ABOUT US

ONDA is the only group working exclusively to protect Oregon’s High Desert.  Founded in 1987, ONDA is a 1,250-member grassroots organization that successfully uses education, science, litigation, and grassroots advocacy to achieve its mission of protecting, defending, and restoring the health of Oregon’s native deserts. Our staff, volunteers, and community partners are experienced, passionate, and committed to inspire others to embrace a conservation ethic. While we have enjoyed a number of outstanding accomplishments over the last three years, we would like to highlight the following:

·     Our Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness campaigns resulted in the introduction of the Badlands Wilderness Act of 2008 and the Spring Basin Wilderness Act of 2008 (introduced by Senator Wyden on June 5), The bills were approved by the full Senate on January 15, 2009 and we believe they will be introduced in the House in February and signedby President Obama shortly thereafter;

·     Our Outreach and Restoration Program engaged a record number of volunteers (over 300) enabling us to increase our efforts to protect and restore Oregon’s high deserts.  Last year’s field trips resulted in the removal of over 13 miles of barbed-wire fence from essential wildlife habitat, closure of four roads, monitoring of 15 sage grouse leks, and the planting of over 4,400 trees in degraded riparian areas;

·     ONDA succeeded in securing the allowance for the voluntary retirement of grazing permits in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) John Day Draft Resource Management Plan (released on October 27, 2008); and

·     ONDA’s legal team enjoyed four legal victories this year that will advance the protection of Oregon’s native deserts, including a precedent-setting case that establishes BLM’s responsibility to document and safeguard wilderness values on public lands.  We also succeeded in obtaining a court order removing livestock grazing in two watersheds that provide critical habitat for steelhead trout.

Our program work faces a variety of challenges, but ONDA believes that through collaboration, a dedicated and informed membership, tenacity, advocacy, and on the ground restoration work, we can continue to succeed in meeting our mission.

Please go to our website for more information about our program goals, activities and volunteer opportunities!  www.onda.org