OLYMPIA
One of this year’s four highest priorities for Washington’s environmental communities passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 18. The Evergreen Cities Act to promote the protection and improvement of Washington’s urban forests passed with a vote of 73 to 22 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Sponsored by Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, the Evergreen Cities Act offers tools, grants and other incentives aimed at protecting and restoring urban forests throughout Washington.
“I’m thrilled, it’s a very fun bill to work on,” Kagi said. “The Audubon Society first brought the idea to me. I have worked very intensely on it – especially during the first three weeks of the session.”
At first, Kagi said the bill met some opposition from the Association of Washington Cities because it was an unfunded mandate. In response, she worked out a different, incentive-based bill to support and encourage cities to expand their urban forests, she said.
“At this point it has very broad support and I was pleased to see support on the floor was strongly bipartisan.”
Urban forests improve air quality and combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, and also improve water quality by reducing water runoff and pollution into Puget Sound. Trees also conserve energy by providing shade and protection from wind, and contribute to real estate values as well as Washington’s natural beauty.
According to Audubon Washington satellite pictures show that nearly half the urban tree canopy around Puget Sound has been lost. The resulting unintended cost to taxpayers has exceeded $4 billion in storm water and air quality management alone according to a press release.
Policy director at Audubon Washington, Heath Packard, said a similar program implemented in Portland has been a success.
“The city reports a $3.80 return on every dollar it invests in trees; a total annual storm water management savings of $36 million, and $3 million worth of annual air cleaning and carbon fixing services,” Packard said in a press release. “Portland’s annual environmental benefits provided by the entire urban forest canopy exceed $38 million.”
Kagi’s bill 2284 directs the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development to award an Evergreen Cities designation to cities that meet or exceeded its urban forest plan. It also directs the Department of Natural Resources to create an urban forest inventory that will assist municipalities in forest planning. The Department of Natural Resources will create two model ordinances and will then work with cities that volunteer to create their own.
Kagi said residents in Lake Forest Park and in Shoreline have expressed interest. Shoreline Councilwoman Janet Way testified in support of the bill, she added.
“This (bill) definitely will take some time because doing a statewide tree ordinance will take time,” Kagi said.
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