Seattle counted trees as protected that may not have been in peril

In 2023, Seattle City Council waded into controversy by passing a long overdue tree protection ordinance. The law regulates whether homeowners can remove trees on their property and designates certain trees as “protected.” 

This is all amidst a city goal to increase tree canopy. But that “protected” label is often misleading, according to a new story out in InvestigateWest about how the city is counting its trees. 

Guest: 

Robert McClure, co-founder of InvestigateWest

Relevant Links:

InvestigateWest: Seattle claims to ‘protect’ hundreds of trees that were never threatened

InvestigateWest: How developers helped shape Seattle’s controversial tree protection ordinance

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