King County Executive Dow Constantine is bringing together a wide range of experts to create a long-term strategy for protecting the most valuable remaining farms, forests, habitats and other green spaces from development as the region’s population continues to rise.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the determination to protect our region\u2019s last, best open spaces that originally drew me to public life,\u201d said Constantine in a county media release. \u201cWe\u2019ve saved unprotected forest land, working farms and popular trail corridors throughout the region. With the help of talented experts representing the public and private sectors, we will set a course to finish the job.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
King County has made significant progress over the past three decades conserving open spaces, preserving more than 200,000 acres of working forests and protecting about 15,000 acres of farmland.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
But surveys of current development patterns show important gaps in conservation of these valuable lands. For example, less than one-third of land in Agricultural Production Districts is protected from development, and wooded acreage along shorelines and river corridors remains subject to development in many areas of the county.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The land conservation and preservation work plan that Constantine sent to the King County Council in March includes proposals for how the county could help preserve natural lands, farms, forests, river corridors and regional trails corridors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n