Lynda Mapes Discusses Climate Change at The Seattle Public Library April 11
release date: April 6, 2017
Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes will discuss her new book "Witness Tree" and talk about climate change with Florangela Davila, managing editor of Crosscut, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, 206-386-4636 .
Library events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Parking is available in the Central Library garage for $6 after 5 p.m.
In "Witness Tree: Seasons of Change with a Century-Old Oak," Mapes finds an iconic tree in the heart of the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts. It's a red oak, 13 stories tall, and over 100-years-old. Mapes saw this oak as a living timeline, one that could help us better understand the impact of climate change. She compares it to what were once called "witness trees" in the 18th century, trees that towered over the landscape and became prominent local landmarks used by surveyors. This red oak would be a marker against which she could measure our impact on nature. Mapes also brings in a variety of experts-foresters, big tree hunters and climate change scientists-to provide different perspectives on the tree and the information it holds inside its boughs.
As a Seattle Times reporter, Mapes specializes in the environment, natural history and Native American tribes. In addition to "Witness Tree," she is the author of "Elwha: A River Reborn, Breaking Ground" and "Washington: The Spirit of the Land."
Davila, a veteran Seattle journalist, worked for 14 years as a staff reporter covering race, immigration and features at The Seattle Times. She's been a longtime arts contributor to KNXK-FM as well as Crosscut. Her work has also appeared on NPR and in Seattle Magazine. Davila is a former faculty member at the University of Washington. Prior to her managing editor role at Crosscut, she served as the Voices of the Region director for Seattle nonprofit Forterra where she launched the print magazine Ampersand and executive produced the stage show Ampersand Live.
This event is presented in partnership the University of Washington's Botanic Gardens Elisabeth C. Miller Library and the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.