Living Economies

We’re using science, economics, and policy to advance nature-positive economies in British Columbia. 

Raincoast’s Living Economies Program explores how healthy ecosystems can support thriving local economies. We quantify the economic value of ecosystem services, habitat restoration, and conservation initiatives, while developing innovative approaches to finance and the delivery of conservation in salmon-bearing watersheds. By integrating economics, western science, conservation finance, and policy, we work to create solutions that generate employment, strengthen local economies, and support resilient communities across British Columbia. 

Building on a decade years of habitat restoration and job creation

The Living Economies Program builds on the success of Raincoast’s decade-long habitat restoration and conservation work in the Lower Fraser River. Over the past 10 years, our projects have removed barriers to fish passage, controlled invasive species, and restored critical habitat for wild Pacific salmon.

This work created employment for 50 people, with more than $885,576.48 in grant funding directly supporting local jobs. The projects brought together a diverse range of expertise, including biologists, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, First Nations youth, environmental monitors, engineers,  heavy machinery operators, construction consultants, archaeologists, and graduate students. 

By investing in habitat restoration, this initiative has contributed to the recovery of endangered Pacific salmon while demonstrating that conservation can create meaningful employment opportunities – even within one of the most urbanized and highly modified landscapes in British Columbia.

Aerial photo of tiny, distant workers with hard hats walking around the Fraser River Estuary, surrounded by grasses and water.
Misty MacDuffee, Noah Kussin-Bordo, David Scott, and Peter Kidd in the Fraser River estuary.
Photo by Alex Harris.

Conservation Economy Pilot  

In 2026, we are launching a Conservation Economy Pilot that pairs innovative conservation finance mechanisms with habitat restoration to create a scalable model for nature-positive economic development in rural communities. The pilot will demonstrate how investments in ecosystem recovery can generate long-term employment, attract private and public capital, strengthen local economies, and improve outcomes for fish, wildlife, and people.

By bringing together diverse skill sets – from restoration practitioners and foresters to economists, Indigenous partners, engineers, and community organizations – the pilot aims to test a new model for delivering shared environmental and economic benefits that can be replicated across British Columbia.

Recent, from Raincoast

Salmon smolt in a viewfinder being held up by a hand with the Fraser River in the background.

Behind the scenes of the multi-faceted Lower Fraser Salmon Conservation Program

Our recent Lower Fraser Salmon Recovery Brief provides an update on our collaborative research, restoration and conservation initiatives underway. Below, we provide overviews of these efforts under each recommendation, which are further outlined in the Briefing.
Lower Fraser River Salmon Recovery Brief cover sits on the sandy floor of the Fraser, and a tiny fish.

Lower Fraser River Salmon Recovery Brief

This collaborative work to recover wild salmon and restore the ecological resilience of the Lower Fraser River and Estuary is outlined in the Lower Fraser Salmon Recovery Brief.
Group of people walking along a mossy coastline with the ocean in the background.

Raincoast welcomes five summer team members!

We are very pleased to have five passionate students joining our team for the summer. Over the summer, these five youth will contribute to several of our programs, while developing their own skills.
Underwater view of a school of Chinook salmon swimming.

Funding habitat restoration and conservation in the Lower Fraser Region

The AFER Network features working groups to provide space for focused discussion of key topics related to conservation initiatives in the Lower Fraser. On June 17th from 1-3 pm, we are launching our Funding and Fiscal tools Working Group, which will discuss what a post-covid funding world could look like, shifts in funders’ strategic focus, and the role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in shaping funding priorities.
Two people holding a net while doing fish research on a cloudy day

Fraser River juvenile salmon, upstream and in the estuary

Wild Salmon Research Assistant, Paige Roper, shares about Raincoast’s recent work in the Harrison River.
A juvenile Chinook salmon is measured in a clear container with water with the estuary in the background.

Otolith study confirms Harrison Chinook salmon rely on the Fraser River Estuary for early growth

Chinook salmon from the Harrison River, which was declared Canada’s first Salmon Stronghold, do something unique; rather than growing in their home lake and river system for the first year or more as many other salmon do, these fish go on a great adventure.
Underwater photo of 4 Salmon smolts.

An influx of information

Lauren Mitchell, intern on Raincoast’s wild salmon team, is researching how to best to go about calculating the number of salmon the Lower Fraser River and estuary are able to support.
Southern Resident killer whale in the ocean.

Stop Terminal 2 expansion: Protect Southern Resident killer whales and their prey, Fraser River Chinook salmon

We have released a new video about the impacts of the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 2 expansion on Southern Resident killer whales and Fraser River Chinook salmon.