“We tend to think of landscapes as affecting us most strongly when we are in them or on them, when they offer us the primary sensations of touch and sight. But there are also the landscapes we bear with us in absentia, those places that live on in memory long after they have withdrawn in actuality, and such places -- retreated to most often when we are most remote from them -- are among the most important landscapes we possess.”
- Robert Macfarlane
When reading this quote by Robert Macfarlane, I was immediately struck by all of the landscapes, ecosystems and creatures that are imperative to the world. This reflection was the catalyst for this series, "In Absentia", which explores the importance of keystone species, highlighting those that whole ecosystems rely on and the importance of their conservation.
Salmon
For the 1st piece of the "In Absentia" series, I chose salmon because of how essential they are to every living thing in the PNW. From the waters of the Pacific to the currents of our rivers and eventually the forests that rest below the Cascade Mountains, salmon are integral to every creature, every ecological system, and every culture here.
Did you know that there are 5 different species of salmon that live in Washington's rivers? However only the Skagit River is host to all 5 species today.
