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Conservation Priorities in Washington

Numerous conservation needs assessments have been undertaken in Washington. The list of efforts below focuses on statewide approaches to conservation priorities, which represent a relatively limited subset, but the list is by no means comprehensive.

Some assessments have been focused on individual species or a small set of species, while others have focused on watersheds or regions of the state. Some assessments have included spatial components, identifying priority places for conservation. Others have focused on identifying priority species and ecosystems, or on identifying threats and/or conservation actions, without being spatially explicit. 

Featured Conservation Priorities in Washington

  • Washington State Wildlife Action Plan

    Washington's Ecoregional Wildlife Action Plans will implement the CWCS and serve as the guiding framework in an adaptive management process. They will inform and integrate management projects conducted by WDFW in conjunction with its conservation partners to address conservation threats to Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and their associated priority habitats.

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  • TNC Ecoregional Priorities in Washington

    TNC's Ecoregional Assessments provide a regional scale, biodiversity-based context for conservation efforts. They identify ecologically significant areas for conservation action with a goal of protecting the biodiversity of the ecoregion.

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  • Audubon Important Bird Areas

    Important Bird Areas of Washington are Audubons effort to scientifically identify places throughout our state that are essential to maintaining healthy bird populations.

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  • Washington Biodiversity Council Conservation Opportunity Framework

    The Conservation Opportunity Framework is designed to provide guidance to landowners and decision makers about what conservation actions to take depending upon the level of biodiversity significance and the severity of threats posed to that biodiversity. Based on ecoregional assessments, the biodiversity significance ratings incorporate concepts of richness, rarity, and representation in a scientific analysis. Ratings of future risk are based on projected population density and land use. The framework emphasizes that everyone and every area has a vital role to play in protecting and conserving Washingtons biodiversity.

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  • State of Washington Natural Heritage Plan

    The purpose of the State of Washington Natural Heritage Plan is to identify priority species and ecosystems to be considered in the selection of potential natural areas and the criteria and process by which natural areas are selected.

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Additional Conservation Priorities in Washington

Quick Facts

Washington Natural Heritage Program
Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 47014
Olympia, WA 98504-7014

Contact Information

Phone: (360) 902-1667
Fax: (360) 902-1789
Email: natural_heritage_program@dnr.wa.gov
Website

History

Founded in: 1977

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