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Climate Smart Missoula's Blog

Seeing the forest through the trees: what's so great about our urban forest?

10/17/2019

12 Comments

 
The other day, I was talking to someone who recently moved to Missoula from the southwest. “There are so many trees here!” she exclaimed.
​

Missoula does have a lot of trees - over 30,000 just on city-owned right of ways! - but that fact is no happy accident. The robustness of our urban forest is a result of dedicated folks in local government, community advocacy organizations, and regular citizens who are committed to keeping this cornerstone of our local ecosystem thriving. And it’s not just trees, either - it’s shrubs and grasses and native plants of all kinds in our urban and surrounding areas that contribute ecological diversity, habitat, and ecosystem services that support climate resiliency and community health.
Urban forestry was the focus of October’s monthly meetup, and we were thrilled to be joined by Marie Anderson with the City of Missoula’s Urban Forestry division and Karen Sippy with Trees for Missoula. As always, the conversation was wide ranging and inspiring, but also raised plenty of questions and highlighted opportunities to do more on this issue. 

Trees as a climate solution
Trees in particular have recently occupied headlines as researchers have attempted to calculate just how much potential they have to store carbon. We know there’s no silver bullet when it comes to climate action (if hunting season metaphors are your thing, climate solutions are more like silver buckshot). But it’s no wonder people are excited about trees: they have a whole host of benefits beyond taking CO2 out of the air. 

Here in Missoula, Climate Smart has partnered with the City and County over the last year and a half on a comprehensive Climate Resiliency Planning process, and it turns out that trees - and shrubs and green infrastructure - are so integral to building our community’s climate resilience that they are part of 8 out of 9 sectors represented in the plan (draft to be released this fall for community input - stay tuned!). 

Growing our urban forest and green infrastructure: education
Whether on public land or private, how do we maintain the health of our urban forest given its importance to ensuring a climate-resilient Missoula? 

As with so many things, education is key. Some of the education that’s needed is at the citizen level: for example, Trees for Missoula has been working to ensure residents have all the information they need to care for new trees that have been planted on city boulevards, which are generally the responsibility of adjacent property owners - not everyone knows this! Even well-meaning folks with water conservation in mind don’t always know that watering trees and shrubs (and yes, even reasonably-sized lawns!) is okay here, because excess water generally makes its way through our porous valley soils and back into the resilient Missoula Aquifer under our feet. In fact, many of our street trees (there are over 116 species in our public urban forest!) require additional water beyond annual rainfall. Learn more about watering trees HERE.

We can also improve education within our schools. Kids may learn about trees in biology class or understand how they take in CO2 and provide oxygen for us to breathe, but the practical tools to grow and care for trees are a gap that Trees for Missoula and the City Forestry department are working to fill with a new educational course for Big Sky High School’s agricultural cohort. This class has the potential to be replicated in other schools, so kids across our community are equipped to be tree stewards. 

Education is also needed within local government agencies tasked with supporting our urban green spaces and builders and developers. The good news is that this education is happening, and even within the last few years, there’s been a shift in how city departments consider green infrastructure, from planning to development to permitting, Missoula Water to Development Services and engineering. Going forward, it’s even more essential to integrate these kinds of climate resiliency considerations into development and redevelopment projects. Silva cells are an interesting example of this: a “suspended pavement system” that allows sidewalk trees to root much more deeply and thrive, Marie and Karen shared how this technology is now becoming the default for many of the redevelopment projects downtown, where more trees can help make pedestrian areas cooler and actually extend the lifetime of asphalt and pavement. 
There’s lots more to do around trees and restoration and green infrastructure in our community, and the conversation at our meetup left a number of tantalizing loose threads: from fruit trees as a further link with climate resiliency in terms of local food and agriculture; to broader tree and forest health given increases in climate-related tree mortality; to how to better connect folks interested in participating tangible climate solutions with tree planting and restoration opportunities locally (stay tuned). 

Trees make our community livable, healthier, and more climate resilient, and we’re excited to keep the conversation and action going in such a positive direction here in Missoula. ​

- Abbu Huseth
Picture
A rendering shows and example of the below-pavement schematic of a Silva Cell with full-size tree.
12 Comments
Certified Arborist link
9/15/2021 08:49:16 am

Reading posts about trees makes me happy as it shows that we still care about our environment. I agree that trees make our community healthier.

Reply
Michael link
12/2/2021 12:20:47 am

Great Article! Thank you for sharing this is very informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Reply
Hailey Miller link
12/29/2021 04:35:37 pm

Thanks for pointing out that trees make our community livable, healthier, and more climate-resilient. My husband and I purchased the land near the beach last month and we want to develop it. We are hoping to find a forestry consultation company on Monday to help us manage our land for success and sustainability.

Reply
AHCCHM training Central Coast link
3/19/2022 06:50:14 pm

Arborists have the skills and equipment to safely and efficiently remove trees. Tree removal is dangerous and should be done by a professional.

Reply
Orlando Tree Service link
5/9/2023 11:36:12 pm

It's great to see the importance of urban forests being recognized in Missoula. Trees and other vegetation offer a range of benefits, including climate resilience and improved community health. Education is key to maintaining and growing our urban forest, from teaching citizens how to care for trees to integrating green infrastructure considerations into development projects. Let's continue to prioritize and invest in our urban forests for a more livable and sustainable community.





Reply
tree removal auburn al link
9/5/2023 02:43:41 am

you have done a good job.

Reply
Tree Surgeon Lakenheath link
1/9/2024 11:04:05 pm

This is insightful! The focus on urban forestry and the efforts in Missoula to grow and maintain an urban forest for climate resilience are commendable.

Reply
Tree Surgeon Lakenheath link
1/9/2024 11:05:52 pm

This is a compelling insight into the importance of urban forests and the collaborative efforts in Missoula to nurture and expand this valuable ecosystem.

Reply
Tree Surgeon Ipswich link
1/22/2024 03:00:51 am

Very eye-opening! The pictures reveal the hidden danger of termite damage in seemingly healthy trees. Having an annual inspection by a certified arborist is a wise preventive measure for tree safety.

Reply
Tree Surgeon Thetford link
3/1/2024 10:57:08 pm

Education emerges as a key factor in ensuring the health of urban forests, from citizen awareness to school curriculum integration and government agency practices. It's heartening to see initiatives like educational courses for students and advancements in green infrastructure technology.

Reply
Tree Surgeon Eye link
4/4/2024 12:03:36 am

This provides a compelling perspective on the significance of urban forests and the collective endeavors in Missoula to foster and broaden this invaluable ecosystem.

Reply
TREE SURGERY HALESWORTH, SUFFOLK link
7/14/2024 07:08:58 pm

Thanks for sharing this insightful post. It's great to hear about the educational initiatives for tree care and the collaboration between various groups in Missoula. Trees play such a vital role in our community's health and climate resilience.

Reply



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    Authors

    Abby Huseth
    ​Amy Cilimburg
    Caroline Lauer
    Mason Dow
    ​Kelli Littleton
    Hailey Jorgensen
    ​Terri Nichols
    ​Max Longo
    ​Mattie Lehman
    Anna Weinberg

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