Public lands serve so many purposes, including benefits to wildlife, forest health, water quality, and, you guessed it, to people and public health. As much as public lands provide, these areas require long-term care and protection. With over 100,000 acres of public lands in the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, we have a lot of responsibility, and beautiful places to steward.
Some good news? We can participate in this individual type of stewardship at any time. This includes picking up trash, recreating responsibly, and helping to make the outdoors a welcoming place for everyone.
If you are interested in cleaning up public lands while you are out, please use these resources to do so safely!
Wondering what else you can do while out on a trail? The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has some great tips in this video: 4 Ways to Take a Hike and Help Your Favorite Trail
You may also wish to get involved with one of these organizations doing great work: