Urban & Community Forestry in Washington

In the 2021 Legislative Session, the Washington State Legislature passed HB 1216 to support investments in and resources for urban and community forestry in Washington. The bill expands the existing urban & community forestry program within the Department of Natural Resources, and tasks the agency with assessing urban tree canopies statewide, running a grant program for urban and community forestry efforts, and providing technical expertise and equipment for municipalities interested in improving their urban forest management.

Representative Bill Ramos (D-Issaquah)—the prime sponsor of the legislation—and Csenka Favorini-Csorba of the Department of Natural Resources will discuss pervasive inequities in urban forest cover, the importance of urban forests for community health and climate resilience, the main components of the legislation and opportunities it provides for communities, the inclusion of environmental justice considerations, and opportunities for future investments in urban and community forestry.