In rescinding the Roadless Rule, the USDA will shatter habitats and upend decades of conservation gains

In rescinding the Roadless Rule, the USDA will shatter habitats and upend decades of conservation gains

By Dave Werntz, Science and Conservation Sr. Director For nearly a quarter of a century, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly referred to as the Roadless Rule, has been a foundational component of American conservation policy. It protects habitat for wildlife, preserves carbon-storing forests in the face of climate change, and offers solitude and clean … Continued

Bringing Bear Awareness to North Cascades Classrooms

Conservation Northwest teams up with WDFW to help students safely coexist with black and grizzly bears  By Kurt Hellmann, Wildlife-Recreation Coexistence Program Manager & Alycia Scheidel, Wildlife-Recreation Specialist “Who here has seen a bear?”  Nearly every hand shot up. Dozens of middle schoolers wriggled in their seats, eager to share their encounters.  “In the woods!”  … Continued

The Freedom to Move: Why Wildlife Crossings on I-5 Matter

By Brian Stewart, Cascades to Olympics Program Manager When the world changes, survival depends on more than just resilience—for people and wildlife, it means having the freedom to move. Movement has always been a vital part of adaptation, allowing species to leave behind harsh or unlivable conditions in search of better ones. Throughout history, this … Continued

A Compounding Crisis in the Central Cascades

The holistic impact of budget cuts, staff reductions, and diminished morale will deteriorate our shared resources BY LAUREL BAUM, CENTRAL CASCADES WATERSHED RESTORATION MANAGER Federal mass firings are just the beginning…  If you’ve been following the news and updates of the Federal workforce, you may know some of the following: good, hard-working, dedicated, civil servants … Continued

The Personal and The Personnel of Public Lands

Cutting the federal government has always meant cutting our communities By Matt Danielson, Okanogan Forest Sr. Coordinator I used to work for the Forest Service in Okanogan County. It was 2014, and the economy was just starting to show positive signs of recovery from the Great Recession. I was concerned about my ability to get … Continued

The Truth About Public Lands, Federal Agencies, and Why They Matter

Beyond the Headlines: Why Federal stewardship is critical for our collective well-being Federal actions are threatening the stability of our economy, environment, and essential public services. Public lands and the agencies that manage them are not just recreational spaces or bureaucratic institutions- they are the foundation of thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable industries. When … Continued

Implications for Conservation Amidst Federal Freefall

As society grapples with a rapidly changing sociopolitical landscape, what does that mean for our natural world? Across Conservation Northwest, certain words appear over and over in recent emails—layoffs, reductions in force, chaos, uncertainty. Thus far in 2025, we are witnessing unprecedented disruptions to our mission and communities: deep staffing cuts across public land agencies, … Continued

Snoqualimie Pass land use rezone threatenening critical wildlife corridors

By Jen Syrowitz, Sr. Manager, Conservation Programs   Last week, on behalf of Conservation Northwest, I testified at a Kittitas County Planning Commission meeting to oppose a land use rezone on 150 acres that would increase already unsustainable recreation effects in a critical wildlife corridor. Decades of landscape-scale watershed restoration and animal crossing investments have … Continued