Seattle's Trees & Forests
Trees and open spaces are integral to healthy urban environments.
Seattle’s trees have significant environmental, economic, and social benefits. Urban forests mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat, improve air and water quality, provide natural stormwater management and soil protection, and attract people to local business districts and community spaces.
Managing Seattle’s urban forest to realize its benefits, grow our canopy, and increase resilience to climate change relies on Citywide planning and effective integration of goals, policies, and initiatives across departments and services.
OSE works with staff and leadership across City departments to create a Seattle-wide strategic vision and approach to urban forestry. We aim to achieve a vision where everyone—starting with those most harmed by inequities—has access to trees and the benefits they provide and where we keep Seattle’s trees and forest healthy and thriving in the face of a changing climate.
Trees for Seattle is the umbrella for all of the City of Seattle's urban forestry efforts. For more information on programs like Trees in Neighborhoods, planting and event opportunities, restoration, and more, please visit the Trees for Seattle site.
Our Strategies
Our Focus Areas
Foresting Seattle Initiative
Foresting Seattle uses a neighborhood-based approach to growing tree canopy in focus neighborhoods, promoting community leadership, green space restoration, and youth employment opportunities.
Tree Equity Plan
Seattle is developing a Canopy Equity and Resilience Plan to guide departments to grow more trees in neighborhoods that need them most and in partnership with the communities most affected.
Canopy Cover Assessments
Every five years, the City conducts a tree canopy cover assessment to track trends of our forest coverage. Seattle's canopy goal is to reach 30% canopy cover by 2037, as well as to improve tree health and equitable distribution of trees to support community health and resilience to climate change.
Urban Forestry Commission
The City convenes an Urban Forestry Commission to advise the Mayor and Council on urban forestry. This diverse group of community members meets regularly to discuss policies and processes for improving our urban forest for our communities. The commission is regularly recruiting new members; consider joining the conversation!
Urban Forest Management Plan
Seattle's Urban Forest Management Plan provides a framework for policy and action that guides City government decision-making to help Seattle maintain, preserve, enhance, and restore its urban forest.