Whatcom Million Trees Project

05/29/2026

Our partnership with WTA and Whatcom Land Trust to preserve local forested lands and wetlands is continuing! To date, these efforts have resulted in the preservation of 66 acres in Whatcom County, with the purchase of 20 additional acres planned this year. 🌲🌲🌲

Whatcom Transportation Authority is reducing carbon by transforming its fixed-route fleet. The transformation began with the purchase of eight hybrid-electric buses back in 2012. Since then, WTA has purchased 11 more hybrid-electric buses and 12 electric buses. Thanks to grants from the Federal Transit Administration, with support from our members in Congress, WTA will order an additional 17 hybrid-electric buses in the next couple of years.
Link in comments.

05/27/2026

We're looking forward to Arboretum Day with WWU LEAD and Ecological Restoration Club this Saturday! The event is free and open to the public with many exciting activities planned to celebrate and steward the Sehome Arboretum -- come check it out! More information at https://www.serwwu.org/events/arb-day

05/22/2026

Learn something new for with the first 15 and a half minutes of this interview with Dr. Chad Hanson, author of "Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests & Our Climate". It's a helpful summary of why past and current forestry practices aren't working to protect communities in the wildland urban interface, and what easily implemented and affordable tactics are proven to be effective in protecting homes from igniting from wildfires.

My guest is Chad Hanson, PhD, a research ecologist with a focus on wildfire ecology, a member of the National Board of the Sierra Club, and author of Smokesc...

05/18/2026

In case you missed it, the May edition of The Canopy went out last week: Earth Week Recap, May Events with WWU, Wildfire Preparedness, and more!

May 2026 Newsletter: Earth Week Recap, May Events with WWU, Wildfire Preparedness, and more!

05/12/2026

The natural areas protected by the Roadless Rule need the voices of everyone who cares about them to speak up now, more than ever. The Roadless Rule rescission process is expected to return this month for another (likely short) public comment period. This rule, which protects 58 million acres of national forests from new road construction, could open more than 400,000 acres in the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (MBSNF) to roads and logging. Wildfires are four times more likely to ignite within 50 meters of a road than in similar forested areas that have no road access.

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Join Sierra Club and the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance (PNWFCA) for a free webinar this evening (Tuesday, May 12), 5:30-6:30pm about how you can take action - Sign up here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001izptWIAQ&

05/08/2026

May is Wildfire Preparedness Month! Many of us understandably have anxiety about wildfire season, and there are some proven steps you can take to protect your home that don't involve thinning trees. This short video is a helpful explainer of how wildfire spreads to buildings and demonstrates some scientifically proven steps you can take to protect your home effectively in the event of a wildfire!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QthynXympI

154 likes, 6 comments. "How Do Homes Burn in a Wildfire?"

05/06/2026

Join in to help with the next stage of development of Bellingham’s first Miyawaki mini-forest! Planted by a coalition of organizations led by WMTP, WWU L.E.A.D., and Bellingham Parks & Recreation on Earth Day 2023, this tiny pocket of urban forest on the northern edge of campus is thriving thanks to the ongoing care of WWU students. It’s a wonderful living example of how the Miyawaki method can benefit urban environments and engage youth in hands-on environmental stewardship!

Sign up via the QR code in the image or at https://whatcommilliontrees.org/volunteer/ -parties

04/30/2026

This Earth Month, and every month, we are inspired by the amazing dedication of our volunteers and supporters to increase Whatcom County's tree canopy and protect the mature trees and forests which are so essential for adapting to a rapidly changing climate. Thank you for inspiring our work every day and for helping us do it!

As Earth Month comes to a close, we looked back at the president of EarthDay .org's message for this year. It’s an important reminder that work like ours is amplified around the globe. We are mighty in our small numbers, and we are making a difference. 💪🌲🌎💚 🙌

15 likes. " : Our Power, Our Planet"

04/28/2026

We'll be here this Thursday! Looking forward to joining many other wonderful community organizations and people interested in making a difference to our community. Come check it out!

Bellingham's Backcountry Essentials is doing something new! On April 30, from 6-8 pm, they will be hosting a Community Impact Night!

15-20 local non profit organizations will have information tables, and at 6:45 pm there will be short presentations from North Cascades Institute, Recreation Northwest, and Legato Maritime.

Come join the fun for snacks and beverages and raffle opportunities, and get excited about Whatcom County's non-profit organizations!

04/24/2026

This Earth Day we partnered with Superfeet Worldwide and the City of Blaine to kick off the effort to free the trees of Lincoln Park from invasive English ivy! Thank you to the 23 Superfeet employees who chose this event for their Earth Day Awesome Hours and did incredible work removing yards and yards of ivy vines and freed 128 trees! Thank you as well to the Blaine Public Works staff members who helped us coordinate and facilitate the event! We're immensely grateful for these community partnerships and how much we can accomplish for the forests of Whatcom County when we come together. 🌲💚🌎