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The concept of Urban Forest is very multi-faceted and complex, it is however, at the same time also extremely intuitive: when we think of a forest, we think of established trees, rich soil, green, shade, animals. Transferring the intuitive idea of what a forest is into an urban context can feel like an oxymornon at the beginning however, when we think more about it, cities offer us the same feelings of a forest, albeit in a more fragmented and smaller version

I asked my children (11 and 6 years old) what they think an urban forest is. They replied, "It's a forest with urban people."

I then asked them to describe their idea of a forest. They said a forest is made up of trees, all sorts of plants, animals, insects, lizards, and stones.

So, I asked them if they thought there was anything like a forest in the town where we live. Initially, they said no.

But then, we talked about the river that runs through our town. There is a bushy area with tall trees and wild animals; one day, we even spotted a deer, and the area is full of pheasants.

In front of our house, there is a beautiful, ancient tree (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.), inhabited by cicadas and Scops Owls.

Little by little, they realized that nature does exist in our town, though it is quite confined to certain areas. However, it doesn't immediately bring to mind the word forest. It’s not easy to associate our urban spaces with the concept of a forest, which in our imagination refers to untouched areas dominated by tall trees of various species.

Talking about it, however, is a great starting point!

Trying to explain the "urban forest" phenomena to my children I would try to depict it as green tissue integrated into the body of a city. In the case of Bishkek, the urban forest could be considered the city's "green lungs." However, over the past 30 years, the city's green spaces have significantly shrunk due to business expansion. Unfortunately, Bishkek is now struggling to breathe, as its diminished lungs can no longer cope with the burden. The city has become a "smoker," suffocating in smog and dust…

An urban forest is a part of the city that is necessary for its proper functioning. It is often called ‘the lungs of the city’ because we know that it provides oxygen and purifies the air. Today's big cities need places for leisure and recreation, where people can come into contact with nature. The presence of green spaces in cities is linked to well-being and can even influence our health.

Urban forests can be of natural origin or designed by humans, their main characteristics are that they are in or next to a city and that they have a large number of trees. They are usually places where the fauna and flora are quite diverse, sometimes we can also find large bodies of water in them. In urban forests you can find calm and peace, away from the hustle and bustle and pollution of the city.

In places where the urban fabric is dense and lacks green areas, these forests act as an urban oasis.

An urban forest is the network of trees, vegetation, and green spaces within and around urban areas, managed for environmental, social, and economic benefits.

An urban forest is the integration of green spaces and ecosystems within cities and more urban areas. These green elements are not in their natural environment, but they add value to cities by creating spaces for recreation, lowering the temperature in hardened areas, and providing areas for biodiversity to infiltrate the urban landscape.

The urban forest can be considered as the green lungs of the city. It is a living system of trees, parks, and green spaces that breathe life into urban areas. From above, it looks like a forest interwoven with streets and buildings, but its purpose goes beyond beauty: it cleans the air, cools the streets, shelters wildlife, and connects people with nature, reminding us that even cities can live and breathe.

For me, an urban forest isn't just a green space in the city, not just trees and shrubs. It's a living ecosystem that connects nature and urban life. It's about birds and animals that thrive in these green spaces. A place where there's not just concrete and traffic, but also space for restoration.

I think the biggest difference between an urban forest and a non-urban/regular forest is the location. When thinking about tress/ forests, we tend to associate it with large green areas in the countryside as separated regions and covered land. However, a forest can also be found within city boundaries both small and large. Even a smaller group of bushes, trees, and other plants can be referred to as forest, hence an urban forest. Personally, I think a forest is distinctive from other „green areas“ from the way we as humans plan and manage/control it. A forest has the element of independence from us human beings.

If I were explaining what an urban forest means to a family member, I’d say it’s basically all the trees and green spaces that exist within a city or town—not just big parks, but also the trees along streets, in gardens, schoolyards, and even small patches of nature tucked between buildings. It’s like a network of greenery that grows right in the middle of where people live and work. In my studies and work, I’ve come to see how important these urban forests are. They’re not just there to look nice; they actually help make city life better in so many ways.

For example, these trees clean the air we breathe by absorbing pollution and releasing oxygen. They also help cool down the city during hot weather, which is a big deal in places like Kerala where summers can get intense. I’ve noticed that walking under the shade of trees on a busy street makes a huge difference compared to walking in direct sunlight. Urban forests also provide homes for birds, butterflies, and other small creatures, bringing a bit of nature into our daily lives. Even if it’s just a few trees in a neighborhood park, they can make the area feel more peaceful and welcoming.

Another thing I’ve learned is that urban forests are good for people’s health and happiness. Being around trees and green spaces can reduce stress and make us feel more relaxed. In my own experience, I find myself feeling calmer and more refreshed after spending time in a park or walking under trees. These spaces also encourage people to spend time outdoors, which helps build stronger communities. When neighborhoods have well-maintained green areas, people are more likely to interact, play, and look out for each other.

An area within a town or city that; softens the edge of an urban area to bridge urban and wider landscape, or softens an interior of urban landscape from just the built environment, using tree planting as the main effort. An area that provides green space for physical and mental health, biodiversity, ecosystem service and aesthetics, again using trees as the main effort.

An urban forest is a place that stands between the raw buildings and the wild nature. It keeps them together and connected, it offers the benefits of nature in a safer environment for every people.