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OUR BIODIVERSITY:
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
WASHINGTON'S ECOREGIONS
RESOURCES FOR CONSERVATION
BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION
STEWARDSHIP AND INCENTIVES
  ABOUT THE COUNCIL

Stewardship Matters

Forester Micheal Hurley

Photo:NNRG

 Micheal Hurley, Wetset Enterprises
Part of a growing network, this private landowner, like others across the state, is contributing substantially to biodiversity conservation in Washington. more >

What’s New

blue whale spouting

Photo: NOAA

Blue Whales Returning off the Coast
Researchers have documented blue whales migrating from California to British Columbia and Alaska for the first time since 1965. more>

fisher

Photo: WDFW/ J. Jacobson

Reintroduced Fisher Raising Her First Family
Fishers, large relatives of the weasel, are successfully breeding in Olympic National Park. Photos show a mother climbing a den tree and carrying a kit by the scruff of its neck. more >

USDA Organic logo

 

Organic Program Votes in Favor of Biodiversity Conservation
In May, the National Organic Standards Board more fully incorporated biodiversity into the National Organic Program. more>

Archive

Want to see previous items from this column? Find them on the archive page.

Check out our brochure

cover of brochure

 

This brochure outlines why biodiversity is important to all of us, and how the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy will help sustain Washington's natural heritage.

Download the brochure (500 KB pdf)
or contact us and we'll be happy to send you a copy.

Calendar

Contact Us

FAQs
Jacob Kirkman installing Stewardship Forest sign

Photo: Andrew B. Perleberg, WSU Extension

The WASHINGTON BIODIVERSITY PROJECT is an effort of the Washington Biodiversity Council to address one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: How to conserve our state's native plants, animals, and ecosystems for current and future generations.
more >

Working Lands >>

Early Action Projects Making Good Progress >>

Explore the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy >>

Talk to us! >>


Working Lands and Biodiversity Conservation

One of the principles guiding the work of the Washington Biodiversity Council is to “recognize and encourage active stewardship by private landowners.” With more than 60% of Washington’s lands in private ownership, these landowners are on the frontlines of efforts to conserve biodiversity.

The Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy recognizes this central role, and seeks to foster good stewardship through positive recognition, conservation incentives, and market-based mechanisms rather than increased regulation or mandates.

In addition to the resources listed on our Stewardship and Incentives page, the following may be of interest to foresters, farmers, and others:

Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer’s Guide
Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer's Guide cover

This guide, published in 2006 by the Wild Farm Alliance, draws on practitioners’ knowledge and experience as well as current research. It lays out a range of possibilities for maintaining and enhancing biodiversity on the farm and contributing to biodiversity conservation at the regional or watershed level. more>

Management Options for Declining Red Alder Forests
stand of red alder

Photo: B. Legler

Red alder forests have high biodiversity value and an important ecological role. Red alder wood also has commercial value. Many family forestlands in western Washington consist of mature red alder stands with little understory regeneration. Owners/managers may want to consider active management to achieve ecological and economic objectives. This April 2009 publication from WSU Extension outlines management options that can be implemented on a small scale. more >
Washington State Forestland Database
map excerpt

The Washington State Forestland Database was developed to provide understanding of the spatial characteristics of all private forestland ownership in the state, including family forests. The dataset can produce maps, statistics, and models at multiple scales and allows for analysis at the watershed, county, and state level. The final report was released in March, 2009. more >

The Field Guide to the 2008 Farm Bill for Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Field Guide cover

The Farm Bill is one of the most important tools enacted by Congress for restoring, enhancing, and protecting wildlife habitat on private lands. This guide was prepared to help landowners and producers understand the Farm Bill and the voluntary incentive-based programs it authorizes and funds. These significant conservation programs sustain soil, water, pollinators, and ecosystem services in addition to wildife habitat. more >
Estate Planning for Forest Landowners: What will become of your timberland?
western-red-cedar trunks

Photo:C. Antieau

Many owners of working land want to ensure the productivity of their land for future generations. Looking ahead to the inevitable generational transition can help owners reach their management goals. This book provides guidelines and assistance to nonindustrial private forest owners about the legal, tax, financial, and insurance aspects of estate planning techniques for forest properties. more >
Using Farm Bill Conservation Programs for Pollinator Conservation
insect on balsamroot flower

Photo: WDFW

This technical note outlines opportunities within Farm Bill incentive-based programs to implement pollinator conservation actions on the ground. The annual value of crops pollinated by wild, native bees in the United States is estimated at $3 billion. Practices that address habitat needs for native bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, flies, and hummingbirds, can have great overall ecological benefits and improve balance sheets for growers. more > (pdf)


Early Action Projects Making Good Progress

The Washington Biodiversity Council, with contributions from its partners, is funding projects to demonstrate how the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy can be used to guide investments and activities and to better coordinate conservation efforts. more>

Washington's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

cover of the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy

This visionary document sets forth a bold set of recommendations to engage Washingtonians statewide in conserving our state's precious natural legacy.

Request a copy of this essential tool, or download all or part from this site.

Three broad initiatives form the heart of the strategy—a new approach to defining priorities, fostering widespread landowner engagement, and measuring progress:

  • Guiding investments on the land, through the use of a new tool which maps biodiversity value and threats at a landscape, regional scale;

  • Improving incentives and advancing markets for landowners to provide tangible benefits for conservation on working lands and open spaces, and

  • Engaging citizens to work with scientists to inventory and monitor Washington’s biodiversity.
The strategy also includes recommendations in other important focus areas. more >


More Biodiversity Stories

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Find it in our archive of Biodiversity Stories.

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