By Kersti Elisabeth Muul

"Across our state, unfortunately, trees are not distributed equitably. Wealthier and whiter neighborhoods have greener views, cleaner air and cooler temperatures. Access to clean air, open spaces and nature should be a basic right."  

This timely and frank statement was made by Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz during opening remarks today at a celebration in Burien's Hilltop Park. The celebration was to showcase the DNR's (Department of Natural Resources) new grant program which focuses on, and invests in, urban forests, tree equity and associated environmental justice. 

The first of what DNR hopes will be many grants like this, allowed twelve Burien middle and high school students to participate in paid, experiential, hands-on learning with topics such as environmental restoration, urban forest management and native plant ecology. In this two week course led by King Conservation District, Burien Parks-Recreation and Cultural Services and Partner in Employment, students removed blackberries and ivy, and planted over 200 native trees and shrubs. 

Hilltop Park is 7.4 acres located in the Boulevard Park neighborhood.

It's a small open grassy space with only two large trees, bordered by wetland-type areas. One Douglas fir, and one Western red cedar stand tall in the middle of the grassy field.

The wetlands are thriving, dotted with dead standing trees; full of songbirds and woodpeckers. The park sits next to a busy road. It is the only park in this neighborhood, and DNR states: According to American Forests’ Tree Equity Score map, it scores 56 out of 100 possible points, which ranks 33 out of 38 census blocks measured in Burien. Sixty-three percent of neighborhood residents are people of color. 51 percent of neighborhood residents live near or below the poverty line. In Burien, only the neighborhoods below 20% people of color measure tree canopy above the city average. This is a trend with urban tree equity we see repeatedly across South King County and the entire state. 

This directly aligns with Franz's opening remarks. 

During the celebration, speakers competed with road traffic and planes, even when using a microphone. Between breaks in their sentences you could briefly hear nearby chickadees and song sparrows, the drumming of a flicker; soon overtaken by plane after passing plane. These new trees someday will help filter that noise, provide more wildlife habitat, assist in keeping the neighborhood temperature from climbing, remove pollution from the air, provide mental and physical health benefits, retain more runoff, inspire another generation and much, much more.  With funding from DNR, projects like this could continue:  We’re seeking an $8 million investment in urban forestry from the Legislature this session. $2 million of that would allow DNR to work with Youth Conservation Corps to establish a statewide program of work focused on tree planting, restoration, and urban forest maintenance.

Along with planting trees and restoration, mature tree retention is an integral, and essential component to combating our myriad of environmental issues. While we wait for newly planted saplings to grow into an age where they start to provide ecosystem benefits, the big, old trees are doing all the heavy lifting. Retaining these trees is critical for combating climate change, cleaning the air and providing wildlife habitat.  The city of Burien appreciates the value of a diverse and healthy urban forest, and its benefits to human and wildlife health. In October they adopted their first tree regulations which recognize the value of large, and mature trees. In many cities, the majority of tree loss is happening on private property. Tree regulations are an excellent way to slow down this loss. Incorporating education into the process is fundamental for a successful transition. While these trees may be on private property, the essential physical and mental health benefits and ecosystem services they provide, are a community resource. 

Below is communication from the city regarding the new regulations:

The City Council adopted new tree regulations to protect trees on private property during their October 3, 2022 meeting, with the new requirements going into effect on October 12, 2022. Fines go into effect March 1, 2023 to give time for the community to learn about the new regulations. You can find more information about the requirements, including helpful videos and diagrams, at burienwa.gov/TreeRegulations

The revised regulations require private property owners to secure a tree permit before:

• Removing exceptional trees, defined as a tree that is large for its species.
• Removing more than one tree per year. More trees may be removed if the lot is greater than 5,000 square feet.
• When tree removal results in a lot below the required tree credit density, which is based on lot size. The larger the lot, the more trees must be preserved or replanted.
• Topping trees.
• Pruning more than 25 percent of a tree’s canopy in one year.

A permit is not required for removal of small trees that are not considered “significant”, which are trees below six inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground. A permit is not required for normal and routine pruning or for pruning a hedge.

Today was a good day for Burien's trees, and the people and wildlife that depend on them. 

Kersti is an urban conservation specialist, wildlife first-responder, science educator and frequent contributor to local and national media. She concentrates on the intersectionality of wildlife and urban spaces, in particular the human-induced impacts on remaining natural spaces and the structural and political challenges that arise for both people and remaining biodiversity. Kersti participates in collaborative and independent research projects focusing on how adverse climate events, urban heat islands, tree-canopy loss, and urban development impact avian species, specifically. She is a former Consulting Utility Specialist and Arborist and continues her involvement in urban arboriculture. She empowers and educates the community through independent outreach and monitoring using her evocative photography, leading community science projects for local non-profits, running two advocacy listservs, and publishing both reported and opinion stories in various media.