The City of Burien just released its first-ever Green Burien Partnership end-of-year report, showcasing strides made in 2023 in maintaining a healthy urban forest and engaging the community in environmental stewardship, and they’re seeking public feedback.
It cost approximately $624,000 to manage and implement the Green Burien Partnership in 2023, with 95% of that covered by in-kind donations and existing staff time.
Some highlights of the report include that volunteers and partners donated over 8,100 hours to plant 1,860 trees and plants, as well as remove over 145,000 square feet of weeds from Burien’s parks.
The vision of the Green Burien Partnership is to cultivate a healthy urban forest that is not only supported by the community but also supports community well-being. Through a commitment to environmental justice, the program seeks to improve access to green spaces while fostering relationships and partnerships that drive positive change.
The report reveals that approximately 1,500 trees across public and private properties in Burien were assessed and inventoried, encompassing 101 unique tree species.
By understanding the tree species present in Burien, the Green Burien Partnership can proactively prepare for potential pest outbreaks that may target specific trees. Additionally, this knowledge allows the program to determine which trees are thriving and which species could be introduced to enhance tree diversity and resilience in the face of a changing climate.
Below is a map showing the 2023 worksites the partnership helped with:
For more information on the Green Burien Partnership, visit burienwa.gov/GreenBurien.
According to the report:
“The Green Burien Partnership’s vision is to have a healthy urban forest supporting — and supported by — an aware and engaged community. The Green Burien Partnership’s mission is to engage the community in enhancing and maintaining a healthy, sustainable urban forest in order to increase quality of life, mitigate climate change at the local level, and protect Burien’s valuable natural resources for current and future generations to enjoy. The Green Burien Partnership leads with environmental justice with the understanding that it’s our responsibility to shift the story around access to green spaces while we improve them. It is through relationship building and partnership that this work is possible. This work is guided by the Green Burien Partnership Urban Forest Stewardship Plan.”
The full report and the link for the survey are available below:
https://connect.burienwa.gov/green-burien-partnerships-2023-annual-report-released/
