The Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance And Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership Are Proud To Announce The Release Of “Prairie, Oaks, And People - An Investment Strategy.” (Photo) -03/10/25
Portland, OR - Today, the Pacific Northwest Oak Alliance and Cascadia Prairie-Oak Partnership announced the release of “Prairie, Oaks, and People, an investment strategy.” This plan outlines a ready-to-implement five-year strategy that identifies over $300 million in shovel-ready projects led by robust regional partnerships. Tribes, conservation groups, private landowners, and government agencies have joined in a nonpartisan commitment to protect the prairie-oak ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. This collaborative approach unites rural and urban communities, balances conservation and economic goals, and delivers tangible benefits across the region.
The oak and prairie ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse, culturally important, and heat and drought-tolerant habitats in the Pacific Northwest. It also happens to be where the majority of our human population lives, farms and recreates. As a result, these are some of the most imperiled habitats, making them a top regional priority for conservation.
The authors of this plan represent nine regional partnerships across the Pacific Northwest, all working to advance prairie-oak conservation through land protection and restoration, advocacy, species recovery, and community engagement. A total of 41 organizations participated in the development of this plan, with meaningful contributions from Tribes, land trusts, state agencies, and other organizations, including nonprofits, conservation districts, and university staff.
The goal of this strategic plan is the protection and restoration of healthy oak and prairie ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest so that their important biological, cultural, and economic values are sustained over the long term. The plan identifies priority areas for investment, the strategic use of funding to achieve critical outcomes, and key sources of funding support. The plan highlights the cultural significance of prairie-oak landscapes and the importance of working lands and private landowners, elevates tribal priorities, and calls attention to the benefits of collective action and leveraging funding support. It also includes cost estimates for protection, restoration, species recovery, and further development of organizational capacity to support long-term conservation efforts.
The plan’s authors identified three primary objectives to help achieve the goal of the plan:
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In the next five years, 110,000 acres of at-risk oak and prairie habitat will be protected and restored.
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In the next ten years, delist five imperiled species and create the conditions for their long-term conservation.
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Determine and utilize the most effective channels for communicating, to the broadest possible audience, the importance of prairie-oak conservation to help ensure the preservation of this vital ecosystem.
"Prairie, Oaks, and People, an Investment Strategy” is available for viewing and download at https://oakalliance.org/investment-strategy/
One or more of the strategic plan’s authors are available to answer questions and provide further information.
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Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture
Pacific Birds is one of 25 migratory bird joint ventures, which are regional partnerships that conserve habitats for the benefit of birds, biodiversity, and people. Pacific Birds works from Alaska to Northern California and across the Pacific Islands. Our mission is to create the ideal environment for bird habitat conservation through promoting collaboration, advancing knowledge and planning, building capacity, and informing and inspiring. For more information, visit pacificbirds.org.
Klamath Bird Observatory
The Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) is a non-profit organization that advances bird and habitat conservation through science, education, and partnerships. Working in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the ranges of migratory birds, KBO emphasizes high-caliber science and the role of birds as indicators to inform and improve natural resource management. KBO also nurtures an environmental ethic through community outreach and education.
Oregon Wildlife Foundation
Oregon Wildlife Foundation is an apolitical operating charitable foundation dedicated to increasing private and public funding support for wildlife conservation projects in Oregon. Since 1981, OWF has directed tens of millions of dollars in private and public support to a broad range of projects throughout Oregon. For more information visit myowf.org.
