Urban forestry is the interdisciplinary science and practice of planning, establishing, and managing trees, green infrastructure, and natural networks within and around cities. It bridges urban ecology, landscape architecture, and public policy to mitigate urban heat islands, control stormwater runoff, conserve urban biodiversity, and improve community health and social equity. Urban Forestry is the first undergraduate degree in Canada dedicated to the planning and management of urban green spaces.
If you’re interested in learning about urban ecology, sustainability planning, recreation, human well-being, and plant biology, Urban Forestry could be for you. Taught in collaboration with the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, this Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) degree teaches important and transferable skills:
As an Urban Forestry student, you’ll engage in hands-on field assessment, and local and international case analyses in core subject areas such as:
Home of UBC FES, the Forest Sciences Centre (FSC) features over 240,000 square feet of classrooms, study spaces, and faculty research hubs inside a stunning glass-and-timber atrium.
UBC FES manages two forests, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest and Alex Fraser Research Forest, each situated in unique biomes. Together, they total more than 60,000 acres of living laboratory space dedicated to education, research, and experimentation.
UBC FES is home to the Urban Forests Research Hub, a collaborative and interdisciplinary cluster of urban forestry labs.
Stand out with credentials from Canada’s premier undergraduate degree program dedicated specifically to city greenspace planning and urban ecology.
With dual accreditation by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board (CFAB) and the Society of American Foresters (SAF), Urban Forestry graduates can qualify to become Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) in Canada and Certified Foresters in the United States.
Benefit from collaborative teaching by professors in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and design instructors from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA).
As an Urban Forestry student, you can focus your studies by completing an optional minor in Urban Greenspace Management or Landscape and Recreation Planning.
Pair your degree with a Minor in Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Master foundational topics in financial accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, and business development.
Stand out in a competitive job market with a Certificate in Geomatics for Environmental Management. Develop highly marketable GIS and spatial analysis skills to turn data into actionable insights in environmental consulting, urban planning, conservation, forestry, and natural resources management.
As an Urban Forestry student in the FES Co-operative Education Program, you can integrate up to 5 paid work terms (20 months) into your degree, earning an average of $64,680. Receive resume, cover letter, interview preparation skills, and personalized career development and support.
Work placements span companies, provincial and federal ministries, and research institutions in industries like clean tech, corporate sustainability, and resource management.
There are many courses you can take within Urban Forestry. Here are a few you might like.
Roles played by urban forestry and greenspace systems in a rapidly changing world; topics include urban ecology, urban forest conservation, urban forest management, climate change, society and human well-being, design and planning, urban/rural interface issues, and urban forest policy.
Learn about the principles of storage and transmission of genetic variation, and explore the origin and evolution of species and their ecological interactions.
Explore the structure, diversity and development of trees and other plants, with emphasis on the angiosperms.
Investigate the applications of remote sensing, image analysis, advanced spatial analysis and geoprocessing for natural resource management.
As an Urban Forestry graduate, you’ll have the knowledge and skills required to meet the growing demand for urban forest managers and urban forest planners. Apply what you’ve learned to help manage urban forests, make cities more livable, and make informed city planning decisions. You will find work in areas such as:
Job titles for Urban Forestry graduates include:
“The best part of Urban Forestry is the tight-knit community between the professors and the students. Having such a small program has enabled room for these connections that I don’t think you get in many programs.”
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
IB Diploma Programme
IB Certificate Courses
Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Biology or Physics requirements listed above are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics courses. For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in Grade 11 and Grade 12.
If you’re unable to visit UBC in person, or you just want to get a sneak peek at your new home campus before you arrive, take one of our virtual tours. Current UBC students walk you through UBC’s residences, study spots, recreational facilities, lecture halls, academic buildings, and more.
Visit the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship website to learn more about Urban Forestry.
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