Keeping Seattle green: a partnership renewed

Typography
Mayor Greg Nickels today signed an agreement with the Cascade Land Conservancy to extend a nationally-recognized partnership to maintain and improve Seattle's green spaces. The Green Seattle Partnership was formed in 2004 to restore 2,500 acres of forested parkland by 2025. The unique public/private effort is the largest urban forest restoration project in the nation, and has been duplicated in other cities such as Tacoma and Kirkland.

The office of the Seattle Mayor issued the following news release:

Mayor Greg Nickels today signed an agreement with the Cascade Land Conservancy to extend a nationally-recognized partnership to maintain and improve Seattle's green spaces.

The Green Seattle Partnership was formed in 2004 to restore 2,500 acres of forested parkland by 2025. The unique public/private effort is the largest urban forest restoration project in the nation, and has been duplicated in other cities such as Tacoma and Kirkland.

!ADVERTISEMENT!

The Memorandum of Understanding signed today between the city of Seattle and Cascade Land Conservancy extends the partnership to 2013.

"It's great to work with Cascade Land Conservancy to make sure the Emerald City stays green," said Nickels. "This is a long-term effort to ensure the preservation of our urban forests for current and future generations."

To date, the Green Seattle Partnership has begun restoration on more than 375 acres of forested parkland. Green Seattle Partnership volunteers have donated more than 150,000 hours of service and planted more than 14,000 trees. Cascade Land Conservancy raised about $2.5 million in private donations.

"Restoring forested parklands with volunteers in neighborhoods throughout Seattle improves our infrastructure and strengthens the social fabric of the city," said Gene Duvernoy, president of Cascade Land Conservancy. "The Green Seattle Partnership is a great example of a clear path toward a strong future."

In 2009, the Green Seattle Partnership will begin restoration on 100 additional acres with the support of 75,000 volunteer hours.

The Cascade Land Conservancy is a regional land trust, land stewardship provider and policy center operating in Washington State with headquarters in Seattle and principal offices in King, Kittitas, Mason, Pierce and Snohomish Counties. Founded in 1989, the Conservancy has protected nearly 150,000 acres of working forests, farmlands and natural areas as well as estuary lands on the Olympic Peninsula and along the Washington Coast. It provides stewardship services, caring for more than 10,000 acres of land. Since 2005 it has been the host organization of The Cascade Agenda, which links conserving great lands with creating great communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.greenseattle.org./

Get the Nickels Newsletter and the mayor's inside view on transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities at mayor.seattle.gov

Contact: Steve Dunphy, 206/905-6933; Alex Fryer, 206/684-8358.