The mission of the urban forestry program is to enhance the quality of life for the Cambridge community by providing high quality tree care and planting on City rights-of-way, in parks, and around public buildings. The staff is dedicated to pruning, treating, planting, and protecting trees using the most current arboricultural and safety standards.

The staff is led by a Forestry Supervisor, who directs two crews, each with a Tree Climber and Forestry Worker (on-ground). These personnel handle the acute hazards, routine pruning requests made by the public, and respond to storm events. They receive technical guidance and planning support from the City Arborist, who is certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. The Superintendent of Parks and Forestry oversees the urban forestry effort, as well as the park maintenance program.

The City is dedicated to pruning every public tree, both on the street and in its parks and cemeteries, every four to five years. It also strives to plant 150-300 new trees each year. The City contracts with private sector tree companies to assist with these initiatives. The City Arborist develops the specifications for this work, and also monitors the performance of the contractors.

The City Arborist is responsible for reviewing tree planting plans proposed for both public roadway projects and by private developers that wish to enhance their frontage, with advice from an appointed-citizen Committee on Public Planting. He also serves as the City’s Tree Warden, and administers the public hearing process for public tree removals, as prescribed by state law.