A few years ago, SeaTac joined other cities across the nation in planting archangel trees, which are now a little over five feet tall and are thriving along the Angle Lake nature trail.
Three trees were planted on Arbor Day in 2017. These giants are courtesy of a special project known as the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, which is a nonprofit that locates and clones the world’s largest trees. These clones essentially make a “library” of old-growth trees that can be used for research and reforestation.
The project mostly clones giant sequoias and redwoods, which are dying in droves thanks to forest fires. These species of trees are some of the tallest trees on Earth. These specific kinds of trees trees grow fast and take in CO2 faster than other trees on Earth, making them essential to the environment. While the trees are typically found in states like California and Oregon there is proof that they can survive in colder climates and some have even successfully been planted in Michigan.
Thanks to climate change, forest fires and deforestation, about 98 percent of old-growth forests in the U.S. are gone. The U.S. is down to 2 percent of its ‘life savings.’
A project called Moving the Giants became part of the Puget Sound area in 2016 through 2017, bringing Coastal Redwoods to cities like Seattle, Kent, SeaTac and Federal Way.
The City would consider taking more trees from the project for local parks.
City of SeaTac Blog 