SEATTLE – A western redcedar standing in the Wedgwood neighborhood is fighting to reach new heights.
“I’m very happy that someone is taking that step. I admire their courage because I don’t know how to do this,” said Apollo Moonfire, who lives in the neighborhood.
Neighbors stopped by Friday to show their support by looking at the man sitting on the tree protesting the plan to cut it down.
“This tree has provided clean air and clean shelter for many animals and people over the years, and it is our responsibility to do what we can to help it grow,”
Environmentalist Droplet climbed up Redcedar on Thursday night after news that multiple homes could be built after the cuts were made on Friday night.
No tree service providers have applied for the public notice required by the city, so the tree cannot be cut yet. A tree public notice is not a permit, but a posting requirement that must occur before a tree service provider can perform any commercial tree work.
“As long as it takes to ensure protection from cutting down this tree,” Droplett said.
“One of the reasons I love living in this neighborhood is because we have such a strong tree canopy. I stand out on my deck and I admire and greet these trees every morning,” Moonfire said.
Activists irrespective of age came to strike for trees.
“If you want to keep the Emerald City of Seattle green, stop cutting down trees and cutting down trees like this,” said 10-year-old Aria Mingus-Shaw.
“I mean architects are smart and good, they can find a way to work with that and respect that tree and the legacy that it allows for environmental impact,” Moonfire said.
Seattle City Council member Alex Pederson issued a statement on the matter, saying in part:
“Seattle city government’s approval of a for-profit developer’s plan to cut down such exceptional trees is further evidence that city leaders are failing to protect our dwindling tree canopy, and recent legislation that claims to save more trees will worsen the outlook for our urban environment. Heat domes are the face of climate change.”
Since Droplet had a bird’s eye view, he asks everyone to come and take a look.
“The immediate goal when I moved in here was to protect this creature, but I was amazed to see all these neighbors connecting with each other and the tree and my friends,” Droplett said.
“I encourage anyone to walk through Wedgwood because what you see on camera doesn’t do justice to how magnificent this tree is,” Droplett said.
The Snoqualmie Tribe posted on its Facebook page that redcedar is a culturally modified tree and is an archaeological resource protected under state law. They said tribes, including the Snoqualmie, must be consulted when the proposed action would harm or affect a CMT, yet no tribe was consulted about permitting this tree.
The Snoqualmie Tribe said it was glad the move was delayed, but said it was not the end of the fight.