city of Bellingham

Urban Forest Management Plan and Canopy Mapping

Diamond Head is working with the City of Bellingham to develop a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMS) that identifies the community’s values and priorities for the urban forest.

Phase 1 of the project provided Bellingham with an assessment of the extent, characteristic and changes in key aspects of its urban forest resource through the production of an accurate canopy map and street tree inventory. This information was then used to carry out analyses of canopy change, forest structure, wildlife corridors, and wildland-urban interface.

Phase 2 of the project focused on community engagement to establish the values, goals and objectives for urban forest management utilizing a 50 to 100 year time frame. Phase 3 involved a review of current practices, prioritization of management actions and preparation of the final UFMP document.