By Hannah Kett, Urban Program Director at The Nature Conservancy. This article is republished as it was originally posted on May 13, 2022. Trees help clean the water flowing into streams, rivers and Puget Sound, help purify the air people breathe, lower the temperature of surrounding neighborhoods—and so much more. As Puget Sound cities and … Continue reading The Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Toolkit
Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Handbook, Tours, and Toolkit
By Tara Luckie, Education and Outreach Program Manager at Snohomish Conservation District The Puget Sound region is experiencing an incredible amount of growth and with this surge in development comes more impervious surfaces, more surface water runoff, and significantly fewer trees. Not only does this change our landscape, it also results in the loss of … Continue reading Urban Tree Canopy and Stormwater Management Handbook, Tours, and Toolkit
New Study: The Economic Footprint and Quality-of-Life Benefits of Urban Forestry in the United States
The Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service, contracted with the College of Business at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to conduct a first-of-its-kind nationwide study to help determine what economists call the “economic footprint” of both the private and public sectors involved in urban forestry. The Arbor Day Foundation explains that for … Continue reading New Study: The Economic Footprint and Quality-of-Life Benefits of Urban Forestry in the United States
5 Cities Raise the Bar with DNR Grants
Congratulations are in order for five communities that successfully completed WA DNR Urban & Community Forestry grant projects this May. These grantees, funded between 2018 to 2020, were hard at work over the last two years completing their deliverables. Read about their projects below and become inspired—from tree education, to inventories and one big investigation! … Continue reading 5 Cities Raise the Bar with DNR Grants
Arbor Day: the trees that mark our lives
From the oak that held a child’s first tree house, to the first sprout of a planted apple seed, to the smell of sweet magnolia in the spring air. The trees that we encounter can act as the pin points of our lives. Trees do not only mark moments in our lives but supply us … Continue reading Arbor Day: the trees that mark our lives
Coordinator’s Corner — April Celebrates the Tree Planter’s Holiday
Happy Arbor Day! Here at DNR we celebrate the “tree planter’s holiday” all month long with communities across the state. Often celebrations include Earth Day, which supports activities friendly to the environment. The celebrations definitely complement each other. Trees provide a lot of positive environmental benefits as well as social and economic benefits. And Earth … Continue reading Coordinator’s Corner — April Celebrates the Tree Planter’s Holiday
Trees and Human Health: Considering the Evidence
The following article was originally published by the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition in coordination with the Western Urban and Community Forestry Network's #HealthyTreesHealthyLives social media campaign. Explore the hashtag #HealthyTreesHealthyLives on social media to learn more. We have nearly 40 years of research about urban nearby nature and human health outcomes in our back pockets. But what about trees … Continue reading Trees and Human Health: Considering the Evidence
Community Canopy Comes to Spokane
Article by Angel Spell, Urban Forester, City of Spokane, WA The City of Spokane, like many communities across Washington, recognizes the numerous environmental, economic, social, and human health benefits of trees. In 2015 the city built a do-it-yourself community tree program that gave away thousands of trees to residents for planting on their private properties. … Continue reading Community Canopy Comes to Spokane
Timely Tree Tips — Shinrin-Yoku
It is no coincidence that the places many of us go to unwind and relax are places where natural elements are more prominent: Stretching out on a sun-drenched beach Paddling glassy water on a still inlet Hiking in the mountains for fresh air and amazing vistas Wading in a trout stream with fly rod in … Continue reading Timely Tree Tips — Shinrin-Yoku
Coordinator’s Corner — February
The phrase "I love trees" can apply to many of the wonderful benefits we attribute to trees in our community forest landscape. February is celebrated as the month of hearts, not only in the romantic sense for Valentine’s Day, but as American Heart Month by the American Heart Association. Did you know that sitting can … Continue reading Coordinator’s Corner — February
From the Field: Tree Benefits in Longview, Wash.
The City of Longview Urban Forestry Division is unveiling the Tree Benefit Project at the Frank Willis Arboretum at Lake Sacajawea Park. The project will be in place during the month of April. Beginning on April 5, lake visitors will encounter tree benefit tags located next to trees strategically placed around the path. Each tag … Continue reading From the Field: Tree Benefits in Longview, Wash.
Urban and community Forestry in Washington State 