Planting One Million Trees for Healthy Forests Project
 Executive Somers and County Councilmembers plant trees to launch Healthy Forests Project
Last month, in partnership with the County Council and Forterra, I launched the Snohomish County Healthy Forests Project, focused on restoring the health of county-owned forested land through a community stewardship model. There is an urgent need for action in order to protect our regional environment. Much depends on our success: our quality of life, our resident orca whale population, and Chinook salmon are all at stake. Restoring our forests is a key component of the Puget Sound Initiative I launched in 2016.
Forests are critical in the Puget Sound area, providing ecological, environmental, and community benefits including reduced storm water runoff, improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitats, more recreation opportunities, and help to combat climate change. The Healthy Forests Project presents a tremendous opportunity to work on environmental health in the Puget Sound region. Community engagement and partnerships will be key for long-term success.
The county will work with Forterra to develop a restoration plan and community-based stewardship program. This program will recruit and train local forest stewards to host work parties and plant a million trees. Two thousand five hundred acres of county-owned conservation lands have been identified as high potential for community stewardship.
I look forward to working with our 100+ dedicated forest stewards, local stakeholders, and partners to achieve our ambitious goals.
|
