Conservation
The north and east portions of the Forest are exceptionally rugged and scenic. In 1968 part of the Forest was transferred to the National Park Service as the North Cascades National Park. A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the Forest was 643,500 acres (260,400 ha). In addition, Congressional action since 1964 has established the following wilderness areas:
- Alpine Lakes Wilderness (mostly in Wenatchee NF)
- Boulder River Wilderness
- Clearwater Wilderness
- Glacier Peak Wilderness (mostly in Wenatchee NF)
- Henry M. Jackson Wilderness (partly in Wenatchee NF)
- Mount Baker Wilderness
- Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness
- Norse Peak Wilderness
- Pasayten Wilderness (mostly in Okanogan NF)
- Wild Sky Wilderness
These pristine areas provide clean water, solitude, and permanent protection to old-growth forests across 42% of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Congress also established the Skagit Wild and Scenic River system in 1978. Its 125 miles (201 km) of river on the Skagit, Cascade, Sauk, and Suiattle Rivers provide important wildlife habitat and recreation. The Skagit River System is home to one of the largest winter populations of Bald Eagles in the United States.
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest encompasses much of the North Cascades Ecoregion, a Level III North American Ecoregion. It includes the following level IV ecoregions:
- Western Hemlock Ecoregion
- Silver Fir Ecoregion
- Subalpine Mountain Hemlock Ecoregion
- Alpine Ecoregion
Read more about this topic: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Famous quotes containing the word conservation:
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (1862–1932)
“The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)