About
Impact
Rooted in Collective Impact and Action
Friends’ multifaceted approach to environmental protection ensures the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea remain a sanctuary for biodiversity and sustainability for generations to come.
Hundreds
of transboundary collaborators from nonprofits, research institutions, Sovereign Nations, and regional agencies, each strengthening networks that advance the shared protection of the Salish Sea bioregion.
1 in 3
Thousands
of people activated each year through action alerts—driving stronger local and regional protections, and shared accountability for the health of people and place.
$10 Million
“It’s so important to celebrate natural beauty and to rise to the occasion to protect it.”
— Robert Dash, Friends Member, National Geographic photographer
Big Wins: 2021 – 2025
These accomplishments are yours. They are the result of members and people like you who protect this place, coming together as guiding lights for stewardship and action.
Community-Rooted advocacy
Friends shaped two San Juan County Comprehensive Plan Updates (2022 and 2025) to protect natural resource lands, ensure responsible and affordable growth, and include a Climate Element. Through workshops on five islands and dedicated action teams, Friends led over 450 islanders to engage in the update processes, adding new voices to these important conversations.
policy win for endangered orcas
Friends played a leading role in advancing science into policy, mobilizing public and private support for new laws requiring boats to stay 1,000 yards away from Southern Resident killer whales. This landmark protection is especially important for mother whales and their calves.
tripled educational outreach
From classrooms to beaches to the state capitol, Friends’ Education for the Future program has grown threefold—inspiring 2,500 youth and adults to protect the Salish Sea through immersive video, community science, and experiences that connect people to nature.
rebuilding resilient shores
Strengthening the resilience of shorelines for future generations, Friends advanced coastal restoration through three large-scale projects that restored more than 1,000 feet of forage fish spawning habitat, 81 mooring buoy upgrades protecting eelgrass meadows, and the removal of four derelict overwater structures from vital herring spawning areas.
History & Achievements
Join Friends for Community-Centered Action
Whether you live in the San Juan Islands, visit often, or help care for the Salish Sea from afar, your actions make a difference. Together, we can protect what makes this place extraordinary—shorelines, wildlife, and community.
