- Stavis Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) completely surrounds the existing Kitsap Forest Natural Area Preserve, which protects the best quality known example of the Douglas-fir-western hemlock/evergreen huckleberry forest community, and one of the only extensive mature and old growth forests in the Puget Sound lowlands. The combination of Stavis and Kitsap Forest protects a landscape that is similar in composition to the historic forest matrix of the Kitsap Peninsula. The site provides long-term protection for three forest plant associations prevalent to the Puget Trough Ecoregion: Douglas-fir-western hemlock/evergreen huckleberry forest, Douglas-fir-western hemlock/Pacific rhododendron forest and the Douglas-fir-western hemlock/swordfern forest. The site was also established to protect high-quality freshwater wetlands and an estuarine wetland and lagoon system.