Humans are destroying and polluting lichen habitats in the Pacific Northwest. These activities favor common, easily dispersed, pollution-tolerant species at the expense of rare, weakly dispersing, sensitive species.

Certain habitats provide enclaves for these rarer species. The most important enclaves -- the last best lichen places -- vary with position in the landscape (listed on the next page). The threats to these habitats also depend on geography.

Lichens are not alone in these special habitats. All of these places also support rare or threatened plants and animals.

See a list of the last best lichen places, their threats, and protections.