Leading a nationwide trend in community concern for habitat loss, the community of Kirkland will be officially designated a Community Wildlife Habitat, the thirty-fourth in the country and the sixth in Washington to receive this honor.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) commends the dedicated residents of Kirkland and the Community Wildlife Habitat team for their wildlife conservation efforts and for coming together for a common purpose – to create a community where people and wildlife can flourish. At a time when communities are faced with the problems of losing habitat to development, Kirkland stands out as a model for other communities to emulate. The knowledge and inspiration that this project has generated will lead Kirkland residents and visitors to take better care of their natural world.
Kirkland is known for its green spaces, parks and waterfront. The City is committed to preserving, protecting and sustaining its natural resources; effective natural resource management recognizes the complex interdependencies of natural systems and the fact that human impact to one natural system affects the others as well. In a 2008 citizen survey, Kirkland residents emphasized that they value Kirkland’s location, physical setting and quality of life. Over 230 backyards, seven parks and businesses, and eight schools have been certified as Certified Wildlife Habitat™ sites or as Wildlife Sanctuaries through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat program. Numerous community habitat restoration projects, educational events, and booth displays have helped to educate Kirkland residents about the importance of preserving wildlife habitat.
The Community Wildlife Habitat project is part of NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program. These projects benefit the entire community of plants, wildlife, and people through the creation of sustainable landscapes that require little or no pesticides, fertilizers, and excess watering. These landscapes help keep water and air resources clean. They are healthier for people and the environment, and are less resource-dependent than conventional landscapes. Habitat landscapes can serve to beautify our urban areas and give residents pride in their neighborhoods. A Community Wildlife Habitat project multiplies this positive effect by creating multiple habitat areas in backyards, schoolyards, corporate properties, community gardens, parkland and other spaces.
Since 1973, NWF has provided millions of people with the basic guidelines for making their landscapes more wildlife-friendly. Kirkland is the 34th community in the nation, the sixth in Washington State, and the first on the Eastside to be recognized with Community Wildlife Habitat certification. The other certified communities in Washington are Tukwila, Camano Island, Lake Forest Park, Fidalgo Island and Alki. There are over 124,000 certified habitats nationwide, 5,396 in Washington, and 1,810 in King County.
