Washington is known as the evergreen state, where frequent rain showers regularly replenish the earth and graciously water the abundant greenery. However, deforestation is an issue even in such a state. In King County, it has been studied that the main drivers of disturbance in forests are hard commodities, permanent agriculture, and settlements and infrastructure.
In the past 23 years, King County has lost 3.98 kha of tree cover from fires, and another 41.1 kha from other drivers of loss. In 2023, a staggering 48% of tree cover was lost to fires. Since 2016, it has been measured that Washington has lost 255 acres of tree canopy.
Deforestation is "the second largest human contributor to global warming". It accounts for up to 17% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Washingtonians of color are less likely to have access to tree canopy coverings, making planting trees in areas where they are most needed a critical step. Neighborhoods that have been impacted by racial and economic injustice started with less canopy and lost more than the citywide average.
From 1978 to 2001, Washington permanently lost 700,000 forestland west of the Cascades. Wildfires have proceeded to harm and burn over three million acres of forest in recent years. Deforestation in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, other parts of Africa, and eastern Europe continues at alarming rates.