Mobilizing Conservation Advocates

Oregon Natural Desert Association connects people to Oregon desert landscapes, issues and conservation opportunities, and we mobilize communities and develop strategic partnerships to expand and deepen our impact. Our community of dedicated and passionate advocates champions high desert conservation, ensuring the public has a say in how these public lands and resources are managed.

Leading Conservation Action

Elected leaders and other decision-makers need to know that the public values wild, healthy, resilient and intact desert lands, waters and wildlife.

ONDA organizes advocates, community partners and leaders to build political power needed to achieve our conservation goals. We mobilize people in Oregon and across the country to drive conservation proposals that expand protected lands, update our supporters on important issues, opportunities and threats, and support informed public input on decisions affecting the high desert.

ONDA inspires a love of place that fuels active participation in high desert conservation. If you love desert public lands, you have a valuable perspective to contribute. Join us in advocating for conservation:

 

Building Strategic Conservation Partnerships

Building partnerships and coalitions is a hallmark of Oregon Natural Desert Association’s work. While we are the only organization solely dedicated to conserving public lands in Oregon’s high desert, working with partners, communities, and everyone interested in healthy, resilient and protected public lands is fundamental to our success.

ONDA partners with Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities and a broad array of government agencies, community members, landowners, user groups and businesses in pursuit of our conservation mission. Together, we are creating strong, inclusive partnerships to ensure long-term conservation outcomes.

 

voices

Cregg Large, member since 2009

Cregg Large, member since 2009

“I came to Oregon 12 years ago from Texas. Texas, for all its size, has very little public land. Coming to Oregon has made me realize the special gift we as Americans have in our public lands. Volunteering with an organization like ONDA is my way of reciprocating for this gift. Through restoration efforts, I feel we are helping leave a better place than we found it. Through advocating for protection for public lands, we safeguard migration routes for animals and keep the land where it belongs: with the public.”

voices

Scott Bowler, ONDA member from Portland

Scott Bowler, ONDA member from Portland

The desert speaks for itself, but very softly. I support ONDA to promote and enable discovery of the amazing beauty and recreational opportunities of the high desert by much broader groups of people; and most especially to protect forever the full and diverse landscape of the Owyhee Canyonlands, a place without parallel or equal in our country.”

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.”