The Washington Natural Areas Program, part of the
Washington Department of Natural Resources
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over of forest, range, agricultural, and commercial lands in the U.S. state of Washington. The DNR also manages of aquatic areas which include shorelines, tidelands, lands un ...
, manages dozens of natural areas owned by the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
of
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
. These areas have received funding through the state's general fund since the
Washington State Legislature enacted the Natural Areas Preserve Act in 1972.
As of May 2022, there are 58 Natural Area Preserves
and 39 Natural Resources Conservation Areas.
The program's goals are to protect rare and outstanding examples of Washington's widely varied
ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...
s, maintain the state's
biological diversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity'') ...
, support education and
scientific research
The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science since at least the 17th century (with notable practitioners in previous centuries; see the article history of scientific m ...
, and provide public opportunities for low-impact recreation.
See also
*
List of Washington Natural Area Preserves
This is a list of Natural Area Preserves (NAPs), part of the Washington Natural Areas Program managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Notes
Sources
*
*
{{Protected Areas of Washington
Washington Natural Areas Program, * ...
*
List of Washington Natural Resources Conservation Areas
This is a list of Natural Resources Conservation Areas (NRCAs), part of the Washington Natural Areas Program managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Clallam County
* Shipwreck Point NRCA: This site includes one of the last, easil ...
References
External links
DNR Natural Areas Page
{{Protected Areas of Washington
1972 establishments in Washington (state)