IFB/DCP/DPR/2609-1270095/Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP)

The City of Atlanta is soliciting a qualified Consultant to develop a 15-year Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) aimed at protecting, managing, and expanding the city's tree canopy. The primary objective is to reverse canopy decline and achieve 50 percent overall coverage while ensuring equitable access to nature. The selected Consultant will perform urban forest data and condition assessments, evaluate existing policies and staffing needs, and establish science-based goals and funding strategies. A critical component of the project is extensive community engagement, which includes six in-person public meetings, surveys, and the management of a neighborhood ambassador program involving 35 to 45 participants with a total stipend budget not to exceed 25,000 dollars. The project is expected to begin in Spring 2027 and must be completed by April 30, 2029, as it is funded through a USFS Inflation Reduction Act. The Consultant must have at least 10 years of experience in urban forestry, having completed three urban forest master plans since January 2016, specifically for cities with populations over 300,000 or areas exceeding 75 square miles. Deliverables include a logically organized, illustrative plan document provided in PDF, editable, and 25 printed formats. The project will be overseen by a Core Project Team consisting of managers from the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of City Planning, with final approval and adoption required by the City Council.