Conservation Northwest

NWEA Timeline 1990, issues a special report on the Greater North Cascades Ecosystem 1990, appeals Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Plan for its failure to protect old growth and roadless areas 1990, hosts an "Old Forests and New Forestry" seminar featuring forest ecologist Jerry Franklin 1990, with others petitions to list fisher as an endangered species in the Northwest 1991, sponsors "Of Wolves and Washington," a public symposium on wolf recovery 1991, begins the listing process to achieve Endangered Species Act protection for the Canada lynx 1991, spearheads the Wild Salmon and Trout Alliance, a conservation/sportsfishing coalition working to protect wild salmonid runs and their habitats 1991, starts work to protect the Loomis State Forest from logging 1992, launches a regional biodiversity initiative for the transborder Columbia Mountain ecosystem; GEA's mission is amended to "protecting the wildness and diversity of transboundary areas of British Columbia and the Northwest states" 1993, Loomis Forest is added to the North Cascades Grizzly Recovery Area in the federal Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan 1993, together with the Cascades International Alliance, proposes a North Cascades International Park 1993, with others organizes an Ancient Forest Celebration in Portland on the eve of President Clinton's Forest Summit, attracting 70,000 people to hear Carole King, Neil Young, David Crosby, and others 1993, recruits a Russian Far East Representative to advocate for boreal conifer and birch forests and wildlife 1994, releases a conservation plan for the Canadian portion of the Columbia Mountains Ecosystem 1994, puts forth its own grizzly bear recovery program to encourage the government to raise its sights for recovery continued page 12 10 to the organization's bold and visionary approach to saving large landscapes, and they respected NWEA's willingness to take risks and do the unthinkable at times. One of its greatest accomplishments—a made-for-Hollywood David-andGoliath tale—was of course protecting 25,000 acres in Washington's Loomis State Forest in 1999. I remember well the NWEA board meeting at which the decision was made to raise an astronomical sum of money—something like $15 million. I recall thinking that Mitch and the board must be delusional—NWEA had never raised more than $100,000 from donors, and here we were contemplating a sum 150 times that amount. But raise it NWEA did. As it turned out, passion, sincerity, and commitment to saving this last best habitat for lynx in the lower 48 states struck a deep chord in the hearts of thousands of Washingtonians. People discovered that together they could accomplish something much bigger than themselves; something in which they could take pride—a legendary legacy for both wildlife and people. I have no doubt that NWEA will continue to shape the history of wildlands protection in the Pacific Northwest. Why? Because the organization has discovered that its people—rich, poor, rural, urban, single, or married—truly make the difference. Yes, NWEA's staff works hard, and yes, the board is diligent in discharging its responsibilities; but a handful of people is not enough to make what I will call "landscape history." Frontline folks can only flex their muscles if there is support and dedication from a supporting cast of thousands. So let's celebrate NWEA's many successes during the course of its brief 15 year history, never forgetting that members' contributions and their willingness to stand firm in the face of sometimes daunting odds made it all possible. First Meeting Mitch Mark Skatrud, current board president, has been with NWEA since 1991. He is a wildlife tracker and carpenter by profession. Mark is leaving later this summer to live in New Zealand; he will be sorely missed. In spring of 1991 I had been invited to the local food co-op in Tonasket for a gathering of the few forest activists in the north Okanogan. Being fairly new to the forest activist scene, I felt out of place among the half dozen or so older, seasoned activists gathered to listen to someone who had come over from Bellingham to meet us. I guess I had gone more for the camaraderie and support so lacking among forest activists widely scattered across the largest county in the state. A bright young man, full of enthusiasm and vision, brightened up the dark basement of the co-op that day. He talked about grizzly bears and the need to protect wide expanses of wildlands. He had a vision for the North Cascades from I-90 into Canada that all of us at that meeting agreed with strongly, though none of us alone had either the organizational skills or the commitment to quite see how to get there. Mitch Friedman had both the vision and the ability. Mitch, still in his mid-20s, came across to me as a person born to lead and support those of us on the dry side of the Cascades who were often forgotten by westside conservation organizations. He included us in this vision of a "greater ecosystem." Mitch was offering us help, as well as asking for help. From this meeting, Mitch and I started the collaboration that led to our writing the first petitions to list the Canada lynx in our state and under the Endangered Species Act. The lynx was listed as endangered in 2001. Thus started the long relationship between Friends of Loomis Forest and Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, and between two good friends and colleagues. Northwest Ecosystem Alliance www.ecosystem.org NWEA archives 15 years of Northwest Ecosystem Alliance

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