Established as an area of study and profession in the early 1960's, urban forestry is a highly specialized field within the professions of natural resource management and forestry. Working at the crossroads between nature and the urbanized setting, urban foresters are those that use the science of tree and resource management to replenish, value, defend, improve, preserve, and sustain trees in community settings.

Urban foresters are knowledgeable in many fields. They have to be. They must understand how to interpret what engineers and architects have designed and how those designs will impact trees. They are uniquely skilled at bridging both urban and natural environments by analyzing conditions and designing solutions to the specific site challenges trees face. Those solutions depend on an urban forester's specific knowledge of the physiological needs of a mature tree growing in confined or under threathened conditions.

For the application of science and technology to be successful, it depends on the cooperation and acceptance of professions such as architects, planners, engineers, and those decision makers involved in projects where nature should be sustained and protected. The recipe for success has to include the support and vision of these important professionals. Success truly comes from combining the experience of those in the built environment with the urban forester’s expertise in greenspace design preservation.

Planning begins with a complete assessment of the site's natural features and the existing and proposed use patterns as they relate to the manmade environment. Traffic and utility access are considered along with public controls such as zoning, density, and use restrictions. From this appraisal, team designers assemble a complete development scheme that will be functional and cost effective, as well as aesthetically pleasing.

Planning requires the extensive coordination between developers, government agencies, community organizations and planners/designers. The ability to synthesize the needs of these various, often disparate entities requires that planners have an understanding of the business aspects of the project, an appreciation of local needs and objectives, and the ability to blend these requirements into a workable solution.

Whether the project is revitalization or redevelopment of existing areas, or the design of a totally new urban community, our goal is to create thriving, livable pepole places that respond to people's needs as well as client requirements.

By utilizing knowledge of architecture, civil engineering and urban planning, landscape architects provide valuable input in the design phase of projects. Our staff is uniquely skilled at the integration of the natural assets found on the site with structures and the environment.

Depending on the scope of the project for clients, ranging from a local developer to the federal government, our landscape architects can coordinate the entire arrangement of a site, including the location of buildings, grading, stormwater management, construction and planting design. In addition, we may also direct teams of design, construction and contracting professionals.

Our team approach, process and resulting plans are intended to maximize the visual assets of each project we design.

Burditt compiles and analyzes the latest high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery combined with customized databases to provide the necessary information professionals in the private sector and government agencies need to make informed decisions, manage assets and monitor ongoing projects.

Beyond providing maps and information overlays, the Burditt team collects field data using the newest technologies and compiles public information to create accurate and in-depth information. Experienced GIS professionals analyze these results and provide knowledgeable interpretation to our clients.

Burditt has developed an extensive and current in-house GIS database and image archive. GIS technologies are part of the comprehensive services provided to clients and a critical component of internal project management.

Using ArcView and ArcGIS with a suite of standard and specialized extension, Burditt is able to extract information with precision and confidence. Field collection is managed on pen-based computers with custom data capture systems and on pocket PCs with ArcPad. Field data collection systems are connected to differential and WAAS enabled GIS units.

Forestry is the art and science of attaining desired conditions and benefits from forests. Professional foresters develop, use, and communicate that knowledge to sustain and improve forest resources.

The private non-industrial forests of our country (about 55% of ownership) are a testament to the dedication of those landowners who invest themselves and their resources into their management. The skills and techniques of professional foresters have provided valuable assistance in creating these productive and versatile forests. The degreed foresters of Burditt are proud to have assisted in all aspects of management on nearly 100,000 acres of private forestlands. Landowners depend on Burditt to inventory and value standing resources, coordinate timber sale activities and harvesting operations, provide protection from insects and fire, to write prescriptions for the management and improvement of forests, wildlife, recreation, and watershed protection.

The important question is "Why Estimate Ecological Capital Value"? The answer depends on the type of user you are. For the most part, public agencies are faced with tight budgets and growing needs for environmental actions. They must make difficult decisions in allocating public investments to protect and restore the natural environment. They must also justify those decisions in terms of benefits to the environment and in fiscal accountability and public support. Often they are asked to demonstrate, in dollar terms, the economic benefit of those investments.

Sometimes it is impossible or impractical to measure benefits in dollars, but agencies can often provide evidence that their environmental investments are being managed to maximize environmental benefits per dollar spent. In the case of endangered species or serious public health and safety concerns, economic considerations are secondary. Even in those cases, however, managers will need to make decisions that involve tradeoffs or allocations of natural resources that call for economic analysis.

Wildlife, Habitat, and Fisheries Management Plans enumerate the goals of the landowner, target wildlife species, recommended management activities and timeline for implementation, and monitoring techniques.