and longstanding affinity for trees. But communities in the West also face unique challenges for growing trees, including limited water and fickle weather, and many are concerned about the future of urban forests amid climate change and other threats. Even today, a lack of tree cover in many neighborhoods exacerbates other environmental and social burdens for many residents. 

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Given the complexity of real-world problems involving people and nature, urban forestry stewardship depends on broad support from many different people and sources of knowledge. At Trees in the West, residents, practitioners, policymakers, scientists, and others will take part in conversations about important issues for urban and community forests in a region with special natural and cultural heritages.