I’ve added a new gallery to the website, “A City’s Emerald,” which is a story about Seattle’s dying urban forest and the restoration efforts that aim to keep it alive. It’s an ongoing project, so check back soon for updates. A short film is also in the works. Click on the picture to see more.

Research shows a multitude of benefits that come along with trees in an urban setting – decreased crime, fewer auto accidents, slower and safer drivers, increased property values, cooler city temperatures, cleaner air, natural storm water runoff management, more birds … the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, invasive species such as ivy and blackberries are slowly killing the forest. Development of new building projects is also an obvious constant threat to urban trees. The dimmest projections show that almost none of the forest will be left this century if no action is taken. The good news is that the City of Seattle is taking an innovative approach to restoring the urban forest through the Green Seattle Partnership, which is a collaborative effort of public, non-profit, and private groups.