Tree Blog

State of Seattle's Urban Forest
By Matthew Mega, Conservation Director, Seattle Audubon

We’ve had some provocative questions from blog reader Daphne Odora so we thought we’d give Matt a chance to respond before posting his next blog entry. Read Matt’s responses and then let us know what YOU think. Check back next Wednesday for Matt’s latest blog entry, “Douglas Fir, Icon of the West.”

From Daphne Odora: I'm looking out over the City and I see many trees. And I just reviewed the City's tree website (of which your blog is part) and it seems that there are many groups and government agencies doing lots of good work for trees. In fact, it seems that all is well in the Urban Forest.

My question to you--What do you think is the state of the Urban Forest in Seattle?

Matt's response: Unfortunately, Daphne if I cut right to the chase (no pun intended) I think the state of our urban forest is not well. Not only have we lost 22% of our urban canopy in 35 years, going from 40% to 18%, but I think our culture is one that takes trees for granted. Because they are a renewable resource, it is too easy to say we can solve the problem by planting new trees. This is a dangerous precedence because we need a diversity of tree species, sizes and ages if we are to have a healthy urban forest. In other words planting trees is extremely important but only one piece of the puzzle.

The Waldo Woods proposed development in Maple Leaf and the expansion plans for Ingraham High School together will remove more than 120 trees, many of them mature conifers. Both developers propose planting new trees, but the vast majority of these trees will be small fruiting deciduous ones. Even if these new trees could reach the potential size of the existing Douglas Firs, how many years would that take? We need to seek a more balanced approach to the urban forest, one where tree planting and tree preservation have equal priority.

Daphne Odora: I'm interested in what Matt's top ten list of what we should do to save the urban forest would be, assuming he could have it anyway he wanted.

Matt's response: I have been asked to list my top 10 choices to improve the state of the urban forest in Seattle. This exercise was a lot harder than I expected, and I reserve the right to change my mind.

10. Plant more trees, especially conifers (and take care of them).
9. Create an accurate inventory of trees and canopy coverage for Seattle on public and private property.
8. Create an annual report that tracks the net loss or gain in tree canopy.
7. Hold developers accountable for their actions. If they say they are going to save a tree and it dies during construction they pay the full value.
6. Pass a tree ordinance that deals with public and private tree cutting and has teeth.
5. Create a permit system. (Complementary to number 6, but something that can be implemented immediately).
4. Enforce illegal tree cutting regulations.
3. Never sell so-called surplus land. There is no such thing.
2. Create a permanent fund for the purchase and maintenance of parks and green spaces.
1. If I had a magic wand the number one action that I would take for trees, people and neighborhoods of Seattle would be to create a city-wide green space plan and mandate that all proposed development respond to this plan. This would mean some areas would be off-limits to development and green spaces and trees would take priority. In the end we would know exactly where development could and could not go and we would have a city of interconnected green spaces and parks.

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