Washington Biodiversity Project
Washington Biodiversity Project

About the Council

group photo of Washington Biodiversity Council, June 2009

Photo: Washington Biodiversity Council

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

The executive order charges the Council with coordinating implementation of early action items from the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Sustaining Our Natural Heritage for Future Generations through June 2010.

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.

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.