May 24, 2023: Boosting Climate Resilience One Tree at a Time

 

Public and private partnerships at work to provide options for personal action to combat climate change

Seth Vidana, Bellingham’s Climate and Energy Manager, will highlight steps the City is taking to implement its Climate Action Plan, and Parks & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver will describe her department’s efforts specifically. Michael Feerer, Director of the Whatcom Million Tees Project will outline practical projects citizens are doing right now to enhance benefits of trees as natural inhibitors of rising temperatures in years to come.

Seth Vidana was named Bellingham’s first-ever Climate & Energy Manager in 2020. An M. Ed. graduate from WWU’s College of the Environment, he previously created the Office of Sustainability at Western Washington University and served as Director of Sustainability.

Employed by the City for more than 20 years as an analyst and program manager, Nicole Oliver also was City Council Legislative Coordinator before becoming Parks facilities developer and eventually the Department’s Director in 2020.She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies from WWU.

Michael Feerer spent his adult life creating innovative projects for social good. He founded the Whatcom Million Trees Project nonprofit two years ago and leads its efforts. WMTP’s mission for our local trees and forests has been warmly embraced by the community. The nonprofit has over 600 volunteers and is involved with many projects and initiatives throughout our community.

Reading List Provided by Village Books

The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben
Trees of the West, by Molly Hashimoto
Finding the Mother Tree, by Suzanne Simard
The Overstory, by Richard Powers
Greenwood, by Michael Christie

Membership dues, reduced while meetings were conducted by Zoom, will increase on May 24.  New and former members are welcome to join or renew now while the reduced cost of dues is still in effect.

Current dues:  $20 for an individual; $35 for a household of two
Effective May 24:  $40 for an individual; $70 for a household of two