On Earth Day, pitch in at Seattle’s largest forest
Volunteers plant a fern at the Fall 2011 Duwamish Alive
In honor of Earth Day this year, Nature Consortium and Earthcorps will co-host an expected 600 volunteers in the West Duwamish Greenbelt on April 21st. The event is part of a biannual day of service called Duwamish Alive!, organized by the Duwamish Alive Coalition.
The coalition is a partnership between community, government, nonprofit, and corporate organizations working together to restore habitat in the Duwamish. Nature Consortium and Earthcorps have been partnering together in the coalition since 2006. Cleanup and restoration events will take place at 11 sites along the Duwamish River, both in the water and on the shore.
It’s no small matter that Seattle’s largest contiguous forest, the West Duwamish Greenbelt, happens to be next to the city’s only river and one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Extending over 500 acres in West Seattle, the greenbelt plays a critical role in filtering the air and sound pollution from the industry on the Duwamish River. The greenbelt also helps to filter polluted storm water run-off from nearby homes and roads before it enters the river.
Removing invasive plants at Duwamish Alive
Healthy watersheds make healthy rivers. But like many urban forests, the West Duwamish Greenbelt has suffered the effects of logging, invasive species, urbanization, and loss of biodiversity. That’s why Nature Consortium is committed to restoring the greenbelt to the kind of healthy evergreen forest the Pacific Northwest is known for.
“People come to Seattle because they love the outdoors,” says Restoration Director Lili Allala. “We have hundreds of acres of parks, and yet we also have one of the most polluted rivers in the nation. As one of the greenest cities in the nation we have a responsibility to keep this river alive, and to do that we have to take care of our forests.”
According to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Seattle also ranks fourth nationwide in volunteering. Between 2008 and 2010, 930,300 volunteers in the greater Seattle area donated a total of 120.7 million hours of service.
Nature Consortium works with volunteers year-round to plant trees and other native plants in the West Duwamish Greenbelt while removing invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry that prevent native plants from thriving. These plants provide the pollution-filtering power that makes the forest a crucial resource.
Earth Day with Nature Consortium is both work and play. Live musicians in the woods will perform for volunteers both during and after the work party as part of the Earth Day celebration.
To combat pollution and restore habitat in the Duwamish, volunteers can pitch in at any of 11 sites along the river including the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Codiga Farm, and Herring’s House Park. To register or for more information about Duwamish Alive, visit www.duwamishalive.org or email contact@duwamishalive.org.
About Nature Consortium
West Seattle-based Nature Consortium is a nonprofit working to connect people, arts, and nature. They are committed to creating community by inspiring a love for the arts and a connection to the environment. Programs include a volunteer forest restoration project, free eco-themed art classes for youth, and the Arts in Nature Festival. For more information or to volunteer or donate, visit www.naturec.org.
About Duwamish Alive Coalition
Duwamish Alive collaborates with community, municipalities, non-profits and businesses within the Duwamish River watershed to preserve and enhance habitat for people and wildlife, towards improving the health of Puget Sound. Restoration is on-going throughout the year, but it’s only during Duwamish Alive that our organizations come together to host hundreds of volunteers at multiple sites to make a huge impact on the same day. www.duwamishalive.org
About Earthcorps
EarthCorps is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 with a mission to build global community through local environmental service. As an AmeriCorps affiliate, EarthCorps provides one-year intensive programs for young adults (18-25) to learn best practices in conservation techniques and develop skills in leading volunteers (ages 8-80). www.earthcorps.org
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