Report on Mountlake Terrace City Council Work Session: Urban Forestry and Economic Development Initiatives

Urban Forest Management Plan: A Strategy for Sustainable Urban Development

Introduction

The Mountlake Terrace City Council reviewed the city’s inaugural Urban Forest Management Plan, a strategic blueprint designed to protect and expand the urban canopy over a 5- to 10-year period. This plan is integral to advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Current State of the Urban Forest

An assessment of the city’s urban forest, conducted by PlanItGeo, revealed the following key metrics:

• Canopy Coverage: The city currently has 32% tree canopy coverage, with a strategic goal to reach 37%.
• Tree Health: A majority of inventoried public trees are in good health, with 70% rated as “good” and 3% as “excellent.”
• Age Demographics: The tree population is predominantly young, with 70% having a trunk diameter of 12 inches or less. This indicates significant potential for future growth but requires proactive maintenance to realize full ecological benefits.
• Biodiversity Concerns: The forest lacks species diversity, with maple and cedar species accounting for nearly 40% of all trees. This over-reliance increases vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate stress, posing a risk to the stability of the ecosystem, a key concern under SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Economic and Environmental Contributions to Sustainable Development

The urban forest provides significant value that directly supports local sustainability objectives.

• Ecosystem Services: The city’s urban canopy provides over $2.5 million annually in environmental benefits, including stormwater management, air quality improvement, and infrastructure cost savings.
• Climate Action (SDG 13): Trees play a critical role in climate mitigation through carbon sequestration. The economic value of this service is calculated based on the cost to remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide through other means.
• Economic Threats: Invasive species, such as the emerald ash borer and bronze birch borer, pose a significant economic threat. Unmanaged, these pests could result in tree value losses exceeding $2.5 million, undermining the city’s natural assets and economic resilience.
• Budgetary Context: Mountlake Terrace’s current urban forestry spending is $5.07 per capita, substantially lower than the state average of $11.50 and the national average of $12.26.

Strategic Goals for a Resilient Urban Forest

The plan outlines a five-point strategy to address challenges and enhance the urban forest, aligning with multiple SDGs.

1. Engage: Foster community involvement through stewardship programs and partnerships with schools and local organizations. This promotes SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by empowering residents to participate in urban greening.
2. Maintain: Implement proactive maintenance and improve pruning practices to ensure the long-term health and survival of the existing tree population.
3. Grow: Plant a minimum of 137 trees annually. This effort will prioritize areas identified as heat-prone and underserved, directly addressing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving the local environment for vulnerable populations.
4. Retain: Strengthen tree protection policies and provide resources to property owners to encourage tree retention during development, supporting the preservation of mature canopy critical for climate resilience.
5. Know: Utilize data-driven management by updating the tree inventory in real-time and monitoring canopy data biennially to ensure transparent and effective decision-making.

Council Discussion on Sustainability and Equity

Councilmembers’ inquiries focused on ensuring the plan’s long-term success and equitable implementation.

• Climate Adaptation (SDG 13): In response to questions about climate change, it was noted that predictive models suggest the local climate could resemble that of Three Rivers, California, within 80 years. The plan advocates for planting climate-resilient tree species and promoting water-efficient landscaping to adapt to future conditions.
• Equity and Inclusion (SDG 10): The city’s “tree equity score” of 87 out of 100 was discussed, with recommendations to maintain or improve this score by focusing planting efforts in communities with the greatest need. This aligns with the goal of providing equitable access to the benefits of green infrastructure.
• Sustainable Development (SDG 11): A suggestion was made to incorporate a measurable canopy goal into the city’s Comprehensive Plan, ensuring that urban forestry is tracked with the same rigor as housing and business development targets.

City Rebranding Initiative for Sustainable Economic Growth

Project Overview

The council also reviewed a service agreement with the consulting firm All Together to lead a city branding and marketing project. The initiative is designed to strengthen Mountlake Terrace’s economic base and guide future development in a sustainable manner.

