100 Years Forward

Three years ago, the Cascade Land Conservancy and its many partners began discussions with over 3,500 elected officials, scientists, business leaders, loggers, farmers, timber companies, students and private citizens in the King, Kittitas, Pierce and Snohomish county region. In the face of dramatic population growth, we wanted the community's opinion on what our region should look like in 100 years.

The response was overwhelmingly in favor of large-scale conservation of working forests and farms and the preservation of treasured recreation and habitat lands. That response became The Cascade Agenda, which was unveiled in May 2005 (www.cascadeagenda.com).

We believe that preservation of the environment and natural landscapes is essential to creating a high quality of life for our region's residents and simultaneously supporting a robust regional economy.

The Cascade Agenda calls for market-based tools to achieve its goals. Some of these tools are already available and need to be more widely implemented, such as Transfer of Development Rights. Others need to be developed. We continue to lead in developing these innovative new techniques as we work with developers, city and county planners, environmental organizations and community leaders to find market-based solutions that will work.

Impact of The Cascade Agenda

The Cascade Agenda is the most far-reaching conservation effort of our time. Together with our many partners, a strong leadership team and the support of over 1,000 individuals, elected leaders, organizations and businesses, Cascade Land Conservancy will protect land on a scale that our region has never see before. We will leave a better legacy for the next 100 years and beyond.

A New Model for Conservation

The Cascade Agenda will create a new model for conservation across the nation. The Pacific Northwest will always be a region with a thriving economy, vibrant communities and breathtaking landscapes.

We will be the region that looked long and thought broad. We will be the region that got it right. We will be the region that grew with grace.