Greetings on the Solstice

By Mitch Friedman, Executive Director

Ancient trees frame soaring glacier-capped peaks. Trout and salmon swim in clean waters, and native predators like lynx, wolves and bears roam the Northwest landscape.

These are the lands and wildlife that you connect, protect and restore when you support Conservation Northwest.

Please consider making a year-end gift today.

As fresh snow falls softly in the Cascades and 2015 comes to a close, I reflect upon what you have helped us accomplish this year. Here are just a few of many achievements:

Connect

• Wildlife crossing success! After years of our tireless advocacy and hard work, ground has been broken on the first wildlife bridge to span Interstate 90 as it crosses the Cascades;
• Our snow-tracking and remote camera wildlife monitoring laid groundwork for determining the wildlife overpass location, and our communications team built popular and political support for allowing animals once again to safely travel up and down the Cascades.

Protect

• Resilient forests and fire-safe communities were strengthened this year by Conservation Northwest. We’ve fought harmful timber sales, advocated for wilderness areas and a new Canadian national park, and worked closely with Congress to craft legislation supporting climate-resilient forests and smart wildfire management.

Restore

• Fishers have returned to the Cascades! After being trapped out from our region decades ago, with our help wild fishers were reintroduced just days ago;
• Thanks in part to our advocacy and leadership, public comments supporting North Cascades grizzly bear restoration outnumbered comments in opposition by over five to one! We’re thrilled by this swelling of public support for the return of the great bear to it’s home in the North Cascades.
• Wolves have returned to Washington. And they will more easily recover through Conservation Northwest’s demonstration that wolves, cattle and people can coexist. Our Range Rider Pilot Project has for the fourth year successfully reduced conflict on several Washington ranches.

As a member of the Conservation Northwest family, you can be proud of our 2015 achievements.

These are exciting outcomes. And we’re grateful for your commitment, which enables us to preserve and protect the places we love. But your support is still needed to ensure a healthy, wild Northwest. Please make a year-end gift today to fuel this critical work in the coming year.

Happy Solstice,

 

 

Mitch Friedman, Executive Director

P.S. Your gift this month will make all the difference for wildlife and the wild places you cherish. Thank you for giving generously so we may continue to be your voice for the wild in 2016!