FAQs

The urban forest includes all of the trees and supporting vegetation in the community, and it is located on public and private property such as parks, backyards, streets, and commercial and industrial areas. The urban forest is an interconnected ecosystem that also includes the soil, water, and air that nourishes trees.

Trees are living assets that play a critical role in a healthy and resilient City. The urban forest supports our community by reducing stormwater run-off, filtering air pollution, providing shade and temperature regulation, stabilizing soil, and capturing and storing carbon. The urban forest also beautifies our community, connects people with nature, creates a sense of place, and improves mental and physical well-being, as well as promotes urban biodiversity by providing food and shelter for wildlife.

The urban forest is an integral natural asset that provides many important benefits for the health and livability of our community, but it is facing multiple challenges that put its ability to provide benefits at risk. To address these challenges while balancing other priorities, an integrated Urban Forest Plan that looks at the community holistically is required.

Climate change is driving a loss of trees across the community. Long, hot, and dry summers stress trees, especially native conifers like western red cedar, western hemlock and Douglas fir. This stress is intensified by disease and pest outbreaks that negatively affect the health of trees, including the western hemlock looper moth outbreak. Development to accommodate a growing community and conflicting priorities for public land in our highly urbanized city also put additional pressure on the urban forest. Learn more in the State of the Urban Forest Report.

1. Information on the current state of the urban forest;
2. A long-term vision for the urban forest; and
3. Goals, strategies, and actions to achieve our community vision.