Marilee Eckert, Executive Director of the newly renamed Conservation Corps North Bay, says it is well-positioned to grow into a regional service agency.

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Eckert anticipates bringing many of the programs the organization has already established in Marin into Sonoma County under their new banner, such as their youth recycling crew, which is already at work at some Sonoma County parks and schools.

The carefully coordinated release of some ready-to-spawn adult coho may mean that three years from now, Salmon Creek will once again contain its namesake.

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Fish and Game biologist Bob Cooey carries a net containing two adult Coho salmon down to the water of Salmon Creek.  Cooey says the release site, a quiet bend in the lower part of Salmon Creek, a mile or so upstream from the stream's mouth into the ocean, is ideal habitat for the fish.

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The hatchery raised salmon take a moment to orient in their new habitat as they are released from the net (above), then vigorously swim away (below). Thanks to Jim  Jim Coleman, a Research Coordinator at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center's WATER Institute (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for taking and sharing these photos.

Using economic analysis as a tool for environmental protection is a core philosophy driving the Sebastopol-based Conservation Strategy Fund.

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John Reid, President and founder of the Conservation Strategy Fund, explains how he sees economics as a tool for increasing overall human happiness {mp3remote}http://media.krcb.org/audio/nbr/well-being.mp3{/mp3remote}  

The mission of Conservation Strategy Fund is to teach environmental organizations around the world how to use economics and strategic analysis to conserve nature.

Carbon credits may become a potent economic tool for poor countries with extensive forest resources, an approach that Sebastopol's Conservation Strategy Fund is helping to promote.

Part of CSF's educational work involves teaching their partners how to articulate the linkage between preserved resources and economic benefits.

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Much more detailed information about CSF can be found in their annual reports, which are posted online here. There is also a listing of current and recent projects here.