Lead the future of Urban Greening and Urban Forestry with UBC’s Master of Urban Forestry Leadership.
The University of British Columbia’s Master of Urban Forestry Leadership (MUFL) is a unique, intensive 13-month course-based master’s program for those ready to shape the cities of tomorrow. As the only program of its kind, MUFL offers a truly interdisciplinary education—blending expertise from arboriculture, forestry, urban planning, landscape architecture, and urban forestry. You’ll sharpen your strategic management, decision-making, and creative problem-solving skills to tackle the complex challenges facing today’s urban ecosystems. Delivered full-time and in-person at UBC’s beautiful Point Grey campus, the MUFL program is where leadership in urban forestry begins.
Learn more about the growing importance of urban forestry in creating healthier, more sustainable cities and the rising demand for trained professionals in the field.
Why Choose the MUFL Program?
Meet the Growing Demand for Urban Forestry Professionals
Urban Forestry is the discipline of planning, maintaining, and growing urban trees and green spaces alongside vibrant human communities. Well-designed green spaces boost biodiversity, create critical habitats, enhance mental and physical health, combat climate change impacts, and make cities more beautiful and livable. As urban areas continue to grow, so does the demand for professionals trained to lead in this vital field.
Build Invaluable Skills in Leadership and Strategic Management
Today’s urban challenges demand leaders who think differently—and that’s exactly what MUFL delivers. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance your career, MUFL equips you with the tools to drive sustainable, innovative urban forestry projects. You’ll master the skills to balance competing demands on urban forests, implement the latest planning and assessment innovations, and deliver real impact. MUFL doesn’t just teach leadership—it grows creative, strategic thinkers ready to transform the future of our cities.
Experience Urban Forestry Across Vancouver, Canada, and Beyond
At MUFL, learning goes beyond the classroom—right into the heart of vibrant urban environments. Through hands-on experiences like field trips across the Greater Vancouver region and a special trip to other Canadian cities, students see firsthand how urban forestry strategies are shaping healthier, greener communities. These immersive learning opportunities are complemented by optional international study tours, offering a global perspective on innovation in the field. Read the highlights from a MUFL Europe trip to get a glimpse of what international study looks like.
Learn from (and with) the Best in the Field
MUFL courses are taught by world-class faculty from UBC’s renowned Faculty of Forestry. Throughout the program, you’ll interact with international leaders in urban forestry—including experts from government, private industry, academia, and non-profit organizations. You’ll also collaborate with a dynamic cohort of students from a wide range of disciplines, building a professional network that spans the globe. MUFL alumni are making an impact in fields such as urban forestry, environmental planning, private consulting, municipal management, and education.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Lead urban forestry programs and projects and support interdisciplinary teams.
- Assess the political, governance, legal, administrative, business, and cultural contexts of urban forestry.
- Analyze specific challenges and opportunities associated with growing trees and other vegetation in urban areas.
- Compile, use, and present information on key aspects of urban forestry.
- Engage and collaborate with communities and other partners in developing and implementing urban forestry programs and projects.
- Engage with professional urban forestry networks in both local, national and international contexts.
