table" in the same way that engineers or architects do,
for example. My job is based out of the planning depart-
ment and though I had lots of experience reviewing
civil design plans related to trees when I was a consul-
tant, working in an urban planning department provides
a new perspective and an array of new challenges.
I wish I had taken planning and municipal government
courses addressing things like, how does the land use
review process work within a municipality? How does
the government superstructure work? How do I speak
the same "language" as my colleagues in planning?
As I was tasked with updating our city's tree code, for
example, I wished I'd had that kind of training. In terms
of getting closer to that seat at the table—having urban
forestry be regarded as "need to have" rather than "nice
to have"—I find I make the most progress by building
strong relationships with my colleagues across the city.
Support from colleagues in urban forestry is also essen-
tial. Like at the recent PNW ISA Conference, I had a
great time talking with folks who are working in cities
of similar size and challenges—people like Phil Bennett
from Snoqualmie, Washington. I have been incred-
ibly fortunate to have support from so many people
along my career path, many more than are listed in this
story. To give back but also feel connected to others,
I took on the editorship of Trees, the magazine of the
PNW ISA, with the support of an editorial committee.
I'm also on the DEI Committee as a Board liaison.
The advice I'd give folks new to the field is to join
UCFS and other professional societies and to be inten-
tional about reaching out for mentorship (like through
the UCFS Mentoring Program). People in the urban
and community forestry field are eager to help. As
this industry grows, there is increasingly a recogni-
tion of the need for more intentional opportunities
to engage people who have historically been left out.
Reach out to us on the UCFS Young and Emerging
Professionals Committee; we are eager to help
new urban and community foresters of any age!
ucfsociety.org 31
Josh Petter climbing an Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) in 2022 in Seattle's Volunteer Park.
