Traveling Upstream

Executive Director Glenn Lamb checks in on the efforts of the Land Trust's Conservation Agenda, and shares major priorities that lie ahead.

 

In 2017 Columbia Land Trust staff prepared a Conservation Agenda for the next 25 years of our work. The two major goals that we zeroed in on: Conserve more land and engage more people. In this effort, we want to ensure nature in the Northwest thrives even as our population grows, and that underrepresented communities and individuals have a seat and a voice at the table when it comes to conservation.

So far in 2018, we have conserved 30 percent more land than in our entire 28-year history.  Today, we celebrate having protected and cared for more than 43,000 acres total. Just this month, our 5,000th participant signed up to improve habitat through the Backyard Habitat Certification Program we run in collaboration with the Audubon Society of Portland. We are growing a network of active conservationists, fearless voices, and more and more people are coming out and showing up for Northwest lands, waters, and wildlife.

While at times, it feels we are traveling against tough currents, hard conversations, and difficult questions with no clear answers, it’s important to pause and celebrate the small victories we achieve every day, and the major milestones we reach with each year. Together, we are living the values of our Conservation Agenda and will continue steadfastly toward a shared vision and a better future for all people and wildlife.

Scientists in the region have identified the most important and imperiled places in the Columbia River region stretching from the John Day to the Pacific Ocean in both Oregon and Washington. We’ve done a lot in these threatened areas, but we have a long ways to go. Our agenda calls for everyone, from all walks of life, to come together, give back, and get involved.

I invite you to learn more about our five areas of work and what we’re doing in each below. Take a closer look at the landscapes and some of the people taking action by viewing and sharing our film, One River | Five Voices. And last, become a part of this work by making a gift today.

Current and Upcoming Efforts 

Coast Range and Estuaries

• Conserve old-growth forests in the Willapa Hills
• Reduce erosion impacts from logging roads in the Grays River watershed
• Conserve and restore salmon habitat in the Columbia River Estuary

Willamette Valley and Puget Trough

• Build positive relationships between farmers and conservationists
• Conserve nature close to home in Clark County, WA
• Grow the number of people conserving nature in their own backyard

West Cascades

• Conserve old forests in Skamania County, WA
• Conserve important habitat and forests along the Washougal River
• Prevent development on the south side of Mt St. Helens
• Conserve important land along the East Fork Lewis River

East Cascades

• Grow landowner commitments to conserve critical East Cascades oak habitat
• Conserve 10,000 acres in the Klickitat River Canyon

Columbia Plateau

• Conserve tens of thousands of working forests in the Simcoe Mountains

If you see an opportunity to get involved in any of these areas, please give us a call.

In gratitude,

Glenn Lamb
Executive Director