Conservation

The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is a key player in helping Washington protect its most valuable wildlife habitat and agricultural lands.

RCO does this in a variety of ways:

• RCO provides grants to protect and restore land for a range of animals and plants.
• RCO provides grants to protect significant farmland and to conserve it for future farmers.
• RCO, through the Habitat and Recreation Lands Coordinating Group, coordinates with fellow state agencies on habitat and recreation land purchases to improve communication and visibilty of purchases, reduce duplication, and save money.
• RCO supports the Washington Biodiversity Council, which has developed a statewide strategy to ensure the state’s rich biological heritage is maintained and improved.