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Current Status of Washington's Biodiversity

Photo: Interagency Comm. Outdoor Recreation

The Washington Biodiversity Council’s Science Committee has developed a report to assess the current status of biodiversity in Washington State.

This report, Washington’s Biodiversity: Status and Threats, is now available. Email us to request a copy or download the report here.

On this web page we present summary findings from the report. The report itself contains detailed descriptions and examples for each point.

Selected findings from:

Washington’s Biodiversity: Status and Threats

1. Over the past 100 years human activity has significantly altered the ecosystems in Washington State.

2. These ecosystem changes have contributed to dramatic gains in our economic and cultural development and well-being. However, they have been achieved with growing costs to ecosystems and the services they provide. These trends, if unchecked, may diminish benefits for future generations.

3. The most significant threats to our biodiversity are:

• habitat loss and fragmentation
• pollution
• invasive species
• climate change.

Each of these threats is currently escalating. Each threat will require adaptive responses.

Some ecosystems are experiencing more pressure and faster rates of decline than others (e.g., shrub-steppe, oak woodlands, near-shore).

4. Current conservation assessments and planning efforts do not adequately address:

• fragmentation,
• loss of connectivity
• the magnitude of habitat loss.   

We need to better assess and understand:

• ecosystem functioning
• the role of natural disturbances in maintaining biodiversity.

5. Biodiversity conservation efforts are hampered by our inability to predict and detect species and ecosystems declines.

Planning and implementation of conservation actions would be improved with information that is both more comprehensive and more detailed at the local level. More consistency in establishing the conservation status of species and habitats would also help with planning and implementation efforts.