Partners Updates State Coordinators
Welcome, [Big Tree] Hunters! by Jamie Kirby, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Reigning state champion bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) at Hawthorn school playground in Missoula, Montana • Photo: Jamie Kirby If you travel to certain states during
Hunters" signs posted at town entryways and just about every bar. Although not advertised in the same way, the state forestry program, welcomes hunters too–big tree hunters. In recent months, overseers of Montana's Big Tree Register voted to add a category for urban trees. Many states already have this category, but as Montana opens its doors to this new class, it also opens to new opportuni- ties.
hunting season, you will likely see the "Welcome
Education and outreach is always a goal for urban forestry, and the Big Tree Program is a fantastic avenue. Urban trees are not only more accessible, but their function as green infrastructure sets them apart from those in natural settings. Town pride is a big deal. Montana communities can now boast claims for having champion trees inside their municipal boundaries.
18 City Trees
