Our Strategies: Creating a More Resilient Future

We envision an equitable and resilient future for communities, lands and waters in the Pacific Northwest and behond.

We have an opportunity in Washington to make lasting, positive impacts for people and nature. Creativity, collaboration and science are at the heart of our efforts to tackle the most pressing issues of our time: the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

These strategic priorities are the objectives The Nature Conservancy in Washington hopes to achieve through our strategic framework. 

Greenhouse Gas Sequestration: We restore and protect nature's power to store carbon, working with broad coalitions and diverse stakeholders to advance our collective goal of reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to lessen the impacts of climate change.

Pollution and Emission Reduction: We advance policies and practices, including clean energy, that reduce the flow of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere to mitigate climate change.

Community and Ecological Stewardship: We care for lands and waters in order to ensure equitable access for all, and to make the greatest impact on the climate and biodiversity crises.

Healthy and Resilient Forests and Rivers: We use ecological approaches to strengthen forests and rivers to increase carbon storage, build resilience to wildfires and support habitats and communities.

Healthy Waters for People & Salmon: Support communities, people and wildlife, including salmon, through healthy and resilient coastal, marine and freshwater systems. 

These strategies outline our hands-on interventions to address and tackle our strategic priorities. Strategies may be used to address multiple strategic priorities. 

Climate Policy Development and Implementation

• Ensure strong state­level implementation of climate policy & support state-wide NCS policy 
• Enable clean energy deployment at least­conflict sites 
• Promote equitable decision making in climate policy/ amplifying over­burdened community
• Conduct climate smart agriculture feasibility assessment

Ecological Forest Management

• Leverage TNC lands and waters for forest management, restoration and science 
• Implement NCS on managed timberlands across Washington and Emerald Edge 
• Advance equitable urban forestry 
• Increase prescribed fire project implementation 
• Broaden prescribed fire workforce 

Equitable Public Funding Access 

• Support equitable delivery of public funding and technical assistance
• Support strategy and project development with partners 
• Support implementation of partner-led equitable projects 

Supporting Indigenous Rights and Connections to Lands and Waters 

• We work to be in right relations with Indigenous Peoples; striving to be a trusted partner, amplifying Indigenous leadership and working where we are invited, needed and welcomed 
• We actively support Indigenous Peoples in reacquiring and accessing lands and waters, including those currently held by TNC in Washington 
• We collaborate with Indigenous Peoples to center their voices, choices and actions to reconnect, restore and manage lands and waters 
• We support Tribal fisheries and restorative aquaculture opportunities in service to Indigenous communities 

Caring for The Nature Conservancy in Washington's Lands and Waters 

• Maintain and improve practices core to effective stewardship 
• Center equity on TNC lands 
• Portfolio optimization 

Organizational Excellence Strategies 

For us to be effective in making the impact towards our vision, we must also implement structures, systems and practices that support our people, partners and community, and stay true to our values and priorities. 

• Invest in Deeper Relationship Building 
• Advance the Success and Support for Staff of Color 
• Improve Staff Well-being and Workload Management 
• Recruit, Retain and Promote our Workforce 
• Living Our Values through Transformative, Sustainable and High-Quality Work
• Living Our Values through Cross-Team, Cross-Business Unit and Cross-Boundary Collaboration 
• Living Our Values by Growing our Internal and External Capacity to Partner 
• Living Our Values by Being 
• Accountable to Our Commitments