HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-26 Public Comment - L.A. Harris - Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) Update 2026From:Lou Ann Harris
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL][Possible Malware Fraud]Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) Update 2026
Date:Tuesday, September 15, 2026 12:04:08 PM
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September 15, 2026
To: Bozeman City Commissioners
Bozeman Urban Parks & Forestry Board Members
From: Lou Ann Harris Co-Chair, Conservation Committee
Sacajawea Audubon Society
RE: Urban Forest Management Plan Update
Dear Commissioners & Parks/Forestry Board Members,
Thank you for drafting this important update of the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP).After reading through the Draft UFMP Update, I noticed a big omission. There was not one
mention of native trees when discussing increased species diversity . The ecological andhuman benefits of native trees is widely known, and the planting of native trees should be
required at some level on city property and encouraged for private property owners. There aremany online resources for native plants in Montana that could be added to the City website
(ex. Montana Native Plant Society, https://mtnativeplants.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/creating-native-landscapes-by-montana-nrcs.pdf)
Several key benefits of native trees:
1) Drought Resistance - Many native tree species are naturally drought tolerant and once a
root system is established, they require very little additional watering. Native species areadapted to our climate and soil.
2) Low Maintenance - Native trees require little to no chemical fertilizers, pesticides or heavy
pruning. This saves money and creates a less-toxic environment for humans and wildlife.
3) Ecological Services - Native trees support insects that in turn feed native nesting birds. Ex:It takes over 6,000 caterpillars to raise one brood of chickadees.
It’s understood that in some settings, certain natives (i.e. cottonwoods Populous genus) don’t
fit because of their size at maturity, but others certainly do such as Mountain Ash or PaperBirch.
I hope the City will include native trees in their UFMP Update.
Thank you.
Lou Ann Harris
Sacajawea Audubon SocietyBozeman, Montana