Earth Share of Washington

EarthCorps Helps Launch the Mayor's "Green Seattle Initiative"

- submitted by Steve Dubiel from ESW member EarthCorps

Seattle, WA - On Saturday, April 17, 2004, hundreds of volunteers, led by Earth Share of Washington member group EarthCorps, pitched in to restore local parks including Magnuson, Seward, and Cheasty Greenspace. Following last year's effort to restore Seattle's urban jewel, Seward Park in celebration of 100th Anniversary of Seattle's nationally renowned Olmsted-designed park and boulevard system, EarthCorps continues to lead volunteers in an effort to leave a legacy that will last the next 100 years.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Councilmember David Della were at Cheasty recently to announce the "Green Seattle Initiative," an ambitious effort to restore Seattle's 3,700 acres of forested park lands over the next 20 years using a combination of public and private funding. 60-70% of this land is infested with invasive plants like English ivy. If nothing is done, these forests will die over the next 20 years.

Restoring the health of urban forests is a wise investment for many reasons, including:

• Enhanced quality of life and recreational benefits in urban neighborhoods which will encourage people to live in the City and reduce pressure on sprawl;
• Improved air quality resulting from the natural air filtration role of trees; and
• Reduced storm water run-off, saving the need to build millions of dollars of infrastructure to capture additional run-off.

EarthCorps extended Earth Day to Earth Month 2004 because "one day just isn't enough." Earth Day is a fitting opportunity for each of us to work with nature to make sure that we leave a legacy of a healthy environment to our children. To volunteer with EarthCorps throughout the year, visit the Earth Share of Washington website - www.esw.org/help/ - hundreds of opportunities with EarthCorps and other Earth Share of Washington members are updated daily.

Governor Declares Native Plant Appreciation Week - May 24-30

Governor Locke has declared the week of May 24-30, 2004 in Washington as Native Plant Appreciation Week. This week is intended to be a celebration of the amazing diversity of Washington's over 3000 native plant species that range from desert plants to rain forest species and of the native plant ecosystems that are so important to sustaining the quality of Washington's environment.

The Native Plant Appreciation Week is intended to encourage citizens to become involved in learning more about native plant species and their habitats and how they can help to protect them. It is an opportunity to encourage public involvement in everything from a plant walks and visits to our natural areas, to active involvement in habitat restoration projects.

Native Plant Appreciation Week is an opportunity for governmental agencies, non-profit groups and environmental organizations to highlight their work in protecting native plant species and restoring native plant habitats. There is a great deal of extraordinary work being done that is not fully appreciated by the general public.

It is also an opportunity to increase public understanding of the critical role that native plant ecosystems play in providing suitable habitats for birds, fish and other animals, and in protecting water quality.

Finally, it is an opportunity to articulate the tremendous threat invasive exotic pests - insects, plant diseases and invasive plant species - are to native plants and ecosystems, and the work being done in both the public and private sector to combat that threat.

Although it is an opportunity to educate, Native Plant Appreciation Week, is primarily an opportunity to celebrate native floral abundance, amazing bio-diversity, and all the good work being done to protect and preserve it. To learn more about what is being done to protect and enhance native plants in Washington, please visit the website of Earth Share of Washington member, Washington Native Plant Society - www.wnps.org.

Sustainable Lumber Available at Local Stores

- submitted by Kathy Malley from ESW member Washington Environmental Council

Washington Environmental Council, Seattle Audubon, and Northwest Natural Resource Group are working with the Environmental Home Center and Dunn Lumber to promote Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products. Consumers now have the option to purchase FSC-certified wood and support good forestry.

FSC certification, like an organic label for food, assures consumers that wood products stamped with the FSC label come from well-managed forests. FSC-certified wood products protect important wildlife habitat and clean water in our forests by ensuring that logging is done in an environmentally-sustainable way. To become FSC-certified, forest landowners must also show that they are meeting standards of economic and social sustainability, including addressing the needs of local communities, tribes, and workers.

Historically, FSC-certified wood has been difficult to find in stores. Retailers had a difficult time finding it and keeping it in stock, so when the public or building contractors went to find it, they were often frustrated. With more Northwest landowners becoming FSC-certified - like Fort Lewis and the Warm Springs Tribe in Oregon - supply is becoming more readily available.

In exchange for retailers committing to keep a variety of FSC products in stock, WEC is asking people to go to these stores and choose FSC-certified products for their lumber needs.

WEC supports FSC products because of the critical link between the health of our region's forests, the way they are logged, and the products you buy.

The goal is to use this pilot project to help make the FSC-certified wood market more successful. Increasing demand for FSC-certified wood will make FSC certification more appealing to Washington's forest landowners such as the state Department of Natural Resources (which manages over 2 million acres of state forests) and private landowners.

For more information about where to purchase FSC-certified wood and what wood products are being offered, please contact Environmental Home Center at 206-682-7332 or Dunn Lumber at 206-632-2129.

Tacoma Power Offers Customers "Green Power" Option

Tacoma Power's EverGreen Options program offers customers the opportunity to support electricity generated by sustainable, renewable power sources that have minimal impact on the earth's natural resources. About 85% of EverGreen Options' power is generated by wind, low-impact hydropower, and a small amount of solar electricity. By making a modest additional payment through their electricity bills, customers will be contributing toward improving the environment.

Tacoma Power's green power - Environmentally Preferred Power (EPP) - is a portfolio of renewable power assembled by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and sold through the Bonneville Power Administration to utilities in the Pacific Northwest. EPP is endorsed by environmental groups including Earth Share of Washington members Northwest Energy Coalition and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Green power options are not strictly limited to Tacoma - power companies around Washington offer programs which allow their customers to support the development of renewable energy such as wind and solar. For more information about green power programs in Washington State, including EverGreen Options in Tacoma, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's "How to Buy Green Power" webpage: www.epa.gov/greenpower/buyguide/wa.htm.

Recycle Your Car - Donate It to Earth Share of Washington

Earth Share of Washington is excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations of used cars. Just send us a little information about your vehicle and a pick-up location and we'll tow it away, transfer the title, and give you a letter for a tax write-off. It couldn't be easier!

Why donate your car?
It's much easier to donate your used car than it is to sell it yourself. And the tax savings might even be more than what you would receive from a trade in. Your donation will support Earth Share of Washington's environmental programs.

To learn more about our car donation program or to send us your old car, please visit our website, www.esw.org/help/car_program.html or call 206-622-9840.