Citywide Habitat Assessment
Read our State of Seattle's Madrone Forest Report for information about the health of Madrone forests in Seattle's parks.
In 2005, SUN launched the Citywide Habitat Assessment (CHA). This assessment builds on the data collected during the 1999-2000 Seattle Public Lands Habitat Survey. The CHA is a long-term effort to monitor the health of Seattle's urban forests.
SUN is installing permanent monitoring plots in the eight forest types found throughout the city. The following table describes these forest types, the number of acres of each forest type in Seattle, and the percentage of each forest type found throughout the city.
Forest Types in Seattle |
# of Acres in Seattle |
% of Total Forested Acres in Seattle |
Broadleaf Evergreen Forest (Madrone) |
24 |
<1 |
Conifer Broadleaf Evergreen Mixed Forest (Conifer/Madrone Mixed) |
22 |
<1 |
Conifer Deciduous Mixed Forest |
366 |
13 |
Conifer Forest |
320 |
12 |
Deciduous Broadleaf Evergreen Mixed Forest (Deciduous/Madrone Mixed) |
50 |
2 |
Deciduous Forest |
1866 |
70 |
Palustrine Forested Wetland |
69 |
2 |
Riparian Forest |
21 |
<1 |
When the assessment is complete, the data will serve as a report card evaluating the current state of Seattle's urban forests.
Specifically, we will look at the differences in the structure, function and composition of each of the eight forest types delineated in the original survey. This information will help managers and community groups within the city to better manage Seattle’s urban forests. In addition, the ability to assess the health of these forest types over the long-term will help managers to:
- Understand what species occur in each forested habitat type;
- Prevent decline or loss of habitats and species;
- Determine whether the desired state or condition of Seattle’s habitats has been achieved;
- Determine whether management approaches are successful or whether they need to change;
- Make the best use of limited financial resources by identifying which aspects of habitats need attention.
SUN has installed permanent monitoring plots in four of the eight forest types, including madrone, conifer/madrone mixed, conifer/deciduous mixed, and deciduous/madrone mixed forests. Below is a list of publications and resources summarizing the data collection in these forest types:
