Forestry

Aspen is recognized as a Tree City USA and is accredited by the Urban and Community Forestry Society—the highest distinction awarded to municipal forestry programs nationwide. These honors reflect our community’s long-term commitment to sustaining a healthy, diverse, and resilient urban forest.

Aspen’s Forestry programming includes the management the city’s urban canopy and open space forests, focusing on proactive care, wildfire mitigation, and long-term forest health. Guided by the Community Forest Management Plan, the program emphasizes community safety, ecological resilience, science-based planning, and collaboration across city departments.

The Forestry team maintains Aspen’s GIS-based tree inventory, oversees tree preservation during development, and provides guidance to residents and contractors on planting, pruning, and tree removal permits. Through hazard assessments, defensible-space education, and collaboration with regional partners, the division also helps reduce wildfire risk and ensure Aspen’s forests remain safe, sustainable, and well-cared-for for the entire community.

For forestry health, tree assessments, development reviews, wildfire mitigation, and tree planting projects please email the City Forester, Heather Gale, at heather.gale@aspen.gov.

For specific guidance related to permit applications please email the Permit Coordinator, Joseph Pewitt, at joseph.pewitt@aspen.gov.