The City of Morenci’s Urban Forestry Management Plan, prepared by Steve Lane, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and Lead Consultant of The Response Growth Collective, is now open for public review and comment. The plan is currently in its third draft and is being shared to gather community input before it is finalized. At this stage, the document has not yet undergone a final grammar and spelling review. Public feedback is encouraged at a high level, focusing on overall direction, priorities, and concepts rather than minor edits or grammar corrections.
An Urban Forestry Management Plan is a 20-year framework that guides how a community manages its trees and forestry-related programs. It is both strategic and operational, providing an overview of Morenci’s existing tree canopy while also outlining a vision for the future. The plan addresses tree planting, removals, and pruning, identifies specific issues observed during the tree inventory, and includes projections related to staffing, budgeting, and community engagement. The inventory used to inform this plan was conducted between August and October 2025.
Community members are encouraged to review the plan and share feedback. Comments may include suggested changes to content or approach, observations about tree conditions, or photos of trees or recent tree work within Morenci. All comments should be submitted to ForestryPlanning@response-growth.net by March 23.
Revisions will be completed by the end of March, with the plan anticipated for adoption at the April 13 City Council meeting.
Draft - Morenci Urban Forestry Management Plan
Funding for this project is provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. The City of Morenci, USDA Forest Service, and Michigan DNR are equal opportunity providers.