Contact the Sound Oaks Initiative
We welcome all inquiries. Landowners with Garry oaks and prospective initiative partners are especially encouraged to reach out!
FAQ
Check through some frequently asked questions and then send us a message.
The Sound Oaks Initiative builds upon existing Garry oak (Quercus garryana) mapping data to further improve our understanding of Garry oak ecosystems in the Puget Trough Ecoregion. Garry oak ecosystems are important to study, especially after being identified by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as a habitat that is critically imperiled and at risk of extinction.
Using cutting-edge GIS science in the digital cloud, interactive maps are available in an easy to use map viewer to encourage stakeholder access and conservation collaboration. The mapping data generated by this project has already proven to have multiple uses and beneficiaries.
The Initiative is supported by the members and donors of the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society, a conservation nonprofit based on Whidbey Island that focuses exclusively on Garry oak outreach, education, and preservation.
As a citizen science initiative, volunteers and supporters are welcome to participate in a multitude of capacities. From conducting tree inventories, to assessing habitat health and scoping undiscovered Garry oak forests, we have a place for you in the Sound Oaks Initiative. Please get in touch using the contact form on this page, we can’t wait to meet you!
You might be surprised to learn that the mapping will likely never be totally complete. This is because of the ever-changing dynamic nature of the environment. Trees pass away, others sprout from acorns, while even more are planted by volunteers and conservation organizations. While we may come to a point where the significant labor of data collection is over and maintenance of the data begins, this work will never truly be complete.