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Sustaining Our Natural Heritage for Future Generations

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Sustaining Our Natural Heritage for Future Generations WASHINGTON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGY Sustaining Our Natural Heritage For Future Generations DECEMBER 2007 FRONT COVER Washington Biodiversity Emeritus Biodiversity Council Members Council Members Maggie Coon, Chair Bill Brookreson The Nature Conservancy At-Large Brad Ack, Vice Chair Brian Collins Formerly of the Puget Sound Action Team Skokomish Nation Ken Berg Peter Goldmark U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Double J Ranch Dave Brittell Yvette Joseph Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Colville Confederated Tribes Bonnie Bunning Mel Moon Washington State Department of Natural Resources Quileute Tribe Bill Clarke At-Large, Washington REALTORS™ Consulting Services provided by Donna Darm Cascadia Consulting Group NOAA Fisheries Robert Fimbel Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Graphic Design John Marzluff Mather Design University of Washington Jackie Reid Biodiversity Council Staff Thurston County Conservation District Lynn Helbrecht Ken Risenhoover Executive Coordinator Port Blakely Tree Farms Sarah Gage David Roseleip Senior Project Associate Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation Mark Schaffel Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association Washington Biodiversity Council Ron Shultz 1111 Washington Street SE Puget Sound Partnership PO Box 40917 Kate Stenberg Olympia, WA 98504-0917 At-Large 360-902-3000 Naki Stevens At-Large, People for Puget Sound Steve Tharinger Administrative services provided by the Clallam County Commission Recreation and Conservation Office. Wade Troutman At-Large, Open Heart Ranch Persons needing this information in an alternative David Troutt format call 360-902-3000 or TDD 360-902-1996 Nisqually Indian Tribe Dick Wallace Washington State Department of Ecology Josh Weiss Washington Forest Protection Association Megan White Washington State Department of Transportation For more information: www.biodiversity.wa.gov PRINTED IN THE U.S.A WITH VEGETABLE-BASED INKS ON 100% (TEXT) AND 30% (COVER) POST-CONSUMER WASTE RECYCLED PAPER. COVER PHOITOS, CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/NATALIA BRATSLAVSKY, WASHINGTON FOREST PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, JEAN BOYLE, BEN LEGLER, AARON BARNA, STOCK INSIDE FRONT COVER WASHINGTON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGY Sustaining our Natural Heritage for Future Generations DECEMBER 2007 Fellow Washingtonians: As Chair of the Washington Biodiversity Council, I am pleased to present you with the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: Sustaining our Natural Heritage for Future Generations. Three years ago the Council was charged with creating a long-term, comprehensive strategy to sustainably protect Washington’s biodiversity heritage. This document delivers on that challenge. As you will learn in the following pages, Washington’s biodiversity is at risk and under increasing pressure from our growing population, development, and climate change. Despite many successful efforts in recent years, scientists continue to mark declines in ecosystem health across our state. In this strategy, the Council sets forth a bold set of actions designed to turn the tide—to marshal our collective efforts toward a common purpose and increase attention in key areas, including: n Adopting a landscape approach to focus our investments on the ground and better conserve biodiversity where we work, play, and live. n Enhancing voluntary incentives for private landowners. n Linking citizens with scientists to monitor biodiversity and enhance our knowledge. By carrying out the recommendations described herein, Washington can make great strides toward conserving biodiversity in ways that provide rich benefits for all of us and our communities. Crafting this strategy has been an exciting journey for us as Council members. The experience has deeply reinforced our sense of wonder at the beauty and richness of Washington’s natural landscapes. We have enjoyed the process and have been inspired along the way by the commitment of the people we’ve met. As a highly diverse group ourselves, the Council has repeatedly sought input from a wide variety of individuals and organizations. Their thoughtful perspectives have fundamentally shaped our approach and we deeply appreciate their contributions. Together, we can achieve much by building on the strong foundation and good work already underway. All of us, no matter where we live or work, have important roles to play in conserving our natural heritage. We invite you to join with us in the vital effort to sustain Washington’s biodiversity for the future. Maggie Coon Chair, Washington Biodiversity Council PAGE Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS __________________________________________________________ 4 1 INTRODUCTION: A CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE ___________________ 7 The Washington Biodiversity Council—Diverse Stakeholders Coming Together ________ 9 Vision and Goals _________________________________________________________ 9 Guiding Principles _______________________________________________________ 10 Why a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy ____________________________________ 12 The Benefits of the Strategy _______________________________________________ 13 Strategy Development Process _____________________________________________ 14 Strategy Organization ____________________________________________________ 15 2 BIODIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON ______________________________________________ 17 Biodiversity is the Web of Life _________________________________________________ 18 Genetic Diversity _______________________________________________________ 18 Species Diversity ________________________________________________________ 19 Ecosystem Diversity _____________________________________________________ 19 Landscape Diversity _____________________________________________________ 19 Why Biodiversity Matters _____________________________________________________ 20 Washington’s Heritage ___________________________________________________ 20 Today’s Economy—Benefiting from Sustainable Management ____________________ 20 Ecosystem Services—Essential to Our Modern Economy ________________________ 21 Medicinal Benefits—Diverse Ecosystems as Nature’s Pharmacies __________________ 22 Intrinsic Value—Helping Us Find Our Place ___________________________________ 22 Resilience—Staying Healthy in the Face of Change _____________________________ 23 Why Biodiversity Matters Most: A Legacy for Our Children ________________________ 23 What is Happening to Washington’s Biodiversity Resources? _________________________ 24 Current Status: Diverse and Declining _______________________________________ 24 Primary Threats and Drivers of Change _______________________________________ 27 Current Efforts to Protect and Conserve Our Biodiversity _________________________ 32 Summary—Washington’s Biodiversity is in Our Hands ___________________________ 37 3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION ___________________________________________ 39 What Needs To Be Done __________________________________________________ 40 Guiding Investments on the Ground: Using the Conservation Opportunity Framework_______________________________ 42 PAGE Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 42 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 43 Incentives and Markets ______________________________________________________ 50 Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 50 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 52 Land Use and Development __________________________________________________ 60 Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 60 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 61 Science and Information _____________________________________________________ 68 Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 68 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 69 Education and Public Engagement _____________________________________________ 74 Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 74 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 75 Achieving Results __________________________________________________________ 81 Recommendations ______________________________________________________ 82 Summary of Recommendations _______________________________________________ 88 4 CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK __________________________________ 95 Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 96 Methodology for Developing the Conservation Opportunity Maps ____________________ 97 Conservation Opportunities and Approaches ___________________________________ 103 Connect and Discover __________________________________________________ 104 Learn and Restore ______________________________________________________ 106 Manage and Maintain ___________________________________________________ 108 Collaborate and Innovate _______________________________________________ 110 Additional Resources and Research Needs ___________________________________ 112 Conservation Opportunity Maps for Seven Ecoregions in Washington ________________ 114 5 COUNCIL-SPONSORED RESEARCH REPORTS __________________________________129 Climate Change and the Future of Biodiversity in Washington _______________________ 130 Washington Forum for Conservation Incentives, Proceedings _______________________ 130 Washington’s Biodiversity: Status and Threats ____________________________________ 130 Toward a Biodiversity Conservation
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