When Congress enacted the 1990 Farm Bill (officially called the 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act), it included the Forest Stewardship Assistance Act. That Act authorized the Forest Legacy Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Forestry Incentives Program and Stewardship Incentives Program. The 1990 Farm Bill also included a separate Conservation Title with forestry-related elements, such as tree-planting initiatives.Funding from the 1990 Farm Bill, made available through the UDSA Forest Service, was used to significantly stimulate urban forestry programs. Funds became available in 1991 and allowed the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL) to hire a full-time urban forestry coordinator, provide for coordination of related volunteer efforts, create a community forest council, and establish a five-year strategic plan.With support and encouragement from FFSL, a group of people interested in arboriculture began working toward creation of the Utah Community Forest Council. In time, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were drafted and approved by the state. On July 15, 1991, the Utah Community Forest Council was officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.In 1998, a petition was submitted to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) requesting establishment of a Utah chapter. The petition was formally approved, and the ISA/Utah Chapter was formed.

The two organizations have since been united and are jointly administered.