WDFW and partners publish poetry anthology focused on climate resilience in Washington’s ecosystems
“On Resilience: Stories of Climate Adaptation Across Washington’s Landscapes” is a new poetry anthology bringing together place-based management stories with poetry and artwork to showcase how Washington’s landscapes are shifting due to climate change, and how natural resource management practices are evolving in response.
The anthology, available now through most major and independent booksellers, was created in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), NatureCulture, and Writing the Land®.
Across Washington, warming stream temperatures, shrinking snowpack, increased wildfire potential, and shifts in water availability are altering habitat and influencing where and how fish and wildlife can survive. These changes shape the work happening across more than 1 million acres of WDFW-managed lands and influence how the agency supports resilient fish, wildlife, and habitats. Through a combination of place-based management summaries and creative interpretation, “On Resilience” offers a grounded look at this work and at climate resilience statewide.
Refer to our webpage for more on WDFW’s work related to climate change.
The poetry anthology is organized around Washington’s nine ecoregions, each of which experiences climate impacts in distinct ways. Each chapter highlights WDFW-managed wildlife areas and describes the Department’s management objectives for those places, including reconnecting floodplains and rivers, restoring estuaries, supporting forest stewardship, and replanting native species following wildfire. These site-specific descriptions show how agency staff are adjusting long-standing assumptions and refining natural resource management strategies in response to changing habitat conditions.
“Our wildlife area managers are doing extraordinary work every day to care for Washington’s diverse habitats and the species that depend on them,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, deputy director of WDFW’s Wildlife Program. “They are fulfilling the Department’s mission in real time by maintaining habitat, supporting hunting and fishing access, and adapting management practices to the realities of a changing climate. This anthology shines a light on that work and curates stories of resilience from across WDFW-managed lands, highlighting both the challenges and the dedication of our staff throughout the state.”
The poetry adds another lens to understanding these landscapes. Writing the Land® poets were assigned to different WDFW-managed wildlife areas and visited the sites to observe ecological conditions. Poets walked the trails, observed the local fish and wildlife, and talked with WDFW staff about ongoing management work. Their experiences inspired the anthology’s poems, which capture key moments like salmon navigating low-water channels, birds tracing familiar routes across grasslands and wetlands, and the quiet textures of forests and shrubsteppe as they shift across seasons.
Several poets contributing to this project are Indigenous writers from Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest. Northwest tribal and Indigenous communities are at the forefront of climate adaptation, leading innovative and place-based strategies that strengthen ecosystem resilience and protect natural and cultural resources. Centering Indigenous voices deepens the conversation about climate resilience and resource management by grounding it in long-standing relationships with these lands. The poems offer perspectives on place, history, and identity that help readers understand the connections between people, land, and climate.
“Science shows us how Washington’s landscapes are changing, but poetry helps us pause long enough to notice what those changes feel like on the ground,” said Harriet Morgan, WDFW climate change coordinator. “We included poetry in this anthology because it gives shape to the lived experience of adaptation, offering another way to understand why climate resilience work matters in every corner of the state.”
The anthology includes original artwork that brings a visual lens to the poems and place-based management stories. The artwork reflects the distinct geography, species, and ecological conditions of each region, grounded in scientific understanding of how habitats and species respond to change.
The cover art, created by climate artist Jill Pelto, provides an abstract visualization of a climate-resilient Washington, blending all nine ecoregions into a single composition that brings people into the landscape. Recreationalists, hunters, fishers, and natural resource managers appear alongside ecosystems, fish, and wildlife, underscoring the interconnected relationships that shape the state’s natural resource future. The composition highlights how human communities and ecosystems are linked through reliance, stewardship, and place.
Through this blend of science and art, “On Resilience” invites readers to consider how Washington’s landscapes are changing and how thoughtful, grounded action can help ensure they continue to thrive in the face of a changing climate.
Distribution and access
To expand public access, WDFW is currently working with Washington library networks to provide complimentary copies of “On Resilience,” helping ensure the anthology is available to communities statewide.
To gauge interest in physical copies, the Department is conducting a preliminary print release. As part of this first run, 250 copies of the anthology will be available to order beginning Dec. 3 and will be mailed at no cost to any Washington address. WDFW will use this initial release to assess interest in the anthology and evaluate the feasibility of future print runs.
If you live outside Washington or wish to order multiple copies, the anthology is also available through major booksellers, including independent bookstores that support local literary communities.
For more information about “On Resilience” or to order a copy from the first print run, visit the WDFW website or contact nrblibrary@dfw.wa.gov.
