The Last 6,000

The Last 6,000 We are a civic campaign to locate the City of Seattle's remaining majestic trees.

Washington’s most prominent statewide urban tree program is at risk! The Washington Dept. of Natural Resources’ Urban & ...
03/07/2026

Washington’s most prominent statewide urban tree program is at risk! The Washington Dept. of Natural Resources’ Urban & Community Forestry Program (UCF) will have its budget reduced from $3 million to $0, under the recent State Legislature budget proposal.

This will result in layoffs for vital staff members, cancelled grants for communities across the state, and ultimately, urban tree canopies with less support.

The most impactful action right now is to contact your State Legislators to voice your concerns, which you can find in the link in our bio (https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/).

Please request a "public hearing" by the end of day December 3 regarding the subdivision at 1522 9th Avenue West, Projec...
12/02/2025

Please request a "public hearing" by the end of day December 3 regarding the subdivision at 1522 9th Avenue West, Project 3043478 - LU. Seven majestic redwoods stand on the proposed subdivision, with the biggest measuring 60 inches in trunk diameter. They are located in a steep slope area. Healthy trees can help stabilize steep slopes with their roots and by managing stormwater runoff. 

Join the neighbors who have submitted comments to maximize the retention of these large trees visible from many different areas. Ask SDCI for a public hearing at the link in bio.

Enjoy these photos of PNW Seasonal Senescence - trees winding down as we move into cooler temperatures and shorter dayli...
11/27/2025

Enjoy these photos of PNW Seasonal Senescence - trees winding down as we move into cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours. 

Day length, temperature, and rainfall influence when the leaves of various tree species change color, how long that takes and how vibrant the colors are. 

Chlorophyll for photosynthesis masks yellow and orange pigments present during warmer months. Darker red leaf color results from a chemical change producing anthocyanins. 

A 2023 researchers studied the roles of temperature, photosynthesis and day length found that warming before the summer solstice tends to make senescence start earlier and warming after the solstice slows it, extending the colorful season. 🔗 in bio.



With the new climate reality of extended atmospheric rivers over Seattle, we're featuring research on the relationship b...
11/13/2025

With the new climate reality of extended atmospheric rivers over Seattle, we're featuring research on the relationship between trees, rainfall, stormwater runoff, and flooding from the Stormwater Action Monitoring Effectiveness Study. (link in bio)

Monitors were installed at 64 trees around the Olympia area to determine transpiration rates of Douglas-fir, western red cedar, big leaf maple, and red alder.

Highlights:
🌲Evergreen trees provide distinct advantages for winter and spring, when it rains the most and stormwater needs are highest.
🌲Evergreen trees provide more benefits for stormwater management than deciduous trees.
🌿Trees captured or slowed stormwater by intercepting and transpiring 44-65% of rainfall.
🌳Recommends mature tree retention & planting in urban settings and use of more evergreen trees for stormwater management in wetter months.
🌲Low Impact Development (LID) guidance to leave mature trees in place when developing properties to manage rainfall and runoff.

How do trees manage stormwater?
💧Interception
💧Infiltration
💧Evapotranspiration

Stay tuned for more!

Measuring Individual Tree Water-use in Mature Native Species in the Pacific Northwest to Determine their Benefits for Stormwater. Quick, Fischer, Jayakaran.
Washington Storm Center, WSU, Evergreen, and the Department of Natural Resources.
https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/2510010.pdf

This year's Urban Forest Symposium: We Rise Together - Bridging Gaps in Urban Forestry - was at the UW Center for Urban ...
11/06/2025

This year's Urban Forest Symposium: We Rise Together - Bridging Gaps in Urban Forestry - was at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture. There was an excellent series of topics and speakers, including Re-Awakening of Ancient Salish Sea Basketry and more on Western Redcedar Dieback.

🌡️High levels of heat are strongly correlated with cedar dieback, and urban heat islands can exacerbate this trend. We know that deforestation increases the urban heat island effect which in turn harms existing trees. Members of the public can assist the Western Redcedar Dieback study by submitting trees. Link in bio.

We thank everyone who advocated to protect Seattle’s large trees in comments to their Seattle City Councilmembers during...
10/30/2025

We thank everyone who advocated to protect Seattle’s large trees in comments to their Seattle City Councilmembers during the Comprehensive Plan process. We need to continue to advocate for changes to the current tree ordinance to slow the trajectory of tree removals.

🧮 A volunteer review of SDCI's Tree Removal Public Notices submitted in 2024 compared to those submitted through October 24, 2025 showed a 20% increase in tree removals. If the monthly average of tree removals in 2025 is applied to November and December, there will be an estimated 44% increase in tree removals in 2025 based on these Public Notices. 

