HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-26 Public Comment - E. Darrow - Update Urban Forest Management Plan with Heritage Tree ProgramFrom:Elizabeth Darrow
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Cc:Alex Nordquest
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Update Urban Forest Management Plan with Heritage Tree Program
Date:Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:49:09 AM
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September 15, 2026
Re: Update of the Urban Forest Management Plan — Include a Heritage
Tree Program
Dear Mayor Morrison, Deputy Mayor Fischer, Commissioners Madgic,
Bode, & Sweeney:
We urge the City Commission to ensure that the updated Urban Forest
Management Plan (UFMP) recognizes trees not only as essential
environmental infrastructure, but also as important elements of Bozeman’s
history, cultural heritage, identity, and quality of life. A crucial
component of the updated plan is inclusion of a Heritage Tree Program,
originally proposed by the Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB)
in 2022. Such a program would provide Bozeman with a meaningful
framework for identifying, documenting, protecting, and celebrating trees
that have exceptional historic, cultural, and ecological significance.
A Heritage Tree Program Using Citizen Science: We strongly
recommend incorporating a Heritage Tree Program based on Citizen
Science practices and tools as a critical component of the Urban Forest
Management Plan. A Heritage Tree Program could facilitate collaboration
among City departments while developing public engagement, volunteer
initiatives, outreach, and education. Through Citizen Science, people of
all ages can contribute personal observations while participating in data
monitoring and collection. Importantly, such a program would not simply
create another inventory. It could create a living public record of
Bozeman's urban forest, connecting individual trees to neighborhoods,
historic properties, cultural traditions, landscapes, and the stories of the
community.
Strengthen the Urban Forest Management Plan! We strongly support the
recommendations of the Bozeman Tree Coalition to the updated Urban
Forest Management Plan currently under consideration.
Verifiable actions, enforceable code and measurable goals for
creating a healthy, sustainable urban forest, including a clear
commitment to expanding Bozeman's tree canopy.
Best practices for the care and management of publicly owned
trees, including street trees, trees in parks, and trees on all other
public property.
Strong enforceable tree-protection measures during construction,
recognizing that mature trees take decades to provide crucial canopy
and CANNOT be replaced by just planting young trees.
Incentives retaining privately owned mature trees, acknowledging
that a substantial portion of Bozeman's existing canopy is located on
private property and that preservation of mature trees provides crucial
community benefits.
Hire an Historic Preservation Officer and Urban Ecologist who
would work together with the Forestry Division.
Immediate development of application process, so that significant
existing trees and important habitat can be identified at the outset,
preserved and to prevent deforestation that leads to heat islands and
environmental degradation...
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Darrow & Jim Walseth