The Urban Parks and Forestry Board met July 23 as a work session to discuss the preliminary draft of Bozeman's 2026 Urban Forest Management Plan, a comprehensive strategy intended to guide the city's urban forest over the next decade. The plan drew both praise for its detail and criticism for its length and difficulty in translating recommendations into concrete actions.
Consultants and staff presented multiple scenarios for canopy coverage goals, with the draft recommending 12 percent. Public commenters, including members of the Bozeman Tree Coalition, urged adoption of an 18 percent target, citing comparable cities. Staff calculated that reaching 12 percent would require planting approximately 871 trees annually—nearly triple the city's current average of 300 trees per year—over 20 years. Board members emphasized that any higher goal must include clear cost estimates and staffing requirements. Staff Liaison Mitch Overton noted that without such breakdowns, the City Commission would lack the information needed to justify budget requests. Board member Steve Lowry called for a concise executive summary, saying that commissioners would not read the plan's 100-plus pages.
Board members also questioned the plan's assumption that private development, volunteers, and community efforts would contribute 70 percent of new trees, with the city planting 30 percent. Commissioner Alison Sweeney raised concerns about whether new developments adequately compensate for trees removed. Board member Paige Lisowski asked for more specific code and ordinance recommendations to require additional trees in new developments, noting that recent Bozeman projects have resulted in net tree loss despite replanting commitments. The board emphasized the importance of protecting mature trees and better communicating tree replacement plans to residents. Consultants will incorporate feedback over coming weeks, with additional work sessions scheduled for September.