Developing an understanding of climate change and other threats salmon face, will help you identify why there is a problem and ways you can help this important keystone species.  Engaging in environmental stewardship through civic actions is a great way to make an immediate difference!

Pacific salmon face many threats, such as habitat loss, overfishing, climate change, and other human caused issues. Being aware of the threats this important species faces can help us help them!

Restoration and Protection: 

Actions that assist in the recovery or preservation of an ecosystem that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed and allow that ecosystem to evolve with minimal human influence.

 Examples: Actions that lead to improved ecosystem health.

• Clean up litter at local beaches, parks, or school grounds

• Assist local estuaries, parks, or other natural areas with planting or restoring protective vegetation or trees

• Restore a local habitat

• Remove invasive plants

• Develop a school garden, natural history area, community garden, or other sustainable green space and measure the change it makes

• Install rain gardens to help manage stormwater

Everyday Choices: 

Actions that reduce resource inputs and emissions per unit of output through technological change and consumer purchasing, use and disposal behaviors 

Examples: Actions that lead to reduced carbon footprint or use of natural resources.

• Start or expand a recycling program at home or school and measure the effect of the change

• Monitor and save water in the face of potential drought or reduction in available water

• Upcycle discarded materials 

• Compost food or yard waste 

• Reduce waste in a cafeteria and measure the impacts to the school or local community

• Research and implement energy efficient strategies or energy alternatives at school and/or at home

• Offer personal ways for students to live more sustainably.

Community Awareness: 

Actions that inform others in an effort to convince them to take action to address community-level environmental issues 

Examples: Actions that lead to increased awareness by community members 

• Giving presentations to local organizations

• Sharing information on social media

• Organizing community events

• Recording and broadcasting public service announcements

• Posting flyers in the community

• Posters at community events, fairs, festivals

• Conservation awareness activities help individuals believe that the environment is valuable and under threat and should be protected from human impacts.

Civic Action: 

Actions that inform public or organizational policy decisions that can improve environmental outcomes for many people or organizations at once

 --> Students behave as citizens by engaging in a cycle of research, action, and reflection about problems they care about personally while helping them master knowledge, skills, beliefs, and habits of civic action that they can apply in the future as well (Levinson, 2014). 

Examples: Actions that lead to an environmental policy or rule for an organization or community. 

• Speaking or presenting at town meetings

• Voting for legislation or candidates

• Writing to elected officials or decision makers

• Meeting with elected officials

Community Science: 

Actions that collect and report monitoring data in an ecosystem that inform management of the natural resource. 

Examples: Actions that contribute data to environmental monitoring efforts.

• Extend student learning beyond the classroom with a citizen science monitoring project that impacts the species or environmental concern students are studying

(adapted from NOAA)