Olmsted 200 Tree Prioritization Planning

Trees managed by Seattle Parks and Recreation are dying off at increasing rates due to old age, disease, and climate stressors. To address this growing problem, Herrera’s GIS analysts, ecologists, and arborists worked together to identify and prioritize planting and vegetation management opportunities across Parks-managed sites. The preliminary screening analysis considered canopy change over time, wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, urban heat islands, measures of tree health, and indices of socioeconomic and racial equity to rank potential planting sites. Screening results were summarized in a series of intuitive print maps and an interactive web-hosted map. Herrera’s arborists and ecologists also provided guidance on the development of tree selection criteria, including the potential for non-native tree species to become invasive in the future.