Among other things, urban residents need accessible and affordable food, fuelwood, low-cost construction materials and other wood products. In the process of meeting these demands, it is essential that the negative environmental and social impacts associated with changing land use patterns be minimized. In developing countries, a number of needs related to the well-being of those who live in large urban areas, such as recreation and leisure, will become increasingly important. Forests improve the urban environment and the well-being of its population in many ways. The amenity and recreation value of forests, trees and green spaces in cities is widely recognized.
Urban forestry can have an important productive role in urban and peri-urban areas.
Many developing countries have been active in establishing plantations and managing natural forests in peri-urban areas for fuelwood production to supply urban markets. In some cities, agroforestry practised in home gardens makes an important contribution to family nutrition. While urban forestry and arboriculture are well-established disciplines in many developed countries, they are much less so in most developing countries where the need for them is even greater. Much remains to be understood about the dynamics between urban growth and forest and tree resources and the particular roles of urban forestry under the special conditions of rapid urbanization and widespread poverty. In addition, more action is needed with respect to monitoring urban forest resources and developing technical aspects of tropical arboriculture.