News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 1, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Signs Executive Order Establishing Washington Biodiversity Council

Gov. Gary Locke today signed an executive order to establish the Washington Biodiversity Council. The council will develop a first-ever comprehensive state strategy to protect Washington’s biological heritage.

Washington is one of the most biologically rich states in the country. It is the permanent or temporary home to 140 mammal species, 470 freshwater and saltwater fish species, 341 species of birds, 150 other vertebrate species, 3,100 vascular plant species and more than 20,000 invertebrate species. The state contains most of the major ecosystems found in the Western U.S.

“We risk losing much of this biological heritage unless we design a strategy now for its protection, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come,” Locke said. “If we don't step up, we will also face more and more endangered species listings and more economic and social disruption. Doing nothing is not an option.”

The council will consist of 23 members who represent a broad cross section of the state, including agriculture, ranching, forestry, business, conservation organizations, and local and tribal governments. The governor directed that the Washington Biodiversity Council coordinate the development of the comprehensive biodiversity strategy with the work of the Governor’s Sustainable Washington Advisory Panel.

The executive order also directs the council to perform several additional tasks, including the design of a stewardship incentive program that is based on a voluntary, non-regulatory approach, and the development of a strong public education program. The council is to issue a report and its recommendations to the governor and Legislature by Dec. 31, 2007.

“Natural areas, healthy forests, and clean waterways that we manage are important parts of Washington's biodiversity,” said Doug Sutherland, state commissioner of public lands. “We are excited about working with the governor on this project that protects Washington’s environment and economic health.”

Jeff Koenings, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said, “We’re extremely pleased that the governor recognizes the need for concerted action to protect our state’s rich biological heritage. The pressures on our native plant and wildlife species are enormous, and can only be adequately addressed through the kind of comprehensive strategy proposed by the governor for the Biodiversity Council.”

Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, said, “The council will help give land owners the tools they need to make environmentally sensitive decisions, and give environmentalists and state agencies the tools they need to protect animal habitat where there are the best opportunities for success. Knowledge is power, and the council will give us the knowledge to understand the diverse habitats in our state and the plant and animal species that live there.”

David Weekes, state director of the Nature Conservancy of Washington, said, “The creation of this council marks an important milestone in the protection of our state’s rich natural heritage. I believe it could usher in a new era of stewardship and collaboration — work that will enable all of us to target resources more effectively and help to ensure our state’s tapestry of life remains vibrant for generations to come.”

Jacobsen sponsored a bill during the 2002 legislative session that led to the creation of a temporary committee in 2002 to assess the state’s current efforts at biodiversity protection, the non-regulatory approaches that could be used to strengthen these efforts, and ways to make biodiversity information more accessible to a wide range of partners.

Last fall, the committee issued the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Report. A key recommendation in the report was the creation of a state biodiversity council through an executive order.

The full report is available at the Office of the Interagency Committee.
Related Links:
- Interagency Committee


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