Protecting working farmlands and assessing farmland conversion in the Puget Sound region is a key strategy for the recovery of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Well-managed farmlands can provide wildlife habitat, reduce air pollution, and mitigate the spread of urban heat islands while providing quality, locally sourced foods. The comprehensive plan for Puget Sound ecosystem recovery (Action Agenda) has a strategy to support the long-term viability of working farmlands. 

This Progress Indicator tracks the total acres of farmland that are protected by agriculture conservation easements held by state and local land trusts. Agriculture conservation easements permanently restrict development and subdivision of a property, thereby preventing future conversion of those acres to use other than farmland (WSCC n.d.).

Importantly, conservation easements do not increase the acres of farmland in production nor guarantee that land will stay in production in perpetuity. However, this Progress Indicator helps us understand the breadth of protected agriculture lands, which are protected from future conversion to more intense uses.

This Progress Indicator is in development. 

This Progress Indicator is currently under development.