The City's urban forest includes all trees growing individually or within woodlands, naturally or planted, on municipally owned land within the urban boundary of the City of Kingston. It includes trees in natural areas, along roads, within boulevards, in parks, and as landscaped features around residences, school yards, and commercial buildings.

We are all familiar with the intrinsic value of trees; the sense of inner peace you experience on a walk in a treed park, or the relief provided by tree shade on a hot summer's day. Yet trees provide many other essential services to our community, the environment, and the economy, including removing pollutants from surface and groundwater, enhancing services provided by traditional civil engineering such as stormwater management, retention of greenhouse gases and air pollutants, and commemoration of important people and events.

The Urban Forest Management Plan and its recommendations will be consistent with existing policies intended to protect and enhance trees and tree cover as set out in Kingston's new Official Plan and the Tree Bylaw. It will also be consistent with the spirit and intent of the community's vision for the City of Kingston; "Kingston — Canada's Most Sustainable City" as well as with the Guiding Principles for Kingston's draft Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, called Sustainable Kingston, which recognizes the value of community well being, community ownership and participation, transparency, and resiliency as key principles for sustaining our future.

Building upon the current tree inventory, management practices, and annual planting programs, the City’s Public Works department will primarily implement the plan.