Objectives and Alignment with SDGs

• Economic Growth (SDG 8): The primary objective is to enhance the city’s image to attract investment, new businesses, and development, particularly for the Town Center and transit development district. This initiative aims to foster decent work and sustainable economic growth.
• Sustainable Urbanization (SDG 11): By creating a cohesive and recognizable brand, the city seeks to attract development that aligns with its vision for a sustainable, well-planned urban community.
• Inclusive Process: The proposed strategy emphasizes broad community engagement, including surveys, interviews, and public events targeting all ages and cultural groups, to ensure the final brand reflects the city’s diverse population. This inclusive approach is fundamental to building sustainable and resilient communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Mountlake Terrace’s Urban Forest Management Plan and economic development initiatives connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on urban forestry, climate resilience, biodiversity, and community well-being directly aligns with goals centered on sustainable urban environments and environmental protection. The secondary discussion on city branding for economic growth also links to goals related to sustainable economic development.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire Urban Forest Management Plan is an initiative to make Mountlake Terrace more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It addresses the quality of urban life through the management of green spaces.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly discusses climate change mitigation and adaptation. It highlights the role of trees in carbon sequestration and the need to plant species resilient to future climate conditions, directly addressing the call for climate action.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This goal is central to the article’s focus on protecting and enhancing the urban forest. The plan’s objectives to increase tree canopy, manage invasive species, and improve biodiversity are core components of sustainably managing terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The latter part of the article discusses the city’s plan to hire a consulting firm for rebranding to attract investors and boost economic development. This aligns with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. The urban forest itself is also framed in economic terms, providing over “$2.5 million each year in environmental benefits.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the initiatives and data presented in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” The plan’s goal to “focus on planting in areas that are heat-prone and underserved” and the discussion of the “tree equity score” directly relate to providing inclusive and accessible green spaces.
   • Target 11.b: “…implementing integrated policies and plans towards… resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters…” The Urban Forest Management Plan is a clear example of an integrated city-level plan that addresses resource efficiency (water-efficient landscaping), climate mitigation (carbon storage), and adaptation (planting climate-resilient trees).
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards…” The article discusses planning for a future climate that could resemble “Three Rivers, California, within 80 years” and the need to plant trees that will “thrive in 50 years,” which is a direct strategy to strengthen adaptive capacity. The mention of “fire resilience” as an economic benefit also aligns with this target.
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into… policies, strategies and planning.” The city is integrating climate change projections into its Urban Forest Management Plan, a key piece of local planning and strategy.
3. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.2: “…promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests… and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation…” The city’s plan to “protect and grow its urban forests” and the specific goal to “plant at least 137 trees a year” are local actions that contribute to this global target.
   • Target 15.5: “…halt the loss of biodiversity…” The article notes a “lack of diversity” with two species accounting for 40% of all trees, making the forest vulnerable. The plan implicitly aims to address this by managing the urban forest ecosystem, which is a step towards halting local biodiversity loss.
   • Target 15.8: “…prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species…” The article explicitly identifies invasive species such as “English holly, English ivy, cherry laurel and emerald ash borer” as threats that the plan must address.
4. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification…” The city’s project to rebrand and market itself aims to “attract investors and boost economic development,” which is a strategy to enhance economic productivity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress toward the identified targets.

• Citywide Tree Canopy Coverage: The article states the current coverage is 32% with a goal of reaching 37%. This is a direct indicator for Target 15.2.
• Annual Tree Planting Rate: The specific goal to “plant at least 137 trees a year” serves as a clear, measurable indicator of afforestation efforts (Target 15.2).
• Tree Equity Score: The city’s current score is 87 out of 100. Tracking this score over time, especially in relation to planting in “underserved communities,” would measure progress towards Target 11.7.
• Biodiversity Metrics: The article mentions there are 225 unique species and that two dominant species account for “nearly 40% of all trees.” Progress on Target 15.5 could be measured by an increase in species diversity and a decrease in the dominance of a few species.
• Economic Value of Environmental Services: The urban forest is valued at providing over $2.5 million each year in benefits, including carbon sequestration. This monetary value can be used as an indicator to track the economic and environmental contributions of the urban forest (Targets 13.2 and 8.2).
• Management of Invasive Species: The identification of specific invasive species allows for tracking their prevalence. A reduction in these populations would be an indicator of success for Target 15.8. The potential economic loss of “over $2.5 million in tree value loss if left unmanaged” also serves as a baseline for measuring the success of management programs.
• Per Capita Spending on Urban Forestry: The article notes Mountlake Terrace spends $5.07 per resident, compared to a state average of $11.50 and a national average of $12.26. An increase in this budget could be an indicator of the city’s commitment to its forestry plan.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Economic Development: For the city branding project, the article mentions that KPIs would be used. An implied indicator is resident survey feedback, where residents “should feel that they are included in the process.” Other implicit indicators would be the attraction of new businesses and investors (Target 8.2).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mltnews.com