Since spring 2013, Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has been engaging Basin residents and organizations to help renew its water and environmental strategic plans. The Trust is now asking for feedback on the culmination of that input — the draft 2014 — 2019 Environmental Strategic Plan.
Once finalized, the plan will guide the way the CBT supports activities to strengthen the Basin’s collective ability to address current and future environmental priorities. The draft plan sets goals in five areas: water, ecosystems, climate change, environmental education and enhancing the capacities of environment-focused organizations.
“Thank you to everyone who has joined the discussion; your ideas are helping to shape the Trust’s environmental focus for the next five years,” CBT CEO Neil Muth said in a statement released on Tuesday. “We now seek your help again to finalize the plan—do you feel supportive of this plan, what will this plan mean to you in your community?”
To help shape the goals, objectives and activities in the draft plan, the CBT sought out a range of perspectives. Residents participated in workshops and meetings across the Basin, and in a Basin-wide online survey process called Thoughtstream. CBT also consulted with environmental experts and a range of organizations, plus reviewed technical documents that identify environmental challenges in the Basin, and strategic plans from other Basin organizations doing environmental work.
You can read the draft plan at www.cbt.org/draftenvironmentalplan. And you can provide your input by e-mailing environment@cbt.org by noon on Thursday, January 9, 2014.
The Columbia Basin Trust supports community efforts to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about CBT programs and initiatives, visit www.cbt.org or call 1-800-505-8998.
