We’re a diverse community of people dedicated to conserving Oregon’s high desert.
Oregon Natural Desert Association’s passionate community of advocates works to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s desert public lands, waters and wildlife.
Our Community
Sage Brown Website
Our Board
ONDA’s board of directors are community leaders who care deeply about the future of central and eastern Oregon’s public lands. Each volunteer director is committed to conserving the high desert’s biodiversity and most ecologically important landscapes and ecosystems.
voices
Craig Terry, ONDA member and stewardship volunteer
Craig Terry, ONDA member and stewardship volunteer
“The people I have had the privilege to share time with each season keep me volunteering again and again. Who else but those ONDA staff leaders would make fresh coffee at dawn each morning or pack a watermelon all day to serve as a reward under a juniper in a steep canyon?” Craig, who grew up in northwestern Nevada, says ONDA connects him with places he loves and a mission he believes in. “My grandfather and his father put up wire fences for their ranching needs. Taking out barbed wire sort of completes a circle for me.”
fact
Bitteroot
Bitteroot
Bitteroot blooms on north-facing cliffs in western North America.
The Paiute name for bitteroot is kangedya. Traditional Native American uses of the plant included eating the roots, mixed with berries and meat, and using the roots to treat sore throats.
voices
Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year
Reid Williams, 2021 Conservationist of the Year
How far are you willing to hike for conservation? Reid Williams offered to put in more than 20 miles a day, by himself, walking and monitoring fence lines on Beatys Butte. And that was on top of weekly visits to the ONDA office, where he is always eager to help with extra projects. In acknowledgment of his willingness and helpful spirit, ONDA named him our 2021 Conservationist of the Year.
Our Members
ONDA members have advocated for Oregon desert conservation priorities since 1987. Today, we are an ever-growing community of individuals thousands strong. We come together through a shared love of place to press for the conservation of the region’s lands, waters and wildlife.
Our Founders
In the mid-1980s, a diverse group of people, including teachers, doctors, students, naturalists, and retirees, came together when a federal inventory of Oregon’s desert lands left out many of the places that they knew and loved. To ensure eastern Oregon’s natural wonders were documented and eligible for protection, this group of desert conservation advocates banded together to survey these public lands, ultimately finding upwards of eight million acres in need of conservation action. Out of this effort, Oregon Natural Desert Association was founded to ensure this special landscape had a permanent advocate.
Our Business Members
ONDA is proud to have the support of businesses that believe in high desert conservation. These business members contribute to efforts to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s high desert by providing funding, donating products, promoting campaigns, and supporting events. Business involvement grows our community, supports key projects, and is vital to our conservation efforts.
Our Partners
Working with an array of partners is fundamental to ONDA’s approach to securing lasting conservation outcomes that benefit Oregon’s high desert. We partner with community groups, land managers, local, regional and national conservation organizations, recreationalists, Tribal and Indigenous communities, and others to promote conservation solutions.
More About Our Community
Join, Renew, or Give a Gift
When you donate to Oregon Natural Desert Association, you become part of a community of individuals who share your passion for conserving the lands, waterways and wildlife in the high […]
Read MoreThe People Who Make Us
Author: Renee Schiavone | Published: April 24, 2025 | Category: Profile This article originally appeared in the Spring + Summer 2025 Desert Ramblings What fuels conservation success. I traversed a […]
Read More