Build Puget Sound-wide support to prevent conversion of forests, farms, and natural areas and increase funding for conservation incentives. (ID #1)

Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:

• Improve the education and incentives for public and decision-makers on opportunities to direct growth away from ecologically important areas;
• Significantly improve the implementation of the GMA within local jurisdictions land use planning and decisions, and across jurisdictions, to include the protection of natural areas and working lands;
• Incorporate protections into regional infrastructure planning;
• Support permanent protection of high value nearshore habitat;
• Support protections through incentivizing new market demands for growth in city centers with emphasis on public transportation to accommodate growth.

Reduce barriers to infill and redevelopment in high-growth areas. (ID #2)

Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:

• Improve planning and zoning within UGAs that includes protection of existing habitat;
• Improve the wellbeing of people living in high-growth areas by clearly defining needs for and increasing access to amenities, services, green space, and affordable housing;
• Ensure transparent, effective, clear, and consistent implementation of regulations to provide consistency and improved conditions for developers and investors within preferred high-growth areas.

Improve the Growth Management Act and local land use planning to effectively channel growth and prevent conversion of ecologically important lands. (ID #178)  

Key opportunities for 2022-2026 include:

• Integrate climate change mitigation and resilience and salmon restoration goals and strategies into the GMA and local land use plans;
• Incorporate a measurable net ecological gain standard into the GMA and local land use plans and establish methods and tools to ensure accountability for achieving this standard;
• Improve incentives and reduce barriers for channeling growth and development into preferred high-growth areas;
• Ensure tribal sovereignty is recognized in local land use planning and decisions and that tribal nations are adequately consulted and engaged;
• Consider opportunities where multiple-benefit aspects of recovery projects may increase affordable housing options for communities including supporting efforts that move low-income housing stock outside climate-vulnerable areas or reducing the cost of developing green infrastructure that serves vulnerable populations and underserved communities.

We are achieving our recovery goals of increasing functioning habitat through restoration and improving water quality in the Puget Sound region by protecting ecologically important lands, including beaches, estuaries, forests and wetlands, streams, and floodplains, from conversion. Preferred high growth areas are becoming increasingly dense, while urban tree canopy is increased as development is channeled away from ecologically important lands. Residents of UGAs are thriving with equitable access to natural spaces. Working lands are intact and thriving, and water infiltration and holding capacity of upland areas are maintained. Indicators of success include: