For two years, I worked as Communications Manager for the Wild Salmon Center, an international organization that supports wild salmon conservation across the Pacific Rim. In its final form, this text was paired with numerous photos and a map for a dynamic four-page program description.
North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership
The North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership unites public and private resources in a voluntary, incentive-based approach to protect the healthiest remaining salmon ecosystems in North America.
The Partnership focuses resources on a network of our most abundant, productive and diverse salmon river ecosystems – America's wild salmon strongholds. It compliments endangered salmon recovery activities by supporting collaborative conservation projects in these healthy strongholds.
While recovery of endangered wild Pacific salmon populations is vital, this recovery approach needs to be supplemented with a stronghold strategy. This strategy conserves the strongest populations of wild salmon to keep them healthy and prevent them from declining.
By working with communities to conserve these key salmon ecosystems, we will ensure these stronghold rivers continue to provide sustainable environmental and economic services for generations to come. These services include clean water, timber, and the fish and wildlife that generate long-term revenue and sustain recreational and commercial fisheries.
The Salmon Stronghold Partnership:
Identifies salmon stronghold basins. The Partnership has developed an innovative, science-based methodology to identify the healthiest North American salmon stronghold river basins.
Supports effective conservation actions. In each stronghold basin, the partners determine which populations of salmon and steelhead are strongest and prioritize the actions necessary to keep these populations healthy.
Provides resources and support for local communities. The Partnership leverages public and private funding resources and taps into the expertise of numerous state and federal land agency experts and scientists to assist in conservation efforts.
Working with Communities
Local community involvement is essential to long-term salmon conservation and river restoration efforts. The North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership is engaging local communities in creating sustainable incentive-based conservation approaches that include all stakeholders.
The Partnership enhances coordination among local communities, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribes, business interests and private landowners. The Partnership is committed to helping local communities accomplish salmon conservation goals while sustaining their livelihoods and economies.
The Partnership coordinates with multiple agencies and land managers to accelerate complex conservation actions across federal, state, tribal, and private lands. The Partnership also provides resources and expertise in prioritizing and implementing high-value conservation activities in stronghold basins.
Building the Partnership
As an open and inclusive initiative, the North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership invites active participation by all who share an interest in sustaining healthy runs of salmon and steelhead in stronghold, basins. Any group, organization, tribe, entity or individual citizen is invited to join.
To get involved or learn more about the North American Salmon Stronghold Partnership, please contact the Wild Salmon Center:
Wild Salmon Center
721 NW 9th Ave., Suite 300
Portland OR 97209
(503) 222-1804