Biodiversity
Washington State is blessed with a unique bounty of natural environments, from the rich soils of the Palouse to the diverse marine life in Puget Sound.
Yet as the population has soared, Washington’s natural heritage steadily has diminished.
What is Biodiversity?
- Habitats in which life occurs.
- Ways that species and habitats interact with each other and the physical environment.
- Processes necessary for those interactions.
Since becoming a state in 1889, Washington has lost significant wetlands, riparian habitat, old-growth forests, shrub-steppe, and grasslands.
To begin to address the loss of the state’s biological diversity, many organizations, including businesses, landowners, non-profit groups, environmental organizations, tribes, and all levels of governments came together in the Washington Biodiversity Council to safeguard Washington’s rich biodiversity heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.
Washington Biodiversity Council
The Washington Biodiversity Council, a public-private partnership of landowners, government, tribes, business, education, and conservation, was chartered through an executive order of Governor Chris Gregoire to create a long-term vision and guide programs for conserving Washington’s remarkable biological diversity for the benefit of all.The council came to an end in 2010.
Learn more about the efforts and history of the council and its partners.
