2013-2014 Accomplishments

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Fiscal Year 2013-2014 was an eventful and exciting year for Oregon Wild. Along with celebrating our own 40th anniversary as an organization, we marked the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act and our subsequent decades of work to protect two million acres of Wilderness across the state.

As usual, our work to protect Oregon was diverse and far reaching. Here’s a snapshot of our accomplishments from the last year.

Wildlands

  • Our campaign to permanently protect the 500,000-acre Crater Lake Wilderness took big strides forward as we reached out to communities throughout Oregon. We signed on over 70 businesses in support of the campaign and hosted countless community presentations.
  • Efforts to protect the old-growth forests in the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness area advanced as legislation passed the full U.S. Senate.
  • Led statewide efforts to halt the privatization and clearcutting of 2.5 million acres of O&C forestlands managed by the BLM through community forums, citizen action, public rallies, and community leader outreach.
  • Revived the Oregon Wilderness Conference by hosting 2014 event featuring over 120 attendees and 20 expert speakers.
  • Tracked approximately 200 timber sales and other federal projects, filing objections and litigation protecting thousands of acres of old-growth, riparian habitat, and sensitive lands from logging and other activities.

Wildlife

  • Launched effort to reform the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the agency tasked with protecting our state’s wildlife. ODWF faces a significant budget shortfall and the agency is asking the state for millions of dollars. An increase in funding for ODFW should only come if that money is dedicated to protecting and conserving Oregon’s native species.
  • Tracked implementation of new wolf plan to ensure ODFW is following the law while also defending wolf protections in the Oregon legislature and ODFW Commission.
  • Conducted extensive outreach and education on wolves, including: hosting the fifth annual Wolf Rendezvous, presenting the OR-7 – The Journey film, coordinating numerous wolf-themed events, and supporting the classroom educational efforts of the Wolfways program.
  • Pressured federal and state agencies to protect at risk species by: submitting comments on a petition to list the Humboldt marten as endangered or threatened, submitting comments on the Navy’s use of sonar off the Oregon coast, and petitioning the USFWS to list Silvery Phacelia (a rare, dune-loving plant) as a threatened species.
  • Joined litigation to challenge a politically-driven decision not to list the wolverine under the Endangered Species Act.

Waters

  • Sued the US Fish & Wildlife Service over their failure to develop a legally-required plan to ensure commercial agriculture does not harm wildlife on the Klamath National Wildlife Refuges. A win would be a giant step forward in ensuring geese, eagles, and fish take priority over agribusiness on these important wetlands.
  • Worked with the Governor’s office and the Oregon State Parks Department to restart nomination process for adding more State Scenic Waterways. The Molalla, Chetco, and Grande Ronde are now working their way through the committee process.
  • Participated in Klamath Task Force convened by Senator Ron Wyden and Governor John Kitzhaber to advocate for enhanced water deliveries to Klamath National Wildlife Refuges.
  • Investigated legal challenge to grazing permits issued for land inside Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

Connecting People to Wild Places

  • Celebrating the anniversary of the Wilderness Act by leading over 50 wildflower, mushroom, wildlife viewing, snowshoe, and old-growth hikes to protected and proposed Wilderness areas across the state.  These outings provided hundreds of individuals with a gateway to our state’s many natural treasures.
  • Organized the tenth annual Outdoor Photo Contest with over 100 participants, including an unveiling event with over 325 people in attendance.
  • Sponsored the 50 Hikes Challenge, an effort to encourage Oregonians to hike in as many existing and proposed Wilderness areas as possible, while documenting their trips and inspiring others to help protect our state.
  • Hosted seven Oregon Wild Wednesday and Wilderness anniversary kick-off events in Portland, Eugene, and Bend, drawing over 500 people to hear from conservation speakers on topics ranging from the history of Wilderness to filming Oregon’s beauty.