	OUR BIODIVERSITY: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
	WASHINGTON'S ECOREGIONS
	RESOURCES FOR CONSERVATION
	BIODIVERSITY EDUCATION
	STEWARDSHIP AND INCENTIVES
	ABOUT THE COUNCIL
		From the Chair
		Council Projects
		Meetings
		Documents
		Feedback
		Council Members
		Staff

Mission Statement

Working to sustain and promote biodiversity as the full range of life in all its forms, explain its vital importance in Washington's economy and our quality of life, and encourage citizens to advance the stewardship of our natural heritage for future generations.

Vision

In our lifetimes, the native plants and animals, along with their air, water, and land habitats, are healthy and in harmony with our working landscapes and residential communities. The vital importance of biodiversity conservation is recognized in principle and practice. Washington citizens see themselves as stewards of our natural resources diversity and accept a responsibility to pass the heritage along to theri children and future generations in a healthy condition.

Brochure

A brochure about the Washington Biodiversity Council and its work is available here (890 KB pdf).

Calendar

FAQs

About the Council

group photo of biodiversity council march 2006

Photo: Washington Biodiversity Council

Governor Chris Gregoire extended the Washington Biodiversity Council through Executive Order 08-02 .

The executive order extends the lthe council until June 30, 2010, and charges it with coordinating implementation of early action items from the newly produced Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Sustaining Our Natural Heritage for Future Generations.

The strategy, released in December 2007, is a guide for conserving the state’s native plant and wildlife communities while taking into account the needs of cites, towns and owners of working lands.

Executive Order 08-02 Directives

Coordinate implementation of early action items from the Strategy, to the extent possible, based on available funding, paying particular attention to demonstrating the utility of the Conservation Opportunity Framework.
Develop a proposal to provide ongoing leadership and accountability for implementation of the Strategy, including recommendations for legislation or funding, by November 1, 2008.
- Include how the Strategy will serve as an organizing principle for natural resource agencies.
- Build on other efforts, including the Puget Sound Partnership, Climate Advisory Team, Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group, and the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Conduct outreach regarding the findings and recommendations of the Strategy.
Maintain the Biodiversity Project website.
Seek creative funding opportunities from partnerships created by the Council.

If funding is secured, the Council will:

Implement regional pilot projects, to demonstrate how the Strategy can be applied to guide investments on the ground and to coordinate conservation efforts.
Direct the creation of a science-based Biodiversity Scorecard to provide a baseline status of the health of Washington’s biodiversity resources.
- Track how funding and land use decisions affect biodiversity over time.
- Ensure the work on monitoring is coordinated with other monitoring forums in the region.

The Council is directed to complete these tasks by December 31, 2009.