National Wildlife Week and Earth Day, both observed next week, are reminders for Washington citizens to take action to protect their environment, says Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Director Bern Shanks.

National Wildlife Week, April 20-26, is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, a 61-year-old non-profit conservation organization, which produces education materials with citizen action themes.

The 27th anniversary of the first nationwide Earth Day celebration is April 22.

WDFW's environmental education program distributes National Wildlife Week materials in this state. This year's theme is "Nature's Web: Communities and Conservation," exploring three concepts: 1) humans depend on natural communities; 2) the human community has responsibility for the natural community; and 3) people can engage in community service to conserve natural resources.

"The environmental adage 'Everything is connected to everything else' that was promoted during the first Earth Day in 1970 has never rung more true," Shanks said. "We've always depended on the natural resources around us, and those natural resources depend on our wise stewardship. But with more of us in the world and in Washington every day, the health of those natural resources has become an even more critical indicator of our own health."

Shanks, who recently unveiled a comprehensive draft plan to recover declining wild salmon and steelhead and their habitats throughout Washington, encourages citizens across the state to commemorate the special week and day by resolving to join in a public review of the plan later this month and next.

"As our draft Wild Salmonid Policy suggests," Shanks said, " you can help form or join a watershed council in your community to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats."

The National Wildlife Week "Nature's Web: Communities and Conservation" packets of posters and activities are available free at WDFW offices across the state.

Further information about Wild Salmonid Policy public meetings, scheduled April 29 through May 21, also is available at WDFW offices.