Begun in 2009, the Northern Forest Futures Project takes a long-term, large-scale perspective by applying scenario analyses and other forward-looking analytical tools to help society understand the magnitude and consequences of cumulative forest changes anticipated over the next 50 years. Forests in the Northeast and Midwest are not just part of the landscape, they are part of all of our lives in the form of forest industry and sustainable rural communities (jobs, investment, tax base, economic activity), and outdoor recreation including hunting, birdwatching, camping, skiing, boating, and hiking. Forests give us clean water and clean air, renewable energy, and they sequester vast quantities of carbon from the atmosphere, partially offsetting carbon emissions associated with climate change. Research developed in the Northern Forest Futures Project gives forest owners, managers, and other decisionmakers information to guide sustainable management of the 174 million acres of public and private forests in the Northern United States.

Amsterdamse Bos, Bois de Boulogne, Epping Forest, Grunewald, Zoniënwoud; throughout history, cities in Europe and elsewhere have developed close relationships with nearby woodland areas. In some cases, cities have even developed – and in some cases are promoting – a distinct ‘forest identity’. This book introduces the rich heritage of these city forests as cultural landscapes, and shows that cities and forests can be mutually beneficial. Essential reading for students and researchers interested in urban sustainability and urban forestry, this book also has much wider appeal. For with city forests playing an increasingly important role in local government sustainability programs, it provides an important reference for those involved in urban planning and decision making, public affairs and administration, and even public health. From providers of livelihoods to healthy recreational environments, and from places of inspiration and learning to a source of conflict, the book presents examples of city forests from around the world. These cases clearly illustrate how the social and cultural development of towns and forests has often gone hand in hand. They also reveal how better understanding of city forests as distinct cultural and social phenomena can help to strengthen synergies both between cities and forests, and between urban society and nature.