Zoo awards $25,000 in grants for Oregon conservation

Funding will support beavers, salmon, turtles and other NW wildlife

Beavers, salmon, turtles and people got some much-needed help this week as the Oregon Zoo Foundation and Oregon Zoo awarded $25,000 to support conservation efforts through the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund.

“Our state is home to an amazing diversity of wildlife and habitats, and the ecological, economic and health benefits they provide are immeasurable,” said Heidi Rahn, Oregon Zoo director. “Our partners are doing important work, and by taking action together for wildlife, we hope to both advance conservation and create opportunities for all Oregonians to tap into the restorative power of nature.”

Grants were awarded to the following projects and organizations:

• The Beaver Coalition to increase beaver-modified floodplain habitat in Oregon through collaborative planning.
• The Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council for its Turtle Island Park Restoration Project.

• The World Salmon Council to expand its Salmon Watch youth program with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

  
  “Conservation starts at home, and the majority of the zoo’s efforts to save species center on the Pacific Northwest,” said Julie Fitzgerald, executive director of the Oregon Zoo Foundation. “Generous gifts from our members and supporters help the Oregon Zoo make our state a better place for wildlife, people and the habitats we all depend on.”
  
  The Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund supports projects that help implement the Oregon Conservation Strategy, a blueprint for conserving the state’s wildlife and their habitats. The OCRF also provides needed funds to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife partners to connect people with nature and increase equity for underserved communities. Learn more at oregonisalive.org.
  
  To make a gift or learn more about supporting conservation in the Pacific Northwest, email foundation@oregonzoo.org.