ONDA works across millions of acres of eastern Oregon’s most ecologically important high desert public lands to provide climate resiliency, essential habitat for fish and wildlife, and healthy natural environments. Our public engagement and strategic partnerships conserve key Oregon desert landscapes, and we are the only conservation organization dedicated exclusively to protecting Oregon’s high desert.
Both fragile and finite, Oregon’s desert public lands comprise some of the most biologically significant sagebrush landscapes remaining in North America. Only a precious few of these wildlands are protected and climate change, industrial development and other concerns put this beloved natural environment at risk.
Our Conservation Priorities
Oregon’s high desert is a distinctive landscape holding impressive rivers, craggy canyons, broad peaks, rolling grasslands, and a veritable sea of sagebrush stretching across eastern Oregon. Our conservation work is focused on five priority landscapes:
- Owyhee Canyonlands
- John Day River Basin
- Central Oregon Backcountry
- Greater Hart-Sheldon
- Steens Mountain Region
Conserving Focal Landscapes
The majority of Oregon’s high desert public land are overseen by federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management who manage millions of acres of land for a variety of uses, while also seeking to preserve natural, cultural and historic resources.
The U.S. Congress—and even the president—can take action to strengthen conservation and protect the most essential desert public lands and waters managed by federal agencies. Elected leaders have pathways to designate wilderness areas, national monuments, national conservation areas, national parks and more. Rivers and streams can be designated as “Wild and Scenic”.
Conservation organizations like Oregon Natural Desert Association identify opportunities and mobilize supporters to encourage elected leaders to make designations that prioritize conservation in focal landscapes that hold special value. We successfully led public advocacy campaigns that established the only wilderness areas, one of the strongest protective designations available, in Oregon’s high desert:
Some eight million acres of exceptional desert public lands in Oregon are still in need of protection. While natural spaces and biodiversity are at risk, conservation solutions are at hand. Learn more about ONDA’s ongoing work to conserve focal landscapes with protective designations:
Learn more about ways you can support public lands conservation.
