"I commend your organization for its diligence and perseverance."
Whidbey Environmental Action Network
Tax ID 91-1656410
Our Mission
The restoration and preservation of the native biological diversity of Whidbey Island and the Pacific Northwest. We accomplish this through:
Education
- we post articles and reports on relevant subjects, such as what lands have been bought for preservation, what the county commissioners are doing about growth management, what a functional native plant community looks like, etc.
Activation
- encouraging people to become involved by providing tools for effective participation.
Preservation and Restoration
- preventing damage to ecosystems when possible and restoring them when necessary.
Litigation
- when all else fails, we use legal means to enforce laws to protect the environment.
WEAN Hires Executive Director
The Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN) Board of Directors announced March 16, 2023 that Marnie Jackson will be joining the organization as
Executive Director, beginning April 10, 2023.
Jackson brings a wide range of relevant experience along with deep passion and personal commitment to conservation, community, and connecting people with nature. She has been an activist and an advocate for animals, people, and planet since her early teens, when she was inspired by WEAN to organize South Whidbey High School students against a proposed McDonalds at Bayview Corner.
With a passion for addressing the social, environmental, and systemic injustices affecting all of us, Jackson will nurture connections to the next generation of environmental advocates at a critical time for Island County
Ongoing Projects - Quick Overview
a. PBRS – Public Benefit Rating System – Island County grants landowners tax reductions for keeping their land in open space, forest, etc. That system is broken and we are working to fix it so people who keep their trees get the tax reduction and those who log their land do not.
b. Watchdogging Island County Agendas – various committees and commissions are making rules for how the county works. We need to track and participate when necessary.
c. DNR is the agency which oversees logging. We keep a close eye on logging permits, but need to keep a closer eye on committees and rulemaking.
d. Legislature agendas – we’re working on introducing a bill to protect our forested wetlands. Meanwhile, others are proposing all manner of hair-raising changes to development regulations, all in the name of “affordable housing.”
e. Monitoring GMA and Island Comp Plan changes – this is the flip side of those changes we’re seeing proposed in the legislature. Island County will be reviewing and updating its Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinances to comply with the changes the legislature makes.
f. PFAS – those nasty “forever” chemicals found in fire-fighting foam at OLF are now known to be toxic at any measurable level. And they’re showing up all over. We’re discovering we have a whole lot of company in demanding responsibility out of the US military. We’re looking to create coalitions of communities harmed by PFAS.
In the News
Whidbey Environmental Action Network
The Whidbey Environmental Action Network (WEAN)
Board of Directors announced today that Marnie Jackson will be joining the organization as
Executive Director, beginning April 10, 2023. Jackson brings a wide range of relevant
experience along with deep passion and personal commitment to conservation, community, and
connecting people with nature.
WEAN is calling a special general meeting to elect officers.
You all did it. Your votes made the difference. WEAN won the Peoples’ Favorite grant award of $40,000.00.
WEAN’s Annual Obnoxious Fundraising Letter – the BIG CHANGES edition
EVER GREEN, about community commitment to keep Whidbey Island a special place, and the important role played by Marianne Edain, Steve Erickson and the Whidbey Environmental Action Network [WEAN] to help make that happen.
With your help WEAN can win a $40,000.00 grant from Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU). BECU has a program called People Helping People, which invited WEAN to submit a grant application earlier this year. We made the semi-finals, so will receive a $15,000.00 grant.
DNR Ordered to Consider Climate Impacts of State Forest Land Timber Sales
EVER GREEN, A Community Conservation Story, was produced by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young of Moving Images in Clinton WA. The filmmakers drew on compositions from Whidbey musicians as part of the background music for the film.
Its been 2 years since our last annual meeting, and its time to let people know about all the great things that have been happening.
What they say about us...
“1000 Friends will continue to support WEAN as much as we can. We feel they are headed in the right direction."
1000 Friends of Washington (now Futurewise) 2000
“WEAN is a small hard-core group monitoring EVERYTHING”
Associate Vice President of SPU 2003
"WEAN is pressing Island County commissioners to tighten the regulatory vise on animal owners to protect the island's wetlands and waterways from unsafe levels of bacteria."
Wall Street Journal
“WEAN has made its mark on environmental policy in Island County”