Volunteers plant hope at Shoreline’s Paramount School Park – king5.com

Community Tree Planting Initiative in Shoreline Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A community stewardship event was held at Paramount School Park in Shoreline, Washington, where approximately 100 volunteers participated in a tree-planting initiative. The project, a collaboration between the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) and the Green Shoreline Partnership, directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing urban green space, fostering community resilience, and taking action on climate and environmental health.

Project Objectives and SDG Alignment

The initiative was designed to transform an area identified as a “tree desert” within Paramount School Park. The primary objectives align with a global sustainability framework:

• To increase the urban tree canopy in a community highly impacted by air pollution.
• To enhance the local environment and create a healthier, more resilient community space, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• To foster community engagement and partnerships for sustainable development, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• To mitigate local environmental issues such as poor air quality and water runoff, supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Contribution to Specific Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The project directly supports Target 11.7 to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces. By planting trees in a popular park described by residents as “their backyard,” the initiative improves the quality of urban life and makes the community more sustainable and inclusive.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   Increasing the tree canopy is a critical strategy for climate action. The new trees will help mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and will aid in climate adaptation by providing shade to combat urban heat island effects and by helping manage stormwater runoff, a significant environmental benefit noted by Shoreline Councilmember Betsy Robertson.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   This initiative contributes to the restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. By converting a “tree desert” into a forested area, the project enhances local biodiversity and improves the health of the urban ecosystem, directly addressing the goals of protecting and restoring life on land.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The event exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership. The collaboration between MBAKS, through its “Planting A Better Tomorrow” program, and the city’s “Green Shoreline Partnership” demonstrates a successful public-private-community partnership essential for achieving the SDGs. Jerry Hall, Executive Director of MBAKS, emphasized this spirit, stating, “Being a community is having everybody come out together and work to make our world a better place.”

Stakeholder and Community Impact

Stakeholders reported a high level of commitment and positive impact. Despite inclement weather, volunteer morale remained high, reflecting a strong community investment in environmental stewardship. Jerry Hall of MBAKS framed the effort as “planting hope,” linking the act of environmental improvement to the fundamental need for a healthy home and environment. Local officials and residents expressed strong support, citing the numerous environmental benefits and the enhancement of a valued community park.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The tree planting at Paramount School Park is a successful model of local action contributing to global sustainability goals. The initiative effectively advanced objectives related to urban sustainability, climate action, ecosystem health, and collaborative governance. The organizers have extended an open invitation for future partnerships and volunteer engagement, signaling a long-term commitment to cultivating vibrant, sustainable communities in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article mentions that “Shoreline is one of 16 communities identified as highly impacted by air pollution.” Planting trees is a direct measure to improve air quality, which in turn enhances the health and well-being of the community’s residents.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The initiative focuses on improving an urban public space, Paramount School Park, within the city of Shoreline. The goal is to make the community more vibrant and environmentally sound by addressing a “tree desert” and increasing the tree canopy. This directly contributes to creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Planting trees is a fundamental action for climate change mitigation. By increasing the tree canopy, the project helps absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The article highlights the “environmental benefits” of the initiative, which aligns with taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The core activity described in the article is planting trees to combat a “tree desert.” This is a form of afforestation and ecosystem restoration. The project aims to “increase our tree canopy,” directly contributing to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The event is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. The article explicitly mentions the partnership between the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (a private sector association), the Green Shoreline Partnership (a city-level public program), and community volunteers (civil society). This multi-stakeholder partnership is central to the success of the initiative.

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

1. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce deaths and illnesses from air pollution

   The article states that Shoreline is “highly impacted by air pollution.” The tree-planting initiative is a direct response to improve the local environment, and improving air quality is a key environmental benefit of increasing tree canopy, thus contributing to this target.

2. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces

   The project takes place in “Paramount School Park,” a public space. A council member notes the project is “creating shade in a very, very popular park,” enhancing its quality and accessibility for residents who consider the park “like their backyard.” This improves the quality of a green public space for the community.

3. Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation

   The community-wide event, involving “nearly 100 volunteers,” serves as a practical form of education and awareness-raising. It builds the community’s capacity to take direct action on environmental and climate-related issues, fostering a spirit of collective responsibility to “make our world a better place.”

4. Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation

   The initiative is a direct act of afforestation. By planting trees in an area described as a “tree desert,” the community is actively working to restore a degraded urban landscape and increase forest cover within the city.

5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

   The article showcases a partnership model in action. The “Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties” (private sector), the “Green Shoreline Partnership” (public sector), and community “volunteers” (civil society) are working together to achieve a common environmental goal.

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

1. Implied Indicator for Target 3.9: Reduction in air pollution

   The article establishes a baseline by identifying Shoreline as a community “highly impacted by air pollution.” While not explicitly stated as a metric, the logical indicator for progress would be the future measurement of improved air quality in the area as a result of the increased tree canopy.

2. Indicator for Target 11.7: Increase in urban green space/tree canopy

   The article directly mentions the goal to “increase tree canopy” in a “tree desert.” Progress can be measured by the area of the park planted with new trees and the subsequent growth and density of the tree cover over time.

3. Indicator for Target 13.3: Number of participants in environmental initiatives

   The article provides a specific number: “Nearly 100 volunteers braved rainy weather to plant trees.” This figure serves as a direct indicator of community engagement and participation in climate action and environmental stewardship activities.

4. Indicator for Target 15.2: Area of land reforested

   The project focuses on planting trees in a specific location, “Paramount School Park.” The area of the park that was previously a “tree desert” and is now planted with trees serves as a direct indicator of local afforestation efforts.

5. Indicator for Target 17.17: Number and type of partners involved

   The article identifies the specific partners involved: The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, the Green Shoreline Partnership, and community volunteers. The existence and collaboration of these distinct public, private, and civil society entities is a clear indicator of a multi-stakeholder partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: king5.com