An Australian-first guide to growing urban forests to reduce temperatures in cities has been unveiled in Melbourne.

Backed by the Melbourne City Council and the Victorian Government, the 10-step "How to grow an urban forest" plan is aimed at giving local councils the tools they need to increase greenery.

It includes information about everything from the benefits of heat mapping and thermal imaging to selling the tree change to the community.

The guide was inspired by Melbourne's commitment to plant 3,000 trees every year to help cool the city.

It was launched today in the Melbourne as part of a campaign to increase the green space in cities by 20 per cent by 2020.

Arron Wood heads the Melbourne council's environment portfolio and said urban forests had the potential to reduce the severity of heatwaves, which have claimed hundreds of lives in other parts of the world.

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"So these beautiful trees that you walk past in the street and think 'aren't you lovely', and 'you provide me with nice shade', literally they could save your life one day," he said.

Many councils are forced to work in tough growing conditions, planting trees in footpaths and roads.

As a result, the guide avoids the debate about native versus introduced tree-types and instead encourages councils to focus on the best fit for the environment.

"We've got a much more intelligent conversation, it's really about what trees are fit for purpose in a pretty harsh environment," Cr Wood said.

The guide was unveiled during an "urban forest" master class involving more than 200 arborists, planners and land managers.

Cr Wood said one of the key messages being delivered to municipalities was "diversity".

"Because with diversity you get greater resilience, you're not going to get a disease that wipes out a single species and changes the whole look of your urban forest," he said.

"It's also good for biodiversity because you're bring in the flowering plants, the native plants and that really is about bring good biology and good ecology back into the city."