📍These Public Notices for private property are regularly posted on TheLast6000.org. SDCI Public Notices totals do not include unreported removals, illegal removals, Street tree removals, or Seattle Parks trees removals.

🌲Continuing tree removal increases of such magnitude from year to year will have a significant cumulative impact on our environment and quality of life. As we build needed housing, we need to measure these impacts and make adjustments so we and our future neighbors can have equitable access to all the benefits large trees provide.

The first One Ocean Week Seattle runs through Sunday, bringing experts, artists, and policy makers together to explore a...
10/24/2025

The first One Ocean Week Seattle runs through Sunday, bringing experts, artists, and policy makers together to explore a healthier ocean and stronger Blue Economy. Be sure and sign up for the Orca Plunge on Sunday, October 26 at 1:30 pm at Alki Beach in West Seattle and raise awareness for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Stormwater runoff with the pollution it washes off roads is one of the leading threats to endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. Study after study shows how large trees absorb stormwater. We must closely measure and monitor the impact of losing Seattle’s trees on increasing stormwater runoff.

There is currently an appeal underway challenging the adequacy of the city’s recent Environmental Impact Study in relation to stormwater runoff and the health of our Orca population in Puget Sound. OrcaAppeal.org
Links in bio.

Thanks to .blue for hosting One Ocean Week.

🌿This is a great time to schedule an arborist to assess the health of your trees. Plant Amnesty provides free referrals ...
10/09/2025

🌿This is a great time to schedule an arborist to assess the health of your trees. Plant Amnesty provides free referrals for carefully vetted ISA arborists who are committed to outstanding customer service, professionalism, and best industry practices. 
Link in Bio or QR.

▶️Enjoy the guidance of Portland arborist, Casey Clapp, on the importance of tree assessments and the risks of "thinning."
Full article at the Link in bio.

https://www.plantamnesty.org/services/referral-services/

https://www.caseyclapp.com/articles/understanding-our-trees

Urgent! Two mature Ballard oak trees at risk. Please speak up before October 9th. 🌳Healthy large public trees shouldn’t ...
10/06/2025

Urgent! Two mature Ballard oak trees at risk. Please speak up before October 9th.

🌳Healthy large public trees shouldn’t be cut down for driveways and parking spaces. These healthy twin oak trees in Ballard need to be maintained and not removed. Please email Adiam Emery, Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and ask them to save these trees - and the benefits they're providing to the neighborhood. SDOT has authority over the well being of trees like this in our right of ways and streets. Should public resources be needlessly sacrificed for private gain?

✏️Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

📃Permit: SDOTTRLA0001664

📍Address: 905 NW 64th

🌲Tree Hugger Bingo with Ciscoe Morris🌲The countdown is on: don't miss out on the most entertaining event of the year!Joi...
10/02/2025

🌲Tree Hugger Bingo with Ciscoe Morris🌲

The countdown is on: don't miss out on the most entertaining event of the year!

Join for a fun-filled night of good food, great prizes, and riveting rounds of bingo.

🌿 October 11th, 2025
6:00-9:00 PM
Mountaineers Club

🎃 Costumes strongly encouraged.

🎟️ Get your tickets at the the QR code or Link in bio.

🌿The September 2025 Futures in Applied Arboriculture Conference at the Center for Urban Horticulture had a full house. I...
09/25/2025

🌿The September 2025 Futures in Applied Arboriculture Conference at the Center for Urban Horticulture had a full house. It was great hearing the educational discussions between arboriculture professionals.

Topics included:
🌲Working with Trees in the Built Environment
🌲Adapting Seattle Park Landscapes to Protect Trees and People
🌲Tree Selection…A Journey

🪏An important takeaway was the importance of putting wood chips around trees. Chip mulching provides nutrients, insulates, helps conserve soil moisture and more. Wood chips are available from bulk soil companies, local tree service providers, and the free service GetChipDrop.com. Chips should be spread to the dripline radius, 3”-4” deep, without piling up against the trunk.

🗓️Now is a great time to schedule tree pruning and maintenance.  provides free referrals for ISA certified arborists. Link in bio or QR in slide.

Stay tuned for more next week on tree pruning and tree assessments.

The One Seattle Plan is flawed in many ways. We have to fight to correct those flaws. The plan does not include meaningf...
09/18/2025

The One Seattle Plan is flawed in many ways. We have to fight to correct those flaws. The plan does not include meaningful incentives to build tree-saving housing designs to avoid housing that sprawls all over the lot and leave green space for mature trees.

🏡Passing these tree-saving amendments will make a real difference in keeping Seattle healthy and livable.

These votes are being taken despite an open legal appeal of the Environmental Impact Statement.

📣 Make your voice heard by sending an email to city council or calling. Written comments are being accepted today, 9/18.

🔗Find this link to the Tree Equity Network email form at our link in bio along with our website.

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