Seattle's Trees & Forests

Trees and open spaces are integral to healthy urban environments.

Seattle’s trees have significant environmental, economic, and social benefits. Urban forests mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat, improve air and water quality, provide natural stormwater management and soil protection, and attract people to local business districts and community spaces. 
 
Managing Seattle’s urban forest to realize its benefits, grow our canopy, and increase resilience to climate change relies on Citywide planning and effective integration of goals, policies, and initiatives across departments and services. 
 
OSE works with staff and leadership across City departments to create a Seattle-wide strategic vision and approach to urban forestry.  
 
We aim to achieve a vision where everyone—starting with those most harmed by inequities—has access to trees and the benefits they provide and where we keep Seattle’s trees and forest healthy and thriving in the face of a changing climate.