What Are We Defending?
Every passenger traveling in or out of SeaTac Airport flies over the Highline Forest. Though smaller every year, it still contains thousands of towering evergreens and remains an iconic feature of this community at the main gateway of the “Evergreen State”. It also protects the health of Highline residents, cooling the air and catching pollution generated by the airport, planes, and surrounding industry. The local health department has recommended expanding tree canopy here to protect residents’ health.
But the forest is in trouble. And so is the 200-acre urban oasis known as North SeaTac Park, located at its living center.
Increasing heat, drought, and invasive species threaten its survival. Intensive industrial development has been going on for decades and much more is proposed for the future. The Port of Seattle, the government agency that owns the airport, proposes to replace an estimated 110+ acres of trees in densely populated SeaTac neighborhoods with more polluting industrial structures like cargo warehouses and parking lots. That’s about 100 football fields. SeaTac’s tree canopy is already among the sparsest in the county. (p. 17)
Protection of the Highline Forest is not yet on this region’s public policy agenda. Let’s put it there.
Photo by Karen Nicol, January 2024 in North SeaTac Park
Defend our Park and Trees
Sign the Community Forest Consensus to protect our park and trees HERE.
Over 3,700 community members have signed the Community Forest Consensus. See public signers including elected officials, organizations, and businesses and read their comments HERE.
Write info@defendersofhighlineforest.org or use the form to the right.
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