Statement from Tree Action Seattle supporting Luma

We are heartened that the City of Seattle and this developer have chosen to protect Luma as a CMT, and we are grateful that they have recognized the sovereignty of the Snoqualmie Tribe. We also thank the greater Seattle community who came out to support climate justice and tree equity for all residents.

While we are glad that the project can proceed alongside Luma, this is not the optimal solution. We do not believe that we have to reduce housing in order to maintain trees. We know from independent assessments that this developer could have pursued the construction of all six units of allowed housing while maintaining Luma's protection. In this case, the developer has decided to subscribe to the false dichotomy of “housing versus trees,” when we know that such a forced choice is not necessary in almost all cases where infill housing is being created within an existing lot.

We are in the midst of a climate crisis, and we must build housing with our trees. Trees provide respite from today’s extreme heat and mitigate against tomorrow’s worsening climate. Recent research has found that 54% of Seattle's residents live in urban heat islands where temperatures are 8 degrees higher than in surrounding areas, rivaling Manhattan, Chicago and Washington DC in the intensity and size of these urban heat islands.

In addition to shading us from extreme heat, studies have also shown that urban trees don’t just fight particulate pollution and associated cardiovascular disease and asthma, they also function as powerful carbon sinks right in our city. Analysis has shown that older trees of 100 years or more are still sequestering over two and a half times as much CO2 in the form of biomass as a younger mature tree of 30 years old. Large trees like Luma continue to sequester more carbon in absolute terms than younger, smaller trees for hundreds of years, providing a climate solution that starts working today, not in 2100. The UN has identified biodiversity as one of humanity’s best bulwarks against climate catastrophe, and that includes our urban ecosystems. Meanwhile, Seattle’s great urban forest is declining year over year, with the hottest and most underserved neighborhoods the hardest hit.

While Seattle’s urban forest is in decline, Washington state continues to remove trees in the millions of acres of forest under its management. Our efforts encompass changes in state laws to prioritize preserving ancient trees and functioning forest ecosystems, to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.

From Alex Pedersen, Seattle City Councilmember:

“Today we celebrate the agreement to save the magnificent Luma cedar tree in Northeast Seattle, and tomorrow we have much work to do to improve tree protections throughout our city. I want to thank Mayor Harrell and all those who took actions to save this exceptional tree, including the tree advocates and Tribal Governments who understand that mature trees provide valuable public health benefits, environmental sustainability, and deep cultural significance — and we must do more to save more of these trees in the face of increasing urban heat from the increasing climate crisis.”

While this protection is an important victory for Luma and our broad community of supporters, it is only the first step on a long road to climate justice that we envision for all of Seattle and our region.  

We must continue to advocate for both housing and trees in this age of unchecked climate crisis. We can — and must — grow with our trees.

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