What We Do

WLT PRESERVES intact, functioning ecosystems while we still have them.

WLT works with willing landowners who wish to preserve natural features that provide critical habitat for native plants and animals.  While some preserved properties are open for passive recreational use, most WLT-preserved acreage is set aside as wildlife sanctuary.

• 5,000 acres of parkland, including 35 miles of trails 
• 32 miles of marine and freshwater shoreline 

WLT PROTECTS vulnerable working lands that benefit humans as well as wildlife. 

Farms and forest lands provide our communities with quality food, water and timber products. Watershed properties are protected to ensure a safe and adequate supply of drinking water for people, as well as quality waterways needed for healthy fisheries.

• 1,000 acres of agricultural, forestry and other working lands
• 1,500 acres in the Lake Whatcom Watershed 

WLT RESTORES degraded lands, reestablishing functional habitats for diverse species.  

With the help of multiple partners, WLT replaces invasive weeds with native plants that provide food and shelter for mammals, birds and reptiles. Where streams have been diverted into uniform ditches, WLT works to return a natural meander to the stream that promotes longevity and reproductive success for fish and amphibians. We’ve even acquired clear-cut tracts and begun reestablishing the natural forest and vegetation. Restored tracts create vital links between preserves, creating unbroken corridors where wildlife can thrive.

•  20+ miles of waterways under active restoration
• 20+ work parties each year, staffed by volunteers, equipped by conservation partners, funded by grants and greatly-appreciated private donors