The Urban Forestry Section staff protects and maintains the public trees located on public lands such as planter strips, the public right-of-way, and parks. The Arborist, who also takes his direction from the Urban Forester, oversees issues with public and private trees related to development projects as they move through the permitting process. Sometimes there is significant overlap of public and private tree issues. In these situations, the Urban Forester, coordinating input from the Arborist and the Urban Forestry Section staff working together, makes a final decision on tree issues impacting both protected private trees and public trees.