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Urban Forestry Consultants

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The Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania provides expert Urban Forestry Consulting to municipalities, campuses, and organizations seeking to plan, grow, and sustain healthy, resilient tree canopies.
Our team includes Board Certified Master Arborists, Registered Consulting Arborists, and professional foresters with over 50 years of combined experience in urban, traditional, and fragment forestry. We deliver practical, science-based solutions tailored to your community, campus, or property.
To learn more, please contact Associate Director of Urban Forestry Mike Dunn at mikedunn@upenn.edu.

Urban Forestry Staff

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Michael B. Dunn

Associate Director of Urban Forestry

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Andrew Conboy

Urban Forestry Consultant

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Keanna Marcelo

The Martha S. Miller & Rusty Miller Urban Forestry Fellow

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Marina Smith-Hanke

Urban Forestry Technician

Our Services

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Urban Forest Planning & Management

  • Develop comprehensive management plans for streets, parks, and campuses
  • Conduct canopy assessments and ecosystem service evaluations
  • Review and develop tree-related policies and ordinances
  • Design and analyze tree inventories
  • Integrate trees into climate adaptation and sustainability strategies
An arborist attached to a pulley system climbs a tree with a tool to assess any tree risks.

Municipal & Campus Consulting

  • Tree risk assessments and prioritized maintenance programs
  • Staff and volunteer training in tree care and data collection
  • Budgeting and resource allocation planning
  • Long-term canopy and infrastructure planning
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Tree Inventories & GIS Mapping

  • Create tree inventories using GIS and mobile data collection
  • Conduct spatial analysis to support management and policy decisions
  • Provide dashboards and reports to communicate canopy value
  • Support grant applications and funding strategies
A construction site on a residential streets repairing the sidewalk next to a large tree.

Tree Protection & Development Consulting

  • Construction impact assessments and tree protection plans
  • Site plan review and compliance monitoring
  • Root zone preservation strategies
  • Third-party review and expert witness services
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Policy, Ordinance & Program Development

  • Modernize and create municipal tree ordinances and standards
  • Guide shade tree commissions and advisory boards
  • Audit and benchmark urban forestry programs
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Fragment Forestry

  • Manage small forest remnants in developed areas
  • Control invasive species and stabilize forest edges
  • Promote native regeneration and biodiversity
  • Plan connectivity and green corridors
  • Integrate fragments into open space and stormwater strategies
A group of people wearing winter coats stand on the sidewalk in front of a street tree.

Traditional Forestry Management Plans

  • Long-term forest management plans for private and institutional lands
  • Timber stand improvement and regeneration prescriptions
  • Habitat and wildlife enhancement strategies
  • Adaptive monitoring and management programs
  • Coordinate with stewardship and cost-share programs
Two men wearing helmets stand in an outdoor area filled with tree limbs and stumps. One of the men uses a chainsaw to cut into a stump.

Education, Training & Outreach

  • Workshops for staff, volunteers, and community members
  • ISA CEU and certification preparation courses
  • Public education campaigns and canopy awareness programs
Why Choose Morris Arboretum & Gardens Urban Forestry Consulting
  • 50+ years of combined professional experience in urban and traditional forestry
  • Team includes Board Certified Master Arborists and Registered Consulting Arborists
  • Supported by the University of Pennsylvania’s research and expertise
  • Trusted by municipalities, campuses, and land managers across Pennsylvania
  • Committed to ecological integrity, practical solutions, and resilient communities
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A green rectangle logo that reads, "CERTIFIED ARBORIST ISA" with an illustration of a leaf.
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