The urban field station network unites urban research locations, scientists, and investments throughout the country. 

Network members work across boundaries to advance our understanding of urban and suburban ecology and communities. The Forest Service works with other federal, state, local, and private agencies in this network.

Urban field stations are place-based—but not place-bound.

They're both physical spaces and a network of knowledge from interdisciplinary and cross-agency scientists, specialists, and partners. These people collect and analyze long-term data that addresses today’s challenges as well as hints at tomorrow's issues. Network staff also work with managers, practitioners, and policymakers to apply tools, define questions, and solve problems.

Urban field stations address pressing needs.

• Urban field stations advance knowledge co-production: the idea that scientists, practitioners, and communities must work together to define research questions and apply results. Since scientists and practitioners often have different questions, timelines, or levels of funding, working together and building trust are the best ways to improve lives on the ground.
• Long-term ecological data from urban field stations help us understand trends and detect change over time. And urban forests have unique needs; ecosystem health in cities is directly tied to human and social health. Additionally, urban and rural places are increasingly converging. Continued science-based decision making—made possible with urban field station data—helps us build a resilient future and address mounting sustainability challenges.
• Urban field stations co-develop projects in specific locations while realizing results and knowledge may apply to other places. This barrier-spanning mindset spurs possibilities across the nation and globe.
• Urban field stations host knowledge exchange academies, which focus on urban wood, natural areas, inventory tools, and more. Academies span sectors and geographies to advance knowledge and best practices on regional-to-international scales.

In the face of unprecedented change, we must continue to steward the natural systems that sustain us. 

Urban field stations are at the forefront of this work. The tools and knowledge developed here help us navigate social-ecological change and nurture sustainable, economically thriving, and equitable communities throughout the nation and world.