Our Vision, Mission and Beliefs

Devin Dahlgren   Website

Vision

We envision a high desert in Oregon where eight million acres of public lands are conserved to ensure that fish and wildlife thrive and wild places exist for all people to treasure and explore, now and always.

Mission

Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) exists to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s high desert for current and future generations.

Beliefs

  • Oregon’s high desert deserves protection because of its stunning beauty, unique ecology, recreational opportunities, and cultural heritage.
  • As Americans, we are all richer because of our public lands and that this incredible legacy must be maintained for the benefit of current and future generations and for fish and wildlife.
  • To know Oregon’s high desert is to love it. Connecting people with the land is the foundation of conservation.
  • Public lands are common ground for diverse communities. It is important to respectfully consider all perspectives while passionately pursuing our mission. (See Our Commitment to Justice, Equity and Inclusion.)
  • Science should inform priorities on where and how we do our work.

voices

Durlin Hicock, Alice Elshoff Award winner

Durlin Hicock, Alice Elshoff Award winner

“Protecting public land is part of my spiritual being. It’s central to my identity to be in wilderness and to see it protected.” Durlin is proud to protect public lands for future generations, saying, “The highlight of my childhood was our family’s weekend outdoor trips. I look forward to my grandchildren having similar experiences outside in their lifetimes, and it wouldn’t be possible without ONDA.”

voices

Bonnie Olin, 2017 Volunteer of the Year

Bonnie Olin, 2017 Volunteer of the Year

“If you spend enough time in the wild, it will change you. So it was for me in Oregon’s high desert, especially in the Owyhee Canyonlands.” To support ONDA, Bonnie says, is to strive to protect the very values of Oregon’s high desert that are critical to the human experience: quiet and connectedness with nature. “Oregon’s desert,” she says, “broadens your understanding of your relationship to all living things.”

listen

Western Meadowlark Dawn Chorus

Western Meadowlark Dawn Chorus

Our Commitment to
Justice, Equity and Inclusion

Oregon Natural Desert Association is pursuing equity in environmental conservation because everyone deserves clean air, clean water and access to open, wild spaces. America’s public lands and waters can contribute to all of these essential basic needs when all people have equal access to them, when all feel welcome in them, and when they are […]

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Our Approach

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