Foresting Seattle
Foresting Seattle takes a “One Seattle” approach to growing tree canopy in focus neighborhoods, promoting community leadership , green space restoration, and youth employment opportunities.
The City of Seattle has long recognized the deep connections between the health of our urban forests and the health of our communities. However, like many cities, access to trees and the health benefits they provide are not equitably distributed in Seattle. For neighborhoods experiencing low tree canopy and other environmental inequities like higher summer heat and air pollution, investing in trees is not only an environmental issue but also a crucial step toward achieving healthy neighborhoods for all Seattleites.
Foresting Seattle is focused on two neighborhoods experiencing impacts from low canopy and higher summer heat – Chinatown-International District (CID) and Beacon Hill. The most recent tree canopy assessment (2016-2021) shows Beacon Hill and the Chinatown-International District have 25% and 14% tree canopy, respectively, compared with the citywide average of 28%.
Foresting Seattle is committed to creating a more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient future for our city. Trees truly make a difference, and together, we can build a healthier, greener Seattle.
About the Initiative
Foresting Seattle is a neighborhood-based approach to growing our urban forest by strengthening community partnerships and leveraging collaboration among city departments. The Initiative will focus on community-led urban forest planning, planting and stewardship, workforce development, and restoration of forested places near schools, parks, and low-income housing.
At its core, Foresting Seattle is built on strong partnerships that reflect the values of the “One Seattle” approach. Led by the Office of Sustainability and Environment and the Seattle Parks & Recreation Department, this collaborative effort includes key contributions from City departments, including Seattle City Light, Seattle Department of Transportation, and the Seattle Public Utilities Trees for Seattle program. Together, these partners will work through 2029 to advance the goals of Foresting Seattle, transforming our city into a greener, more equitable place for all residents.
Three Key Focus Areas:
1. Urban Forest Restoration
Over the next five years, we will restore 37.5 acres of urban forest by tackling invasive species and planting 4,000+ trees. This collaborative effort with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Green Seattle Partnership, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, and the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle will engage hundreds of residents in hands-on restoration, ensuring these vital green spaces thrive for generations.
Foresting Seattle’s approach will expand the boundaries of forest restoration by working across Seattle Park & Recreation lands and adjacent public housing sites, and public school property. This effort builds on longstanding partnerships and methods built through 20 years of the Green Seattle partnership, which emphasizes the reciprocal needs of healthy forests and engaged communities.
2. Neighborhood Teams
Over the next two years, we’ll form Neighborhood Teams in the Chinatown-International District and Beacon Hill to raise awareness, elevate community leadership, and enhance tree canopy across public and private land. These teams will develop action plans to plant and care for hundreds of trees over multiple years, helping combat urban heat and mitigate the pressures of climate change on people and trees.
3. Urban Forestry Job Training and Job Opportunities
In efforts to address the disparity of representation of people of color in urban forestry and related fields, Foresting Seattle will support youth workforce development through a proven training and job readiness program. The Youth Green Corps (YGC), a Seattle Parks & Recreation program, provides training and employment experience in urban forestry for youth. Over the next four years, YGC members will gain valuable skills and certifications that open pathways to careers in environmental stewardship at the City of Seattle and in the private sector.
Funding
This project receives funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The City of Seattle is an equal opportunity employer.