Three million people live within an hour or two of the North Cascades. The Wilderness Society values the connection between people and the land. We see a North Cascades landscape where local communities are vibrant and sustainable.
Here are a few community projects we are working on:
Secure Rural Schools
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, also known informally as county payments, might sound wonky, but it is actually an incredibly important resource for our National Forest neighbors. This piece of legislation, threatened with elimination last year, brings millions of dollars into our communities in the North Cascades and supports schools, search and rescue and vital National Forest restoration programs. The Wilderness Society joined with county leaders from Okanogan and Chelan counties and successfully gained passage of a bill renewing county payments for four years. The bill puts more than $2 million in revenue into the counties at a time when they are hard hit by the recession. This is an example of how the North Cascades Initiative works through collaboration with local leaders.
Restoration and Wildfire
Wildfire is a hot button issue in the North Cascades and one community near Leavenworth is working to educate landowners about wildfire and restore the adjacent National Forest. We bring our science and policy expertise to the Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition to help them lessen the risk of wildfire and restore the watershed. The collation is a group of local landowners, residents, public officials and conservation organizations.
The New Resource Economy
Conservation, restoration, recreation and tourism are key elements of the 21st Century economy of the North Cascades. As a member of the North Central Washington Economic Development District and the North Central Washington Resource, Conservation and Development boards we work in many ways to promote the marriage of conservation values and economic development of gateway communities.
