Oregon WildBlog

When democracy works and the values of all people are reflected in decisions, water, wildlife, and landscapes are safeguarded. When a narrower group of wealthy interests are the only ones with a seat at the table, these values are degraded. Oregon Wild believes in a functioning and healthy representative democracy for all; one in which people power matters more than the power of money. Oregonians deserve fair elections and leaders who listen to them before listening to big donors.

Introducing a 2024 Wildlands Series –Hardesty Mountain, Middle Santiam Wilderness, Metolius River, Lookout Mountain, North Fork Umatilla Wilderness, and Imnaha River

By Marina Richie

Oregon's rivers aren't just summer destinations, but can make for epic winter adventures too! Here are 5 snowshoe excursions in Oregon full of iced-over waterfalls, old-growth forests, majestic mountain views, and snowy winter landscapes.

In the final weeks of 2023, two far-reaching policy processes were unveiled that could shape the future of our forests for generations to come.

Even though many of our favorite hiking trails are covered in snow, winter is still a great time to get out and enjoy Oregon's wildlands. It just takes a bit of extra planning and some different gear. Whether you are an experienced snowshoer or thinking about trying it out for the first time, Oregon Wild has you covered!

The Elliott State Forest is one of the crown jewels of the Oregon Coast Range. It is a stronghold for federally listed marbled murrelets, northern spotted owls, and Coho salmon, and has some of the last remaining old-growth forests left in Oregon State forests. The Elliott has historically been one of Oregon's most conflicted landscapes, but in recent years, stakeholders have come together to forge a new collaborative path forward.

For nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) has directed management in National Forests in western Washington, Oregon, and northern California. A compromise enacted in 1994, the NWFP aimed to protect and restore old-growth forests and healthy stream habitat for threatened species, while still facilitating logging on public lands.

When you’re out enjoying the spectacular national forests in Oregon, you’re probably not thinking about laws passed decades ago to require forest plans for these areas. But these plans, and the subsequent standards, guidelines, designations, and policies they create, make a huge difference in what you’ll experience at your favorite trail, river, or picnic spot. They certainly affect the lives of the wildlife that call these places home, the fish that swim in the streams, and the plants that thrive in the forest soil. 

Inspiring nature author Terry Tempest Williams and talented illustrator Allen Crawford reflected on 50 years of preventing extinction, recovering species, and looking ahead to 50 more years of ensuring wildlife thrives.

Senator Merkley introduced a resolution to protect biodiversity in time for the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.