It was refreshing to read the recent three-part Herald coverage on the importance of trees in our urban communities and all the activity going on at the state and county level (“Trees, fighters of climate change, are also victims of it,” The Herald, Oct. 10). Thank you to reporter Julie Titone for her work to help inform the public, which hopefully will inspire our elected leadership to take the necessary steps to protect more trees to help combat the impacts of climate change.

Let’s face the facts! It is way past time for the Snohomish County Council, along with the county executive, to take bold leadership to mitigate the effects of climate change, which is causing the rapid increase and destruction of wildfires, floods, hurricanes and drought. With forward-thinking policies and regulations, we can accommodate urban growth without sprawling into our rural lands and farmlands and save more trees in the process.

I hope the county council will be inspired by the proposed set of policies drafted by the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County and will vote to move these policies forward early next year for analysis and consideration during the process of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update.

If you agree, please let the council know today that you support these policies that will save significant trees in our urbanizing areas of Snohomish County. It is your children’s future, and their children’s future at stake.

Kristin Kelly

Snohomish