Where We Are

The Olympic Peninsula of Washington State is rich in indigenous resources: Spectacular mountains rise up from the Pacific Ocean, flanked with forests of giant trees and abundant wildlife, and engraved by magnificent rivers flowing from headwaters high in the Olympic National Park, a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The Peninsula is home a variety of human cultures, including several American Indian tribes; many people, tribal and non-tribal alike, depend upon the resources of the region for much of their livelihoods.

Due to its geographic location and diversity of natural and cultural resources, the Peninsula serves an international market—tourists visit from all over the globe, and local products are shipped to both national and international markets. The region is a “hotspot” of biological diversity, home to an unparalleled assortment of ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife, including several plants and animals found nowhere else. It is also home to several high profile species of concern in environmental science, including the bald eagle, the northern spotted owl, the marbled murrelet, and all five species of Pacific salmon. Most of the nearshore habitat critical to aquatic biodiversity (as well as the seafood industry) is located along the ~300 km shoreline of the Peninsula, and—unlike its neighbor, Puget Sound—much of this environment remains largely intact. It is also the location of the

With its diverse natural and human resources, the Olympic Peninsula is a microcosm of the issues that face scientists and managers of ecosystems and natural resources throughout the world: Internationally significant ecosystems adjoin rapidly growing urban areas that are facing changing socio-economic conditions. Together, these combine to provide an incomparable setting for professionals and students seeking to explore the different facets that comprise modern resource management, including science, education, policy, and community involvement.

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