Forterra, the Pacific Northwest land conservation organization, announced the recipients of this year’s community awards during its 18th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast Wednesday morning in Seattle.

The Tacoma Housing Authority received the New Directions for Livable Communities Award, which recognizes the innovation and cooperation required to create great communities and conserve great landscapes, for its work on the Salishan Redevelopment Project.

Former Congressman Norm Dicks received the Frank Pritchard Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes long-term passion and commitment, above and beyond the call of duty, critical to the conservation of the region’s unique natural character and to the enhancement of the quality of life for local citizens.

David and Gay Santerre received the Community Service Award, which recognizes grassroots leadership to conserve and steward great lands and create great communities, for their role in conserving Buckley Forest Preserve.

Washington Green Schools received the John Stanford Educational Achievement Award, which recognizes students and educators committed to future generations.

The City of Seattle received the Innovative Conservation Award, which recognizes a conservation project that involves a unique or non-traditional collaboration between entities, and celebrates the cooperation and persistence required to overcome obstacles and preserve land that is important to a community, for using the Landscape Conservation Local Infrastructure Program to conserve 25,000 acres of forests and farms while investing in community infrastructure projects in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

More information is available online at forterra.org.