Journal profile · FORESTRY
Urban forestry & urban greening
ISSN 1618-8667 · eISSN 1610-8167 · Urban und Fischer Verlag GmbH und Co. KG · GERMANY · Quarterly · Founded 2002
Urban forestry & urban greening: CAS Zone 2 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 8.22; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,870; review about 155 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy (Elsevier website: 71%); 505 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Urban forestry & urban greening is published by Urban und Fischer Verlag GmbH und Co. KG and is in Zone 2 of Environmental Science & Ecology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Urban Green Space and Health, Land Use and Ecosystem Services and Urban Heat Island Mitigation, together about 58.1% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Urban Forestry and Urban Greening is a refereed, international journal aimed at presenting high-quality research with urban and peri-urban woody and non-woody vegetation and its use, planning, design, establishment and management as its main topics. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening concentrates on all tree-dominated (as joint together in urban forests) as well as other green resources in and around urban areas, such as woodlands, public and private urban parks and gardens, urban nature areas, street tree and square plantations, botanical gardens and cemeteries, building envelop greening, etc.The journal welcomes basic and applied research papers, as well as review papers and short communications. Contributions should focus on one or more of the following aspects:Form, functions, and ecosystem services of urban forests and other vegetation, including aspects of urban environmental science and urban ecology.Policy-making, planning and design related to urban forests and other vegetation.Selection and establishment of tree resources and other vegetation for urban environments.Management of urban forests and other vegetation.The ecosystem services urban vegetation provides.Original contributions of a high academic standard are invited from a wide range of disciplines and fields, including forestry, biology, horticulture, arboriculture, landscape ecology, pathology, soil science, hydrology, landscape architecture, landscape planning, urban planning and design, environmental/ecological economics, environmental sociology, environmental psychology, public health, and education.Special attention will be given to interdisciplinary research as developed under the approaches of, for example, urban forestry, arboriculture, urban greening, urban ecology, urban health, urban agriculture, urban horticulture, urban silviculture, and community forestry.For field research or descriptive studies, a robust dataset made of multiple dates of measurement conducted over different growing seasons is required for publication. For research conducted under controlled conditions or research conducted using a mechanistic approach, multiple sampling dates are still required, although monitoring can be conducted over shorter time periods.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): FORESTRY
Editor-in-chief Wendy ChenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 6 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 8, Italy 8, Mainland China 6, United Kingdom 6, Hong Kong, China 3 (63 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Urban Green Space and HealthEnvironmental Science29.2%
- Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesEnvironmental Science17.4%
- Urban Heat Island MitigationEnvironmental Science11.6%
- Urban Agriculture and SustainabilityAgricultural and Biological Sciences7.6%
- Noise Effects and ManagementHealth Professions3.3%
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesEnvironmental Science3.3%
- Urban Transport and AccessibilitySocial Sciences2.4%
- Place Attachment and Urban StudiesSocial Sciences2.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Forestry | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Urban Studies | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Forestry | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Urban Studies | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Forestry | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Urban Studies | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIESSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 8.22LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 8.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 11.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 11.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.01LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.93LetPub ·
- h-index
- 58LetPub ·
- h-index
- 167OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,745OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.37OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 12.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 40.76%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 475LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,175 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 377 | 207 | 195 |
| 2025 | 505 | 252 | 2,504 |
| 2024 | 360 | 190 | 5,209 |
| 2023 | 289 | 140 | 7,550 |
| 2022 | 293 | 130 | 8,418 |
| 2021 | 399 | 126 | 16,563 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
Too few articlesOnly 1 articles from the last 24 months carry both submission and acceptance dates, too few for a median
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 71%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 61 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 155 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,870 / EUR 3,620 / GBP 3,100 / JPY 480,000 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,560 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 8,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted8, with length limits
- original paperThe journal welcomes fundamental and applied original papers, as well as review papers and short communications.Original Papers. Original Papers represent a sub…main text ≤ 8,000 words
- original papersOriginal Papers. Original Papers represent a substantial novel finding within a specific area of urban forestry and urban greening. The text should not exceed 8…Length not stated
- research paperThe journal welcomes fundamental and applied original papers, as well as review papers and short communications.Original Papers. Original Papers represent a sub…Length not stated
- reviewThe journal welcomes fundamental and applied original papers, as well as review papers and short communications.Original Papers. Original Papers represent a sub…main text ≤ 15,000 words
- review articleThe journal welcomes fundamental and applied original papers, as well as review papers and short communications.Original Papers. Original Papers represent a sub…Length not stated
- review papersReview papers on invitation only. Review articles present a comprehensive overview of the state-of-art and international literature within a specific area of ur…Length not stated
- short communicationThe journal welcomes fundamental and applied original papers, as well as review papers and short communications.Original Papers. Original Papers represent a sub…main text ≤ 4,500 words
- short communicationsShort communications. Short communications are brief presentations of innovative research, highly original findings, or novel ideas. They should consist of not …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review process Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed per Elsevier policy Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. Note that this journal follows a double anonymized peer review process, and therefore submissions should not be published as a preprint befo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Urban und Fischer Verlag GmbH und Co. KG
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2002
- ISSN
- 1618-8667
- Electronic ISSN
- 1610-8167
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Urban forestry & urban greening
What CAS zone is Urban forestry & urban greening in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Urban forestry & urban greening is in Zone 2 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Forestry / Environmental Studies / Urban Studies; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Environmental Science & Ecology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Urban forestry & urban greening?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 8.22; CiteScore 11.3, h-index 167.
How long does peer review take at Urban forestry & urban greening?
The publisher reports about 155 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy (Elsevier website: 71%)”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Urban forestry & urban greening?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 8,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Urban forestry & urban greening based?
Of the 63 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 6 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (8), Italy (8) and Mainland China (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Urban forestry & urban greening?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Urban forestry & urban greening is indexed in SCIE, SSCI and Scopus.
Is Urban forestry & urban greening open access, and what is the APC?
Urban forestry & urban greening is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,870.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .