CURRENT PROJECTS
Let's Talk! Trees for Seattle's Future
Our proposal for this innovative grant project was accepted by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in February. We look forward to working with the Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF), our fiscal sponsor for the project, and DNR over the next few years. We hope to make the future better for generations to come.
The overall goals of the Trees for Seattle’s Future project are to:
We plan to do this by:
Stay tuned for updates!
Our proposal for this innovative grant project was accepted by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in February. We look forward to working with the Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF), our fiscal sponsor for the project, and DNR over the next few years. We hope to make the future better for generations to come.
The overall goals of the Trees for Seattle’s Future project are to:
- Raise awareness of and promote action for Seattle’s tree canopy
- Strengthen family and community bonds and connection with nature in an urban setting.
We plan to do this by:
- Developing materials to provide experiential education for young children and their families about urban trees, including:
- A two-week early childhood education curriculum
- Online learning materials for families and independent/informal caregivers to use with young children
- A video depicting children, families, and educators/caregivers engaged in learning activities
- Providing ample opportunities for early childhood educators and community members in communities affected by environmental and tree canopy inequities to be involved in the development, testing, and dissemination of these materials
- Ensuring that trainings and community gatherings are accessible physically, culturally, and by language
- Training educators and guide families and communities in using the curriculum and materials
- Evaluating the program
Stay tuned for updates!
PAST ACTIVITIES
Seattle Needs Trees Petition
Seattle is losing tree canopy at an alarming rate. The Tree Protection Ordinance (126821) that the City Council passed in May 2023 does not protect trees on lots undergoing development. It does not align with city goals regarding tree protection, environmental equity, and climate change mitigation.
On August 9, 2023, Trees and People Coalition, TreePAC, and the Duwamish Valley Neighborhood Preservation Coalition filed a petition with the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board to review the Tree Protection Ordinance and require the City to:
Our legal team made an excellent case, but the Board ruled against us in February 2024. Efforts to improve legal protection for Seattle's urban forest are ongoing.
Seattle is losing tree canopy at an alarming rate. The Tree Protection Ordinance (126821) that the City Council passed in May 2023 does not protect trees on lots undergoing development. It does not align with city goals regarding tree protection, environmental equity, and climate change mitigation.
On August 9, 2023, Trees and People Coalition, TreePAC, and the Duwamish Valley Neighborhood Preservation Coalition filed a petition with the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board to review the Tree Protection Ordinance and require the City to:
- Meet the City’s Comprehensive Plan goals
- Amend the Ordinance so that Seattle can increase its tree canopy (currently 28%) to 30% by 2037 and to 40% over time
- Update its analysis of the environmental impacts of the Ordinance to include the impact of 2023 City amendments and new state laws (especially the Middle Housing Bill, HB 1110)
Our legal team made an excellent case, but the Board ruled against us in February 2024. Efforts to improve legal protection for Seattle's urban forest are ongoing.