Preservation of the San Juan Islands

We are not only realtors but also concerned residents of these islands, recognizing the need to regulate development to balance the needs of a growing population with preservation of the natural environment. As more people discover this extraordinary region, there are practical methods for maintaining the ambiance which has drawn us here. Development and conservation can, in fact, co-exist through responsible planning. Landowners who participate in some method of preservation achieve several desirable results: they sustain essential island ecosystems, they assist in down-zoning island areas (reducing the number of parcels large tracts of land may be divided into), and are able to glean personal financial advantages through tax benefits. Two prevalent and highly successful San Juan County conservation entities are:

The San Juan County Landbank is a unique organization formed and approved by San Juan County voters and funded by a purchaser's 1% excise tax on every real estate transaction in the County. The goal is to purchase conservation easements from property owners willing to sell their rights to subdivide their property, lowering the overall residential density of many beautiful local areas.

The San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit organization which provides preservation through private donations of land and conservation easements. The combination of the Trust and the Landbank has a significant conservation impact on the future of the islands by preserving view corridors and environmentally sensitive areas in perpetuity.

Conservation Organizations...

The San Juan County Landbank

The San Juan Preservation Trust

Marine Resources Committee

San Juan Conservation District

Nature Conservancy

San Juan Nature Institute

Friends of the San Juans

Marine Ecosystem Health Program