Carmel Forest Management Plan (CFMP) IN PROGRESS
The Carmel Forest Management Plan (CFMP) is currently underway. The goal is to produce a guiding document that helps us further understand the state of our forest, while providing a management plan for how best to take care of it, including the protection of our predominant and native Monterey pine, coast live oak, and cypress, over the next 40+ years.
Where are we in the process?
Forest Management Plan Status (CBTS Draft)
We would like to sincerely thank the community for the time, thoughtfulness, and forward-thinking input you have contributed throughout the development of the Draft Carmel Forest Management Plan (CFMP) over the past several years. Your engagement has been instrumental in getting us to this point.
Carmel-by-the-Sea has long been known as “a village in a forest by the sea.” This Forest Management Plan will honor that legacy while confronting today’s realities—aging trees, climate stress, wildfire risk, and development pressures—with clear strategies and accountability.
This draft plan is the product of years of thoughtful work and collaboration. How we got to where we are today:
- The journey to update the CFMP began in late 2021 led by our City Forester at the time.
- In 2022, the City contracted with Davey Tree, whose data-driven canopy assessment and citywide inventory formed a scientific backbone for the plan.
- In Mid 2023, we welcomed our new City Forester, bringing deep education, certifications, and years of arboriculture experience to carry the work forward. We also selected a panel of six Steering Committee members, one of whom is also a certified arborist. These members bring a wide variety of perspectives to provide input, inform, and help “steer” our direction.
- A community-wide survey in November 2023 captured residents’ priorities and concerns.
- Over the past three years, we held multiple community workshops, including an early visioning series and another draft-review workshop in October 2024.
- The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed plan segments over six separate public meetings.
- In November 2024, an independent expert ecologist with deep knowledge of Carmel’s local environment was retained to review evolving drafts and provide additional scientific input.
- In May of 2025 new Public Works Director, with extensive background and education in ecosystem management, forestry, and arboriculture, carefully reviewed and provided further scientific refinement.
- In October of 2025 we held another public workshop with the Steering Committee, which included a presentation from our independent ecologist.
- Late January 2026, the Steering Committee and community members provided additional feedback and comments. All input was carefully reviewed and incorporated where appropriate.
- Another technical review of the draft plan was conducted by the Forester, Public Works Director and our independent expert Ecologist.
Throughout this extensive process, draft versions of the CFMP have remained publicly available on the City’s website (see links at the bottom of this page), and each meeting has been made publicly available in-person and online.
This multi-year effort has resulted in a community-informed, science-based draft plan that reflects the collective knowledge, experience, and values shared by residents, subject-matter experts, and multiple advisory bodies (appointed and volunteer).
As a reminder, this is a living document. As new information becomes available and scientific understanding evolves, the plan can be updated accordingly.
Next Steps (High Level):
To keep everyone informed, below is a summary of the upcoming steps, including multiple opportunities for continued public participation:
- Engage Consultant to assist with graphic design and document layout
- Initiation of the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) review process (anticipate
starting late-February/early-March)
- The specific timeline for this process will depend on the CEQA determination
- Review and recommendation by the Forest & Beach
Commission
- Public comment opportunities will be available
- Review and recommendation by the Planning
Commission
- Public comment opportunities will be available
-
City Council review and consideration of
the Forest Management Plan
- The City Council will conduct at least two public hearings
- Public comment opportunities will be available at each hearing
Throughout this process, the public will continue to have multiple opportunities to provide feedback, both in writing and during public meetings. Written comments may be submitted at any time to: forester@ci.carmel.ca.us
Transparency, inclusiveness, and continued community engagement has been and remain central to this effort. The City has, and continues to, encourage participation at every step along the way.
Thank you again for your continued commitment and thoughtful participation. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions regarding the process or upcoming milestones.
Will the character of the forest change?
No. The native, predominant populations of Monterey pine, coast live oak, and Monterey cypress will continue to be maintained, cared for, and prioritized.
When will the CFMP process conclude?
The short answer is, it will take as long as it needs to. It takes time to ensure a proper environmental review is conducted, incorporate expert input, incorporate public sentiment, go through iterations of the drafts, and translate that into the creation of an excellent final product.
ADMINISTRATIVE DRAFT OF THE CARMEL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN:
Carmel Forest Management Plan Admin Draft (2/6/2026)
PREVIOUS DRAFTS OF THE CARMEL FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN:
Davey Resource Group Administrative Draft (2024)
Draft - CFMP (Updated 10/10/25)
Documents previously presented to the Forest & Beach Commission, and to the public, are:
- Tree Inventory: Over 10,000 City trees were assessed and each was given a unique identifying number on a digital inventory map so that the city can track each tree over time
- Community Tree Resource Analysis
- Tree Canopy and Land Cover Assessment
- Community Survey Results (UFMP) Summary Slideshow
- This document will be heavily and significantly revised based on feedback from the public, Steering Committee members, and ISA-certified master arborists (including our City Forester). Native Monterey pines, coast live oak, and cypress will remain the predominant species and that which the city recommends.
COMMUNITY MEETING ON 05/22/24:
RESULTS FROM THE COMMUNITY MEETING ON 05.22.2024
Agenda and Handout from 05.22.2024
(Reference Material: Tree Species List from 2001 Forest Management Plan)
CURRENT AND PAST FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS:
The following Community Wildfire Protection Plan is not part of the Carmel Forest Management Plan (CFMP), however it is included here for reference due to its recent adoption by City Council and relation to our forest:
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) website