Urban Forest Climate Series with Ed Dominguez | Urban Forest and Heat Islands

Urban Forest Climate Series with Ed Dominguez

As seasons grow hotter and climate impacts become more visible, understanding the role of urban tree canopy is more important than ever. Here in South Seattle, the reduced access to shade stands in contrast to other areas of the city, leaving local residents especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Ed Dominguez is a passionate Seattle-based naturalist, renowned bird expert, local educator, trusted voice in conservation, and former member of our Audubon staff. His research on trees and his understanding of the effects of climate change highlight the importance of urban tree canopy. Ed also understands the issues and politics that have brought us to our current situation and shows us how we can all play a part in creating cooler, healthier, and more resilient communities.

Seward Park Audubon Center is excited to team up with our beloved partner in conservation for a three-part series of presentations designed to educate, inform, and rally our friends and neighbors to take action on this critical issue of trees and climate. Each of these free public events will take place at the Rainer Art Center in Columbia City, or you can participate live on the Seward Park Audubon YouTube channel.

Urban Forest and Heat Islands

In this first program, Ed Dominguez invites South Seattle community members to explore how urban forests shape the health and resilience of our neighborhoods. Through his deep knowledge of the natural world and passion for connecting people to place, Ed will provide important insights into the many benefits of the urban tree canopy, from cooling our streets and improving air quality to supporting wildlife and community well-being. The session will also examine the history and inequities of tree canopy distribution, highlighting why some neighborhoods experience more extreme heat than others. Through this lens, we’ll explore urban heat islands and share practical, community-centered strategies for creating cooler, greener, and more equitable neighborhoods.

Check our calendar to learn about additional programs in this series.

This event is sponsored by: Washington Department of Natural Resources