The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has awarded the City of Burien a grant to benchmark our urban forestry program and urban forest against the SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard. The funding will help the City engage with our community to gather feedback and evaluate our program’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. The insights gained from this analysis will help guide future initiatives through the Green Burien Partnership, including our goal to equitably increase canopy cover to 40% by 2038.
Background Information
In Burien, our “urban forest” means all the trees, plants, and the soil that supports them across the city—along streets, in parks like Seahurst Park and Dottie Harper Park, in natural areas like Salmon Creek Ravine, along streets, and in front and back yards. Healthy trees help keep our air and water clean, provide shade and cooling, and make our neighborhoods more beautiful. The Green Burien Partnership brings neighbors and partners together to care for these places.
Burien’s urban forest provides vital ecological, social, and economic benefits, including cooling the city, mitigating stormwater runoff, and enhancing the community’s quality of life. These green assets bolster climate resilience, biodiversity, and wellbeing throughout the city.
Three City departments largely manage trees. The Community Development Department manages trees on private property, the Public Works Department manages trees along streets and roads, and Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department (PaRCS) manages trees in public parks. The City of Burien’s urban forest management includes policies, operational practices, resources, and regulations governing both public and private vegetation. This includes street tree planting and stewardship, as well as Burien Municipal Code (BMC) 19.26 private‑property tree code and BMC 12.38 public-property tree code requiring permits for removal of trees, topping, or pruning beyond 25%.
Under the Green Burien Partnership Urban Forest Stewardship Plan (2020), the City aspires to reach 40% tree canopy coverage in Burien by 2038. Community-driven projects, from noxious weed species removal to tree planting, are organized through the Green Burien Partnership, which also prioritizes inclusivity by offering paid volunteer and internship opportunities in recognition of the city’s diverse demographics.
The City received a grant from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) to benchmark our urban forestry program against their new standard for urban and community forestry. This cross-departmental collaboration will help identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. As we move through the process, we will be asking for input from the community. For more information, watch the presentation from staff and an SFI representative at the Burien City Council’s September 22, 2025 meeting.
Project Results
- Report and executive summary (PDF)
- Third-party report audit (coming soon)
- Presentation to Burien City Council on April 6, 2026 (coming soon)
Project Timeline
Last Updated: April 6, 2026