Project Description
Volunteers will support wildlife research and conservation by visiting and photographing areas in Oregon’s high desert known as “Key Research Natural Areas.” These are public lands with exceptional greater sage-grouse habitat that the Bureau of Land Management closed to cattle grazing in 2015 to aid in scientific research. However, BLM has not consistently enforced this closure. By documenting on-the-ground conditions, volunteers will identify areas of illegal grazing. ONDA will use this information to support legal and policy efforts that encourage science-based land management practices.
Project Difficulty and Requirements
The difficulty of this project varies based on which locations you choose to visit—some areas are significantly more difficult to access than others. All volunteers must be comfortable navigating independently in Oregon’s high desert without cell service. Volunteers must also have a smartphone and a vehicle capable of driving on unpaved roads.
Project Location
There are several Key Research Natural Areas available for monitoring; all of them are located in southeastern Oregon. You can monitor one location or multiple. ONDA will provide detailed maps after you sign up for the project.
Project Background
In 2015, the Bureau of Land Management drafted a conservation plan to support the recovery of imperiled greater sage-grouse on public lands in Oregon’s high desert. As part of this plan, the agency decided to close off certain areas with exceptional sage-grouse habitat to cattle grazing so that scientists could study ungrazed sagebrush plant communities. These areas are called Key Research Natural Areas.
The BLM is required to keep cattle out of these areas, but they have not consistently done so. ONDA is a proponent of using high-quality research to promote science-based land management practices. In support of this aim, we’re monitoring these areas to compel the BLM to enforce the closure and enable sound research.
Instructions and Training
When you sign up, you will receive all of the information you need to get started, including maps and detailed monitoring instructions. You may also choose to participate in an optional training before you begin.
Optional trainings will be offered online and in-person in ONDA’s Bend office. Training dates are listed in the sign-up form.
