Description
After the original forests of this region were cut down, native maple and alder trees grew in their place. The extensive clear-cuts significantly reduced the seed source needed for native conifer trees, such as Douglas firs, Western redcedar, and Western hemlock, to regenerate. At the same time, aggressive weeds like English ivy and Himalayan blackberry have choked out any young seedlings that would replace today’s forest. English ivy is an additional threat as it climbs up into the tops of trees, making them more likely to fall over in high winds.
In 2004, the Green Seattle Partnership was formed, with the aim of arming citizens to help the city’s trees in coordination with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Public Utilities, and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. The Partnership created a 20-year strategic plan to sustain Seattle’s forested parks, and the many partners got to work. The Green Seattle Partnership is now the largest urban forest restoration project in the country.
Thousands of volunteers are out in the parks every year, rolling up their sleeves and digging in alongside their neighbors to keep their urban forest healthy, and professional crews have provided technical assistance in difficult sites. Many partners have joined in the effort that has become a City-wide movement, and the list continues to grow.
