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IN OUR BACKYARD: Seattle tree ambassadorsBy Andrea Mojzak, Green Cities Project CoordinatorThe Tree Ambassadors are a community of urbanforestry volunteers educating their neighbors aboutthe importance of Seattle’s trees and how to keep themhealthy. Launched in 2011, the Tree Ambassadors programwas created as an on-the-ground resource available toanswer Seattle residents’ most frequent questions abouttheir neighborhood trees. The program is part of SeattlereLeaf and is supported by Forterra, Seattle Department ofTransportation and Seattle Public Utilities.To prepare for their role, Tree Ambassadors participatein a nine-part training series that equips them with theknowledge necessary to serve as resources for theircommunity. They learn the answers to many commonquestions such as: Who is responsible for taking care of thetrees in the parking strip? (If SDOT planted them, SDOTis responsible. If they didn’t it is the responsibility of thehome/property owner.) Can I cut down the tree in myneighbor’s yard if I think it unsafe? (No, you can only cutdown trees on your own property that meet the current DPDtree regulations.) Why does City Light come through andcut my tree without my permission? (City Light maintains a10ft clearance around live power lines.)The City of Seattle has a goal of reaching 30 percent treecanopy cover by 2037 and much of the potential plantingPhoto by Sandra Pinto deBaderarea falls in private, single family residence lots. TheTree Ambassador program is a great vehicle to inspirehomeowners to plant trees in their own yards througheducation and outreach. The Ambassadors do outreach atschool events, neighborhood festivals and farmer’s markets.They highlight trees in their own neighborhoods withguided and self-guided tree walks.The program isn’t just about creating more tree huggersin the city—Seattle’s urban forest provides significantand quantifiable value to the city. The recently publishedSeattle’s Forest Ecosystem Values: Analysis of the Structure,Function, and Economic Values found that Seattle’s treesand tree-like shrubs provide the city $23 million in savingsannually through carbon sequestration, storm waterabsorption, heating and cooling and pollution reduction.With only two years under its belt, the program is justgetting started. Looking forward, the goal is to have a TreeAmbassador in every neighborhood in Seattle ready tochampion the health of our urban forests. With that willcome more tree walks, more outreach and new and excitingways to increase and improve Seattle’s amazing tree canopy.Want to take a tree walk around a Seattleneighborhood? You can find one here:http://seattle.gov/trees/treewalks.htm17WINTER 2012