tree canopy

From hardscape allowances to protecting culturally modified trees, Seattle’s Urban Forestry Commission is looking at proposals to amend the new tree ordinance, which advocates say falls short of the city’s climate and equity goals.

A massive red cedar dubbed "Luma" in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood appears protected for now. But as a new tree ordinance takes effect July 30, the question looms of how Seattle will protect its largest and oldest trees.

A massive red cedar in Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood is slated to be removed Friday. Activists are calling attention to the tree's impact two months after the city passed its new tree ordinance.

On Tuesday, Seattle City Council passed a long awaited update to the city's tree protection ordinance for trees on private property. The legislation, which aims to appease both developers and tree advocates, will continue to be revised.

Despite its reputation as ‘the Emerald City’ in ‘the Evergreen State,’ Seattle has been losing trees. A long-awaited update to the city’s tree protection ordinance will be voted on by Seattle City Council next week.

A historic amount of money is being spent on urban tree planting and maintenance in underserved, often concrete-covered neighborhoods across the country.

Fire officials say Spokane is one of many communities across Washington at extremely high risk of catastrophic fire because of climate change and development into natural, or forested, areas.

After losing 255 acres of tree canopy in the last five years, long awaited-amendments to Seattle's tree ordinance have been released. It’s a balancing act between making room for more housing and ensuring that the urban forest thrives.

More than a decade ago, Tacoma set an ambitious goal to increase its tree canopy and do so equitably but so far, its been a slow start. At Tacoma Tree Foundation's annual Branch Out event, community partners distributed and planted almost 500 trees. Homeowners, city leaders and volunteers described growing momentum through this kind of community outreach.

As the driest summer in Seattle’s record books ended, trees across the city were sounding silent alarms. Research has shown the shade of mature trees also helps reduce unhealthful “heat islands,” especially in poor neighborhoods. But life of a city tree is already challenging and those problems are being compounded by a warming planet.