(upbeat music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

The city of Seattle has a goal of 30% of tree canopy coverage, and is currently at 28.

In her opinion piece, Crosscut columnist, Samantha Allen, is focused on a part of Seattle, where there are some beautiful trees, but where many more should be planted.

That's in the industrial areas.

Industrial zones, like Georgetown and SoDo, are 11% of Seattle's land, but they contribute only 6% of the tree canopy cover.

Residential areas next to industry may have tree canopies, but it's a checkerboard because of the intermixing of industrial land.

These are also neighborhoods populated largely by people of color.

Allen says it makes more sense to improve air quality everywhere by planting more trees in the large land expanses used by industry.

Such trees would help reduce toxic runoff to waters, like the Duwamish River, and help further biodiversity.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

(upbeat music)