About Trees for Missoula
Trees for Missoula, a program of Climate Smart Missoula, is committed to the belief that a healthy urban forest is essential to building a livable, climate resilient community.
Background and History
June 2011 - Recognizing the need for an urban forest friends group, Friends of Missoula Parks put out a call. A diverse group including tree-loving private citizens along with UM, GIS, USFS and DNRC experts gathered to find out what help is needed and founded Trees for Missoula.
April 2012 – Trees for Missoula becomes the major sponsor for Run for the Trees with volunteers handing out seedlings to run participants.
Summer 2012 – Irrigation bags are used for the first time on Missoula’s newly planted trees, and Trees for Missoula volunteers distribute information to residents about them.
Summer 2013 – City of Missoula Urban Forestry staff and Trees for Missoula volunteers spend 14 weeks inventorying over 24,000 public street trees. The City and Trees for Missoula received a DNRC grant for this project, and Trees for Missoula purchased 3 Trimble GPS units
January 2014 - Representatives from the City of Missoula Urban Forestry staff, Trees for Missoula, USFS, DNRC and Friends of Missoula Parks meet bi-weekly to create the first Urban Forest Master Management Plan, which serves as a guide for community and volunteer engagement.
April 2015 – City of Missoula Urban Forest Master Management Plan is approved by city council.
October 2015 – The first Volunteers in Pruning (VIPs) class is trained.
April 2016 – Trees for Missoula and City of Missoula Urban Forestry partner to build a bare-root gravel bed at the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Facility.
September/October 2016 – Trees for Missoula volunteers plant the first gravel bed bare-root trees in city boulevards and parks.
October 2016 – Trees for Missoula along with Missoula Art Museum and City of Missoula Urban Forestry receive a DNRC grant for Montana’s first suspended pavement system at the Missoula Art Park.
December 2017 – Trees for Missoula receives a DNRC Program Development Grant for a shade shelter project.
November 2023 – Trees for Missoula becomes a program of Climate Smart Missoula
March 2024 - Trees for Missoula receives a grant from the DNRC and begins work to develop a tree equity program in Missoula’s underserved neighborhoods.