Like many cities and towns in Montana, Bozeman is fortunate to have many special landmarks and landscapes that help define our city. Whether it’s the Story Mansion, Montana State University, the ‘M,’ or the beautiful trees that line boulevards like Willson Ave, landmarks such as these give us a sense of place. These landmarks require hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for upkeep and maintenance by public and private entities. Trees, on the other hand, require much less money for upkeep, unless they are damaged after storms or die. In the meantime, trees provide us with countless benefits such as cleaner air, shade, carbon dioxide storage, and wildlife habitat.

A case in point is the ponderosa pine tree on the northwest corner of Main St and N. 5th Ave, which is slated to be cut down to make room for yet another hotel complex. This tree is over 100 years old and has been here since Bozeman’s infancy. The ponderosa pine is Montana’s State Tree, and although its distribution within Montana doesn’t include Gallatin County, this individual tree is thriving and has been for a very long time. The perceived problem with this tree is that it stands in the way of “progress.” Granted, the owner/developer, Bozeman Exchange Associates, LLC., did consult with both the City of Bozeman’s (City) Forestry Division Manager, and a private arborist, both of whom indicated the tree was “structurally compromised,” with a buried trunk flare and fine roots near the trunk, indicating stress. Their recommendation was that the tree was lacking indicators of a healthy root system, could become a safety hazard, and should be cut down. Although it is surrounded by concrete and has had little attention since 2017, when the former motel was demolished, it continues to grow every year. If it was spared then, why shouldn’t it be spared now?

There are multiple trees along Main Street, Willson Ave, and other places where tree roots are hemmed in by grates, streets, and sidewalks, yet no one is calling for these trees to be felled. At this point, no one knows how much longer this tree will live—and to look at it right now, it looks to be in pretty good health. It could live several decades or longer. According to the National Park Service, large ponderosa pines live for 500 years or more. Having done this well while stressed, imagine what might be possible with improvements to its living conditions. To this end, multiple attempts have been made to contact the developer to discuss the possibility of allowing the tree to stay and age in place, including a petition signed by over 150 local residents. However, no response has been forthcoming, no willingness to discuss alternatives to cutting it down, and no known consultations with Registered Consulting Arborists to explore improving its living conditions.

Many of us reading this could be seen as structurally compromised, but no one is calling for our early demise! Do we kill off grandma because she needs a cane? Of course not.

Bozeman is an active town with a can-do culture, but when it comes to protecting mature trees from large scale development, the City treats them as disposable rather than the appreciating green assets they are. You may be thinking this isn’t a problem because mature trees will be replaced with new trees as required by landscaping codes, but mature trees, which take upwards of 60 years to fulfill their potential, can’t be replaced on a human time scale. The loss of benefits such as clean air, shade, habitat, and carbon storage are not mitigated by planting a sapling.

Bozeman has municipal codes designed to protect trees and to guide development around existing trees and other vegetation, and the City is known to adhere quite strictly to these codes for individuals wanting to add garages or studio apartments. In recent years, we’ve seen that things work differently for large-scale developments in Bozeman. For example, the City has turned a blind eye to its own codes as hundreds of mature trees have been taken down across several new developments including Canyon Gate, Bridger View, and even the new HRDC building on Griffin Drive.

How long can we, as a City, or we as humans, carry on like this? We humans, like all other animals, depend on mature trees for our very lives. With forest fires, massive die offs, and deforestation around the globe, it’s time to change our practices. Continuing to think there are enough trees “over there” no longer serves the modern world. It’s time to embrace and uphold the protection of existing trees by respecting the efforts of our forebears who planted these trees for future generations — for us. In the meantime, unless Bozeman Exchange Associates, LLC, has a change of heart and decides to protect our local state tree, we can expect them to needlessly cut down this iconic member of our community. According to a City staff report, the developer will be required to replace the tree with interpretive signage that can “develop educational components for residents and visitors.” One can only wonder what these educational components might include. Perhaps the sign will explain why Bozeman residents should put up with the destruction of our city so that developers can erect a structure catering to tourists.

If you share our views, please email Bozeman Exchange Associates, LLC, at kbrown@bennetthospitality.com (Kim Brown) and the Bozeman City Commission at comments@bozeman.net and tell them you find the situation unacceptable and demand that this ponderosa pine be saved. The local Bozeman community gets nothing of value in exchange for the destruction of this tree. 

Submitted by Bozeman Tree Coalition (BTC): April Craighead, Marcia Kaveney, Daniel Carty, Angie Kociolek, Lara Schulz, and Chris McQueary, co-founders and signers of the petition. They can be reached at bozemantreecoalition@gmail.com.