In the booming metropolis that is the Puget Sound region, Vashon stands out. On an island reachable only by ferry, many of the our forests and beaches have not been developed like they have on the mainland. These ecologically rich places provide important natural habitat that helps sustain the region’s ecosystem. It’s encouraging that our lawmakers, at both the state and county levels believe these Vashon places are worth investing in.

In the last two years alone nearly 150 acres of forestland, shoreline and streams on Vashon have been permanently preserved thanks to funding from the state and King County. And Sharon Nelson, the state senator who lives on Maury Island and was the force behind most of that funding, has just announced that another $2 million in the state budget has been earmarked for conservation on the island.

In a tough economic climate, it could be easy to put things like open space preservation on the back burner. Money for things such as education and social services has more immediately visible results. But investing in environmental preservation on Vashon is truly investing in our future. As Puget Sound is threatened from every angle — development, climate change and pollution — saving our natural places is just one way to save the sound as we know it.

Conservation has some immediate benefits on Vashon, as well. Hikers, bikers and equestrians enjoy using land that’s been preserved at the former Glacier site, Dockton Forest and Island Center Forest. And a new trail will soon open in Paradise Valley, where Vashon’s land trust has been adding parcels. Preservation helps save the environment, but it also helps save the rural nature that drew many of us to this place.

We’re fortunate that Sharon Nelson, a staunch environmental activist, has fought for preservation funding in Olympia. We’re also lucky that King County, though often criticized on Vashon, is fully on our side when it comes to conservation, giving both funding and staff time to the effort. Finally, we’re lucky Vashon has fostered a mature and functional land trust that makes this widespread preservation possible.

Vashon residents also have a role to play. We should keep supporting levies that fund open space conservation and park operations. We should encourage policy makers to not only to support preservation but to ensure that environmental regulations are enforced. Those with the means to donate should keep the land trust in mind for their giving.

Finally, land that has been developed is not inherently bad, but homeowners near shorelines and streams play a role in stewarding those areas — for instance, keeping septic systems in working order. While the government has worked at several levels for preservation to happen, residents of Vashon and King County are positioned to see that it continues.