Elizabeth Walker Email & Phone Number

Kirkland, Wa, Us

My contract work with both King and Snohomish Conservation Districts - and tangentially with the Puget Sound Conservation Districts Caucus - elevated my capacity to serve several communities around their urban and community forestry efforts in the region. The crown jewel of my work is the Trees for Resilience Toolkit (https://betterground.org/urban-forests/) which I designed, developed, and curated all the content for while collaborating with 18 state and regional partners (agencies and NGOs). The web-based resource helps Puget Sound communities integrate tree canopy into climate action priorities such as green stormwater infrastructure, human health, tree equity, and carbon sequestration.Now working with the Whatcom Conservation District on a project with the Port of Bellingham and as the contract specialist for community tree planting efforts in the City of Bellingham. I emphasize the need to balance planting with preservation and rewilding - individual trees with forest ecosystems - as the true pathway toward meeting a community's climate action, tree equity, and sustainability goals....and beyond.

My expansion of consulting services as a Sustainable Business Strategist has resulted in curating the most effective tools, principles and models to help those in the corporate world who wish to future-proof their business for prosperity for all. I work with fearless leaders by equipping them, through powerful assessments, business cases, and actionable strategies, so they can integrate and demonstrate that "doing well by doing good" is totally possible - and is the Imperative.https://terrafirmaconsult.com

Continued my own consulting business formerly known as Sound Tree Solutions, Inc. Expert consultant to numerous regional governments (Thurston County, City of Boise, ID, City of Olympia; Cities of Edmonds, Shoreline, and Snoqualmie, WA) to develop strategic management plans and facilitate public engagement; consultant to Puget Sound Energy on legal cases regarding tree appraisal values; local, state and national advisor on urban forestry policy and programming.

Contract consultant to develop and launch the King Conservation District's new Urban Forest Health Management program, and continued on for program and project management. Successfully partnering with 31 of the 34 member jurisdictions on a broad range of projects from city-wide tree canopy assessments and trees & storm water analysis to on-the-ground community stewardship programs and public outreach on how to be a better back yard steward adjacent to forested open space. Project and Program Coordination with contract scope and budget responsibility as well as assistance to cities on proposal submissions.

Snoqualmie, Washington, Us

I helped launch the Culturally Modified Tree (CMT) protection program funded by a federal IRA grant - conducted research on the history of wholesale governmental and settler land claims and unbridled land use and development of the ancestral lands that have impacted native forests and critical cultural resources (CCRs) in the region; worked with tribal DAHP to formulate language for jurisdictional planning and policy documents; identified opportunities and connected with city planners and urban foresters to explore ways to integrate better protection of CCRs on public and private land; contributed to conversations about forest stewardship on the 12,000 acre Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Forest (STAF) and toward the Snoqualmie Tribe Ancestral Land Movement (STALM).

Lake Stevens, Wa, Us

Retained to design, curate content, develop and launch a web-based Toolkit for municipal foresters and stormwater managers to help integrate tree canopy into progressive stormwater management strategies and support urban forestry efforts through funding and policy, all in elevating the compounding benefits of trees in urban and suburban communities.

Tigard, Oregon, Us

Elected Board President 2022-24 to stabilize the chapter after leadership crisis among the previous board and administration. I previously held several positions on the PNW Board - Officers: Treasurer, Vice President, President, Past PresidentFirst PNW-ISA Rep to ISA Council of Representatives (COR); Served as ISA COR Vice-chair and Chair.2024 Chapter Annual Training Conference (ATC) committee (Penticton BC); 2006 Chapter ATC co-chair (Redmond WA)For a few years, I was an Instructor for the Chapter. Topics: Effective Report Writing and Defensible Tree Appraisal. Developed the curriculum and recruited new instructors. In 2017, was contracted by the PNW ISA Board to facilitate their strategic planning retreat. Outcome was heavily engaged Board and chapter member guests on critical topics producing a 5-year strategic plan, being utilized today by the chapter leadership.

Renton, Washington, Us

Seattle, Washington, Us

While Duvall councilmember, led multi-jurisdictional forum of elected officials in the Snoqualmie Basin of WRIA 7. The Forum's goal is to protect and restore the health of the Snoqualmie Watershed in harmony with the cultural and community needs of the Valley. To achieve this, the Forum provides leadership on key issues and implements projects to aid in salmon recovery, protect water quality and address flooding.

Duvall, Washington, Us

Mayor Pro-tem (2009); served on Public Works, Land Use, Economic Development Committees; Chair of the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum; Member of King Conservation District Advisory Committee (Working Lands co-lead)

Brooklyn, New York, Us

Founding leader of the local Slow Food Chapter (Convivium) 'Slow Food Snoqualmie Valley'; non-profit, volunteer-based educational organization to bring awareness to where our food comes from and celebrate the local bounty of producers and selection of food that is 'Good, Clean and Fair'. Our local mission is "to celebrate community on the farm, in the kitchen and at the table" and we plan several events in the year to make that happen.

Consulting Arborist/Urban Forester; municipal forestry, homeowner association forest management, educator (LWTC), As a regional leader in the profession, served on several advisory committees to state policy and programming.

Ottawa, Ontario, Ca

As the only U.S. participant in the inaugural program, through case studies and applied principles, we learned how to help municipal governments plan for the long-term sustainability and resiliency of their communities, embed sustainability into their culture and operations, and engage community stakeholders in their sustainability plans.

Master Of Forest Resources, Urban Horticulture/Urban Forestry

Bachelor Of Arts, Geology With Biology Minor