Washington State's Urban Forestry Program at Risk
Spokane News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · The Daily News Now!
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Show Notes
Washington States House Budget Proposal Threatens Urban and Community Forestry Program: A Lifeline for Vulnerable Neighborhoods
The Washington state House budget proposal aims to eliminate funding for the Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry program, a thirty-five-year-old initiative that helps communities plant and care for trees. This move, which targets $1.8 million next fiscal year and $3 million over the following two-year period, risks losing millions in federal grants and ending the program entirely. The state money, drawn from the cap-and-trade program on air pollution, acts as a match to unlock federal aid for projects statewide. Agency leaders were caught off guard by the sudden cuts, as the program has grown significantly, from just over $100,000 in federal grants in 2008 to over $4.6 million last year, thanks to the federal Inflation Reduction Act. These funds support tree inventories, management plans, and plantings, especially in low-income neighborhoods affected by urban heat islands. Without them, vulnerable areas lose tools to cool down during extreme heat waves, where trees can truly be a lifesaver. The Senate budget keeps the funding in place, setting up potential negotiations. Council members urge lawmakers to trim rather than eliminate support, preserving benefits for everyone from Seattle to Spokane.
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