Forestry and Trees The Denver Parks and Recreation Forestry Office is the city agency responsible for trees and shrubs in public parks, parkways and around government buildings. Trees are an extremely valuable resource that not only provides attractive landscapes, but also replenishes oxygen in the atmosphere, cools us with shade in the summer and helps clean the air. Denver is a fortunate city with a broad tree canopy and public policies that recognize the value of trees through promotion programs and regulation.   Forestry also promotes good and maintainable tree canopy around the city, including private property. The office provides advice, licenses tree care companies and issues permits for the planting and removal of trees. You may request your tree work permit online by following the link and describing the work to be done. Forestry provides many services to residents and business, including the setting of guidelines for major landscaping projects and conducting special programs to promote tree planting  and care (such as the Tree by Tree - Mile High Million program and the Champion Tree Registry). If you plant a tree – tell us about it so we can Count Your Tree! Have a question? See our FAQs or our list of forestry publications.   Denver has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA every year since 1986 for its excellent programs and results to promote the growing and care of the right tree in the right place.

Forestry Announcements Black Walnuts Threatened by Thousand Canker Disease posted July 16, 2009. A recently described disease is rapidly killing black walnuts (Juglans nigra) in an increasing number of Denver neighborhoods. This aggressive disease complex (a fungal canker transmitted by twig beetles) is highly effective in killing black walnuts, a rare but treasured part of Denver's community forest. For more information on the disease and its know locations within the city, follow this link. National Arbor Day Poster Contest posted December 4, 2008. For the 15th consecutive year, the Denver Forestry office is cooperating with local elementary schools in an Arbor Day poster contest. The theme for 2009 is "Trees are Terrific... in Cities and Towns!" For more details and a downloadable version of the contest rules, follow this link.