In 2024, we broke our tree distribution record, grew operations, our full-time team, and our donor and volunteer base. In our yearly overview, we share these big wins and what we’re looking forward to in the coming year.

This year’s Cohort—our largest yet!—worked on a diverse array of topics, created opportunities for neighbors to engage with them, and started movements! Read our latest blog post to learn all about their projects.

What can we learn from comparing water use in urban trees to water use in forest trees? Steven Quick shares recent research comparing urban trees and forest trees to determine which species of trees are more likely to be resilient in urban heat. The results help us understand why coniferous species, and native species more generally, can do better in urban conditions and. how we can take care of them.

Western redcedar dieback has been observed throughout the Northwest, leading to growing concerns about their survival in future climates. This study conducted by the WSU Ravenholt Urban Forest Health Lab with support from the Tacoma Tree Foundation is helping us understand how to make sure this amazing tree continues to grow in our state.

In our latest blog post, Eden Standley and Luke Vannice explore why ROWs were created in the first place, the challenges street trees face in Tacoma, and how to properly and creatively plant in this space!

Our city and our region can house everyone who wants to live here by offering many types of affordable and attainable housing, and this density can coexist with an abundance of trees and high-quality greenspaces. Here are 4 reasons why arguments against Home in Tacoma 2 fall flat!

By creating pathways for more homes and more trees in the landscape, Home in Tacoma Phase Two could go down as one of the most important environmental and climate actions of our generation. But developers are fighting to remove private property tree protections. It's time to take action so Tacoma implements unified codes that will enable the growth critical infrastructure of trees and “middle housing” at the same time.

A prairie in the middle of the city? In our latest blog post, we join Luke Vannice at his prairie right-of-way and learn how native oak prairie ecosystems can enhance urban biodiversity and grow community.

Urban forests are invaluable to cities, providing shade, improving air quality, reducing urban heat islands, and supporting biodiversity. However, urban trees face unique challenges, especially concerning water use under heat stress. Our latest blog post explains how tree age and root systems are related, and why knowing this is essential to keeping our urban forest healthy through the summer.

Why do environments matter? Why do neighborhoods matter? Our neighborhoods have a huge impact on our health, education, earning potential, and character development. In this post, joy gloria muhammad (Climate Leadership Cohort, ‘22) defines the concepts of “complete neighborhoods” and the 15-Minute City Project to invite us to consider how we can make a Tacoma for everyone.

In the latest installment of our Trees of Significance series, Michael Yadrick (TTF Board of Directors, President) helps us understand why the Pacific madrone is a role model for resiliency, chance, and how to build meaningful relationships. The lessons that the madrone teaches about connection and resiliency are found in its relationship with mycorrhiza and native plants, the way it makes small victories in surviving as a species, and the ways it is capable of adapting to climate change. By following these lessons and modeling our own behavior and actions of the ways of the madrone, we too can become more resilient and connected as a culture and to our environment. 

“Trees are good for your health.” This is a fact that we, at the Tacoma Tree Foundation, often share with our supporters, as do most organizations in our line of work. Yet, it is uttered so often and widely that it is at risk of becoming commonplace. Yes, trees and access to green spaces improve our health and wellness. But how and why? And what are the ramifications of access to green spaces–or lack thereof–for individuals and communities? To better understand the correlation between green spaces and health, we’ve been researching for answers. In this blog post, Kirsten Iverson, a PLU Environmental Studies student and Tacoma Tree Foundation intern, shares some of our findings.

Our partners in the WSU Ravenholt Urban Forest Health Lab completed an analysis to identify priority Tacoma public schools (K-12) for tree planting. In this analysis, WSU ranked Tacoma’s public schools based on 5 metrics, then averaged the ranks of each school to identify ten schools as priorities for urban greening efforts. Learn which schools rank highest.

Trees are the point of connection for everyone who works with the Tacoma Tree Foundation. We share a love of trees and the conviction that they make Tacoma's communities resilient in the face of climate change. This is the first of a series of posts titled, “Trees of Significance.” In our first entry, we consider the cultural significance of trees, focusing on the relationship between the Jacaranda and the Yoshino Cherry Tree, two trees of significance for Director of Partnerships and Communications, Adela Ramos.

Our Green Blocks: Parkland program in 2023 taught us about the history and resilience of the Parkland community. In this piece, we consider Parkland’s history and delve into the details of our Parkland planting project.

We share the highlights and accomplishments of 2023, a year of planting for and in community.

Executive Director, Lowell Wyse, explains why the newly approved street tree ordinance will help make Tacoma more resilient in the face of climate change by better regulating tree pruning and removal, allowing fruit trees in the right-of-way, and celebrating heritage trees.

Does the health of our trees reflect the health of our communities? In this post, Joey Hulbert, PhD, Forest Health Watch Program Director, and his team explain why diversifying the trees in our urban forest is an important means of keeping trees, like the beloved native Bigleaf Maple, and other maple varieties, healthy and thriving.

What does Tacoma need to do in order to confront the health threats posed by the urban heat island effect and the overall challenges of climate change? In this post, Executive Director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation, Lowell Wyse, explains the health and environmental effects of urban heat island, how the Foundation and city and county partners are working to confront these challenges, and the urgent steps that leaders and governments must take today to ensure trees are an essential component of urban infrastructure tomorrow.

In this essay, Eden Standley interviews TTF partners, Robb Krehbiel and Vivian deZwager about their alternative yards, and explains why it is actually greener on the other side—when there’s no lawn. The post provides numerous tips for anyone curious about creating an alternative yard, as well as ways to start small.