Having a healthy, diverse community forest in urbanized areas such as downtown cores and shopping centers can provide many benefits to residents, visitors, and the ecosystem. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, trees also scrub the air of pollutants, slow the release of stormwater runoff into the watershed, filter stormwater, provide oxygen, reduce energy costs, provide shade, and offer habitat and food for wildlife. In fact, many studies have shown that people “are happier, experience significantly greater well-being, and show significantly lower mental distress when they live in areas with greater amounts of green space” (Wolf, K.L., et al. Outside Our Doors, The Nature Conservancy, 2016). Trees in busy city centers such as the Tacoma Mall regional growth center are particularly valuable to incorporate into larger planning efforts so that their benefits can continue to grow as the region continues to develop over time.

The key to maintaining a sustainable and healthy urban forest in the Tacoma Mall region is species and age diversity, proper tree maintenance, risk management, and community support, which can be accomplished with this strategic Urban Forest Action Plan (“Action Plan”). The information in this Action Plan is provided to guide future maintenance and management, aligned with the Citywide Urban Forest Management Plan (2019), to better plan for the health and longevity of the Tacoma Mall’s urban forest. By monitoring the urban forest for potential risks such as exotic tree pests and diseases, impacts of climate change, storm damage reduction and response, compacted soils, construction damage, vandalism, and improper pruning, etc., the City, its partners, and the community can maintain and enhance the many benefits that trees provide within the Mall area and the City as a whole.

Fill out the form to access the full Strategic Urban Forest Action Plan, Tacoma, Washington.