AN
ACT Relating to biodiversity conservation; and creating new sections.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. The
legislature finds that the state of Washington possesses a diversity of plants
and animals in a diverse array of ecologically distinct regions. This
biological diversity and its role in forming the diverse landscapes of the
state are an important part of the high quality of life shared by all of the
state's citizens and its visitors. By better understanding the variety and
status of living organisms and the communities and ecosystems in which they
occur, conservation efforts can be more effective in ensuring that this wealth
of biological diversity is enjoyed by current and future generations.
The
legislature further finds that extensive scientific work has been completed by
both public and private entities to map the state's ecoregions and address ecoregional
planning issues, by academic institutions, by state agencies such as the
departments of natural resources and fish and wildlife, and by nongovernmental
organizations such as the nature conservancy. However, these existing
information sources are not complete, and this information may not be
sufficiently coordinated or accessible and useful to the public or
policymakers. Similarly, there is no single entity responsible for development
and implementation of a coordinated state strategy to conserve remaining
functioning ecosystems and restore habitats needed to maintain Washington's
biodiversity. There should be a comprehensive review to identify the state's
needs for biodiversity data and conservation, and to coordinate development,
dissemination, and use of existing information.
There
is also a need to strengthen the state's nonregulatory approaches to
biodiversity conservation, including incentives for voluntary conservation
efforts by private landowners. Incentives shall be a major element of the
state's overall biodiversity conservation strategy.
The
legislature further finds that resource management on a single-species or
single-resource basis has proven to be costly, acrimonious, and ultimately
ineffective at either preserving the state's biodiversity or allowing
reasonable economic development.
Therefore,
the purpose of this act is to create a temporary committee to develop
recommendations to the governor and the legislature to establish the framework
for the development and implementation of a statewide biodiversity conservation
strategy, to replace existing single-species or single-resource protection
programs.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)
The interagency committee for outdoor recreation is authorized to grant up to
forty-five thousand dollars, on a competitive basis, to conduct the review of
biodiversity programs as described in this section.
(2)
The successful grantee must convene and facilitate a biodiversity conservation
committee that will review existing biodiversity mapping and research programs
in Washington conducted by state and federal agencies, nongovernmental
organizations, and other entities, as well as reviewing programs and projects
in other states.
(3)
The biodiversity conservation committee must develop recommendations for a
state biodiversity strategy that includes:
(a)
Creation and composition of a standing public/private council to oversee
design, development, and implementation of the strategy;
(b)
Identification of a lead agency to support and facilitate development and
implementation of a state biodiversity conservation plan;
(c)
Methods to improve state agency and nongovernmental organization coordination
and cooperation;
(d)
Consistent definitions of the state's ecoregions and an integrated system of
data management and mapping of the state's biodiversity;
(e)
A review of Oregon's forest sustainability project and incorporation of key
processes and criteria that are applicable in Washington;
(f)
The state role for housing and administering biodiversity data and making the
data accessible to local governments and others;
(g)
A public education and outreach component that includes the production of a
visual overview of Washington's ecoregions;
(h)
Methods to ensure continuing stakeholder involvement;
(i)
Methods to provide technical assistance to support state and local government
land management;
(j)
Identification of the time frames and funding needed to implement the strategy;
(k)
Identification and development of nonregulatory methods to preserve
biodiversity, including incentives to conserve land with important biodiversity
values. These methods shall focus on approaches such as landowner incentives
and acquisition of conservation easements from willing landowners;
(l)
Recognition of the forests and fish program and other public‑private
efforts to identify and protect important fish and wildlife habitat;
(m)
Development of consistent, workable definitions for key terms that are
currently undefined in this act, including the terms "biodiversity"
and "ecosystem"; and
(n)
Review state policies and legal mechanisms that may affect biodiversity.
(4)
The purpose of the state biodiversity strategy is to develop and suggest
implementation recommendations for an ongoing biodiversity conservation
strategy to maintain Washington's biodiversity in perpetuity, within the
context of human activities on the landscape, to prevent additional species
from being listed as endangered or threatened, and to create a more predictable
environment in which to conduct economic activities.
(5)
In carrying out the duties assigned in this section, the biodiversity
conservation committee must recognize existing conservation commitments,
including approved habitat conservation plans and other similar methods
initiated by the legislature or a regulatory board, and focus on addressing
conservation needs that have not already been addressed.
(6)
The successful grantee must invite representatives of the following groups to
participate on the biodiversity conservation committee:
(a)
State agencies, including the departments of fish and wildlife, natural
resources, and ecology, the Puget Sound action team, and the state salmon
recovery office;
(b)
Federal land management and natural resource agencies;
(c)
Local governments;
(d)
Tribes;
(e)
Property owners, including forestry and agriculture;
(f)
Business, including land development;
(g)
Academia and research institutions; and
(h)
Conservation nongovernmental organizations.
(7)
The biodiversity conservation committee must choose a chair from among its
members and adopt operating procedures.
(8)
The grant agreement must be conditioned to require that at least an amount of
funding equal to the state grant be applied to the project from nonstate
sources.
(9)
The grantee must provide a final report describing its review and
recommendations to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the
senate and the house of representatives by October 1, 2003.
