Resources and Links
Conservation Organizations and Programs
Conservation organizations provide information and programs that are critical to effective conservation in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This alphabetical listing shows a sampling of the diverse organizations supporting conservation in the region.
Census of Marine Life
The Census of Marine Life is a global network of researchers in more than 80 nations engaged in a 10-year scientific initiative to assess and document the diversity, distribution, and abundance of life in the oceans.
The world’s first comprehensive Census of Marine Life—past, present, and future—will be released in 2010 as an online encyclopedia with a web page for each species.
Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health
The Center for Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health develops, consolidates, and disseminates information and programs focused on invasive species. Strategies include technology, training, applied research, and public awareness at the state, regional, national, and international levels.
Center for Whale Research
Annual photos are used to track the Southern Resident Orca population that frequents the inland waters of Washington and southern British Columbia. Detailed information on population status and trends has supported management decisions, including listing of the population as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Canada Species At Risk Act.
Conservation Registry
The Conservation Registry is a user-friendly website that allows users to enter, search, map, and track conservation projects. The registry allows users to locate nearby projects, determine the effectiveness of our collective conservation efforts, and identify high priority opportunities for conservation. The registry gathers project data from multiple public and private sources.
E-Flora and E-Fauna of British Columbia
The E-Flora and E-Fauna atlases provide detailed information on British Columbia’s plant and wildlife species. The atlases include information and maps of native and non-native species, conservation status, and photo libraries. Species distribution maps are critical for predicting how climate change will affect species, and animated maps show the spread of species over time.
Encyclopedia of Life
The Encyclopedia of Life is an ambitious project to create a web page for each of the Earth’s 1.8 million known species. Each species’ web page will link to a vast array of knowledge, providing information for the public and scientists to support research, conservation, and education.
LandScope America
LandScope America, a collaborative project of NatureServe and the National Geographic Society, is a new online resource for the land-protection community and the public. By bringing together maps, data, photos, and stories about America’s natural places and open spaces, LandScope informs and inspires conservation of our lands and waters.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy protects ecologically important lands and waters, guided by a framework called Conservation by Design. This systematic approach determines where to work, what to conserve, and what strategies to use for effective conservation. Conservation by Design enables the Conservancy to preserve healthy ecosystems that support people and host the diversity of life on Earth.
NatureServe
NatureServe is the leading source for objective scientific information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems across the Americas. NatureServe develops information products, data management tools, and conservation services to help conservation groups, government agencies, academia, and the public make informed decisions about managing our natural resources.
Oregon Explorer
The Oregon Explorer is a state-of-the-art online natural resources digital library that accesses and integrates data from state and federal agencies, local governments, universities, conservation organizations, and citizens. The Oregon Explorer supports informed decisions and actions about Oregon’s natural resources and environment. Online information portals include:
- Land Use Explorer
- Oregon Imagery Explorer
- Oregon Wildlife Explorer
- Regional Explorers (North Coast, Umpqua Basin, Willamette)
- Rural Communities Explorer
- Wildlife Risk Explorer
Sightline
Sightline is the Pacific Northwest’s sustainability think tank, providing research and tools to help create a healthy, lasting prosperity in the region. Sightline has a wealth of information related to wildlife, growth, energy, and climate change for the Pacific Northwest. The site features animated maps of current and former ranges for species such as wolves, grizzly bears, and caribou. Other resources rank cities based on transportation emissions and smart growth.
Washington Biodiversity Council
The Washington Biodiversity Council is working to sustain and promote biodiversity as the full range of life in all its forms, explain its vital importance in Washington’s economy and quality of life, and encourage citizens as stewards of our natural heritage for future generations.
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The Xerces Society conserves invertebrates and their habitat by harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement programs, including:
Pollinator conservation, including agricultural pollinators- Endangered species
- Aquatic invertebrates
- Butterfly conservation
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