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Urban Forestry

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Urban forests are an important community resource and play a vital role in SeaTac’s environmental, economic, and public health. Protecting, enhancing, and maintaining the trees that comprise SeaTac’s urban forest — in parks, along streets, and in neighborhoods and urban areas — is critical to the health and welfare of the citizens of SeaTac and will have a positive impact on the entire region. Community involvement is an important part of this work.

Read on to find out about more opportunities to get involved, including our new Forest Steward Program and paid After-School Program!

Benefits of urban forests include:

  • Ambient-temperature reduction
  • Noise pollution buffering
  • Reduction in air pollution
  • Water quality improvements
  • Stormwater runoff reduction
  • Erosion reduction
  • Provide wildlife habitat
  • Energy use reduction & slow climate change
  • Boost local and regional economies
  • Provide safe access to nature
  • Foster physical wellness and fitness
  • Mental health improvements
  • Strengthen neighborhoods and create social connections within communities
 

Without a coordinated effort to restore and care for our urban forests and natural areas, we are at risk of losing the many benefits they provide. 

Click HERE to look at SeaTac's Urban Tree Canopy Maps, provided in partnership with King Conservation District.

Ways to Get Involved

Volunteer in SeaTac Parks

Volunteer to help restore our urban forest within SeaTac parks! Activities include planting indigenous trees and shrubs, removing introduced and problematic plants, and mulching and watering plantings.

To sign up, check out our event page: Green SeaTac Partnership

Become a Forest Steward

Commit to a park you love! Our Forest Steward program provides the opportunity for individuals to adopt a park to steward and, if desired, lead community restoration events.

As a Forest Steward you would have the opportunity to do things like:

  • Plant indigenous trees and shrubs
  • Remove introduced plants
  • Mulch and water plantings
  • Host community restoration events (optional)
  • Report time and work accomplished
  • Have fun in the outdoors and take ownership of an area in a park you love!

Our next information and training session will be in spring 2026. For more information and to sign up, please fill out our Forest Steward Application. 

Funds for this project were provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, administered through the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

For current Forest Stewards, here is a link to our Forest Steward Guide.

After-School Program - Spring 2026

This spring, the City of SeaTac will be offering a paid after-school opportunity for students. The after-school program will be held the weeks of April 13th and 20th.

Program will include hands-on ecological restoration experience, field trips, land-connecting activities, career exploration, and guest speakers. Youth will be provided snacks and paid a stipend.

Check back in early spring for application information!

Funds for this project were provided by the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, administered through the State of Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Green Cities Partnership

The Green SeaTac Partnership is a collaborative effort between the City of SeaTac, the Green Cities Network (comprised of other King County jurisdictions), King Conservation District, the Port of Seattle, community groups, nonprofits, schools, businesses and hundreds of volunteers to restore and maintain our forested parks and natural areas.

Through this program, Green SeaTac partners with the community to recruit, train, and support volunteer Forest Stewards to lead forest restoration projects in priority parks. The city aims to build a strong culture of community stewardship, leadership, and partnership to support a healthy urban forest for everyone. The city relies on a network of individuals, organizations, staff and volunteers, all of whom are essential for the success of the partnership.

With funding from the Port of Seattle Airport Community Ecology (ACE) Fund, the Green SeaTac Partnership was established in 2018 to restore and care for our local urban forests. This program start-up process included:

  • Assessment of current tree canopy cover city-wide and forest health conditions in parks and natural areas. View the Tree-iage maps HERE.
  • Community outreach and engagement to guide project prioritization and implementation
  • Developing an Urban Forest Enhancement Guide for restoring forests and increasing the number tree canopy across the three cities. More information on the Green SeaTac Partnership Urban Forest Enhancement Guide.
  • Implementation of on the ground projects with a volunteer program to organize local community groups to plant trees, remove invasive plant species and meet restoration goals. Sign up HERE to volunteer!
Questions?
Contact Elby Jones, City of SeaTac Urban Forester, at: ejones@seatacwa.gov.