When I first considered moving to San Juan County over a decade ago, the first thing I did was go to every bit of public and protected land in the county that I could find. Along with a good library, the most important feature of anywhere I would choose to live is ecological health. Like everywhere else in Washington, San Juan County has severe ecological problems: habitat loss, over-development, pollution, extirpated and extinct or almost extinct wildlife and plants, invasive species, fresh water depletion, and overall degradation of the environment.

One of the bright spots here in the county, ecologically speaking, is the amazing work that organizations like the Land Bank do to try to protect habitat and species by protecting the land. Without flourishing ecosystems, no one, human or any other species, can survive and thrive. Habitat is critical for wildlife, and access to nature is vital for human quality of life and mind.

The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is up for renewal in 2026. I am writing to express my full support for the Land Bank renewal and to urge everyone in the county to vote yes this November to renew the Land Bank. For more information, visit renewourlandbank.com.

Elisabeth Roboson

Lopez Island