By Aneesa Grant, The Seattle Medium
In a significant move to address climate change, enhance tree equity, and create green job opportunities, the City of Seattle has been awarded a $12.9 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. This substantial funding will be used to plant and maintain trees in areas where people live, learn, and play, with a focus on combating extreme heat and climate change, increasing access to nature, and supporting career opportunities in the green sector.
Seattle’s two funded projects, made possible through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act as part of the Justice40 Initiative, signify a crucial investment in the city’s tree canopy and overall environmental resilience. The grant recognizes Seattle’s leadership in promoting tree equity and a healthy urban canopy.
“This investment will make meaningful improvements in tree-planting efforts in historically underserved communities, improving equity in canopy distribution so that every neighbor has access to green spaces while also fostering exciting green economy employment opportunities for youth,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
One of the key factors driving this initiative is the need to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Councilmember Dan Strauss emphasized the importance of investing in climate-resilient tree species, stating, “This funding helps us with our forward thinking to invest in climate resilient tree species as the tree canopy we have today may not survive in tomorrow’s climate.”
A 2021 Canopy Cover Assessment revealed that neighborhoods facing racial and economic disparities have 27% less canopy coverage than more advantaged areas. This grant provides an opportunity to address these inequities by prioritizing tree planting and care in underserved communities. By engaging the community in planting trees, improving tree canopy in neighborhoods with extreme heat, poor air quality, and health disparities, and expanding access to nature near schools and housing, Seattle aims to deliver economic and ecological benefits to overburdened communities.
Seattle’s winning projects include:
• $12,000,000 for Community-driven urban forestry and job training: This project will collaborate with organizations like Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) to improve the urban forest’s health and engage local communities in tree planning, planting, and stewardship. It will also provide youth with green economy skills and employment opportunities, along with restoring forested spaces in parks, public housing areas, and around schools.
• $900,000 for the Delridge Native Forest Garden: This project will enhance approximately four acres of City-owned parcels and unimproved rights-of-way in the Longfellow Creek basin in West Seattle. The initiative will focus on removing invasive species, planting native conifers, and collaborating with local communities to provide educational and volunteer opportunities.
This funding will be allocated to the Office of Sustainability and Environment, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Seattle Department of Transportation, ensuring a coordinated approach to improve tree planting and maintenance, equitable access to nature, air quality, and overall public health and safety.
The grant complements the city’s efforts to grow its tree canopy and address canopy inequities through the recently enacted tree protection ordinance, which provides protections for over 157,000 trees and prioritizes planting in historically underserved neighborhoods.
In a broader context, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced more than $1 billion in competitive grants to plant and maintain trees, combat climate change, and improve access to nature across cities, towns, and suburbs. These grants, covered by the Justice40 Initiative and made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, mark the largest climate investment in history.
“Studies show that trees in communities are associated with improved physical and mental health, lower average temperatures during extreme heat, and increased food security, and create new economic opportunities,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
“This game-changing investment from the Biden administration will help us create a greener, healthier, and more equitable city that is better prepared to stave off and stop the worst effects of climate change,” said Jessyn Farrell, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment.
