Conservation Photography Galleries

Yew and Taxol : The Yew  Prior to the 1990s, the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia), an evergreen growing in old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest, had no commercial value. Then, cancer researches found that the bark of the yew contained an anti-cancer alkaloid. They named it Taxol. Suddenly, there was a high demand for Taxol and the yew was heavily harvested. For a short while, it looked liked the yew might become a threatened species for several reasons. The yew has a slow growth rate and few large trees existed. Also, the concentration of Taxol in the bark is very low and all of the bark from each tree was needed which meant that the tree died from the harvest. In response to this high demand the Yew Bark Harvest Act was passed to simultaneously protect the yew and provide for an adequate supply of bark for medicine. Fortunately, shortly after the Act was passed, a means of partially synthetically generating Taxol was found and the Pacific Yew was once again left alone. This story demonstrates the need to preserve species through proper management and science. For without the yew, we would not have a means of saving thousands of womens lives each year from breast and ovarian cancer. These photos of a harvest in the central Oregon Cascades which, are to my knowledge, the only photos of a yew bark harvest in the Pacific Northwest.

Yew and Taxol

The Yew  Prior to the 1990s, the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia), an e ...

Updated: Jun 01, 2008 8:10am PST

Fomitopsis officinalis and smallpox : Fomitopsis officinalisJust like the yew, the mushroom seen here has special characterics that may provide a great benefit to mankind. Found only in the old-growth forests of the American Pacific Northwest, it may provide anti-viral drugs useful for protecting against small pox and other viruses- potential weapons of terrorists. Unfortunately, only about 5% of the Pacific Northwest's Old-growth forest still exist today.

Fomitopsis officinalis and smallpox

Fomitopsis officinalisJust like the yew, the mushroom seen here has sp ...

Updated: Apr 16, 2008 6:25pm PST

Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Species of Benton County : Benton County has several species listed as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act, as well as several rare species including the following not pictured here: Fender’s Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas editha taylori) Kincaid’s Lupine (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii) Streaked Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) Read the Benton County Habitat Conservation Plan: http://www.co.benton.or.us/parks/hcp/documents/HCPProposal.pdf

Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Species of Benton County

Benton County has several species listed as threatened or endangered u ...

Updated: Jun 04, 2008 7:44pm PST

Wild Wings Exhibit at the Oregon Zoo : Zoos play a large role in species conservation by focusing their efforts on protecting species and their habitats as well as restoring species to the wild. The butterflies pictured below are from the tropics, which has more butterflies than any other ecosystem in the world. Photos were taken at the Wild Wings Exhibit at the Oregon Zoo. Visit the Oregon Zoo - http://www.OregonZoo.org

Wild Wings Exhibit at the Oregon Zoo

Zoos play a large role in species conservation by focusing their effor ...

Updated: Oct 19, 2008 5:40pm PST

Oregon Beach CleanUp : Every year, tons of garbage, including medical waste, ends up on our beaches. The world's first Beach Cleanup was held in Oregon in 1984. Since then, annual beach cleanups have spread to every state and US territory and more than 100 countries. Twice a year, SOLV asks volunteers to help clean the entire Oregon coastline of debris. Thousands of men, women, and children help remove debris that has accumulated on beaches. Visit   http://www.SOLV.org for more information.

Oregon Beach CleanUp

Every year, tons of garbage, including medical waste, ends up on our b ...

Updated: Jun 06, 2008 5:57am PST

The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam : Built in 1912, the Marmot Dam along the Sandy River in Northwest Oregon has been a part of the Bull Run Hydro project that supplies power to the residents of the greater Portland area. In October 2007, the dam was removed and for the first time in nearly 100 years, the Sandy River ran free. You can watch the entire dam removal http://www.marmotdam.com/video6_files/tl_teardown_video.html video in 67 seconds! Or see the dam breach  http://www.marmotdam.com/video9_files/marmot_breach_timelapse_USGS.html video. After the dam was removed, I was sitting on a rock outcropping that jutted into the middle of the Sandy. I could hear boulders rolling along the river bottom crashing into the outcropping just below me. The power of the river was un-deniable. Thinking back 100 years, it was an obvious decision to harness the power of this river to provide electricity. That type of decision is not so simple today - we need energy and we need the benefits that a free flowing river provides whether it's kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching, picnicing, photography, hiking... Thanks to PGE, who donated water rights to the State of Oregon, and nearly 1,500 acres of land in the Sandy River Basin to the Western Rivers Conservancy.

The Sandy River and The Marmot Dam

Built in 1912, the Marmot Dam along the Sandy River in Northwest Orego ...

Updated: Jun 08, 2008 3:35pm PST

Banding Birds : As a means of tracking bird populations and migration patterns, biologist place leg bands on birds.

Banding Birds

As a means of tracking bird populations and migration patterns, biolog ...

Updated: Jun 10, 2008 7:36pm PST

Oak Forests : Oregon Oak Forests

Oak Forests

Oregon Oak Forests

Updated: Jul 27, 2008 5:16pm PST

Conservation at Kingston Prairie Preserve : The Nature Conservancy's Kingston Prairie Preserve is one of the few remaining examples of original prairie fauna and flora that once covered more than a million acres of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The preserve is also one of the few remaining nesting sites Willamette Valley for the western meadowlark- the State bird of Oregon. Two species of Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii and D. pulchellum) can be found during early May. Several times each year, volunteers gather to pull invasive weeds, collect native seeds, and help with other activities. OSU students are performing population studies on the Gray-tailed vole to help TNC understand how these small rodents affect native plants. Directions to the preserve can be found here: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6802.html

Conservation at Kingston Prairie Preserve

The Nature Conservancy's Kingston Prairie Preserve is one of the few r ...

Updated: May 19, 2009 6:54pm PST