The Oregon Natural Resources Council has a mission: “to aggressively protect and restore Oregon’s wild lands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy.” In keeping with that goal, the organization is co-sponsoring, along with eight other environmental groups, the first annual Oregon Wilderness Conference.
“Standing Tall: Protecting Oregon’s Wild Forests” will be held at Lane Community College April 27-29.
Leanne Siart, ONRC’s Conservation and Outreach Coordinator, says that public involvement is the key.
“The conference is aimed at educating and motivating people to participate in forest wilderness conservation,” she said.
The Wilderness Conference will bring several organizations under one roof, each with a specific interest in protecting Oregon’s diverse wilderness areas. Bill Marlett, Executive Director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association, explained that while the emphasis of the conference is on forest protection, “the underlying theme is wilderness protection.”
Conference co-sponsors have organized steering meetings over the course of the year to ensure the event is a success. “This is a statewide effort. This conference is going to be a public expression of support to protect the last wild places in Oregon,” said Ric Bailey, Executive Director of the Hells Canyon Preservation Council.
According to the ONRC, only 3 percent of Oregon’s wild forests are protected as wilderness. To help guard the rest of the state’s wilderness, ONRC, along with more than 10 other environmental groups, formed the Oregon Wilderness Coalition (OWC) beginning the Oregon Wild Campaign. Since then, the OWC has mapped and completed inventory on roadless areas of 1,000 acres or more around the state. The results of these efforts will be unveiled at the conference in a proposal to protect 5 million acres of Oregon’s wild forests.
The three-day conference will feature speakers, panel discussions and workshops, as well as music and entertainment. Topics are diverse: “Women in the Wilderness Movement,” the “Media’s Perspective on Wilderness Issues,” “Carnivores in the Cascades,” fire management, grassroots organizing and drinking water. Keynote speakers include Gloria Flora, director of Sustainable Obtainable Options in Montana; Elizabeth Furse, retired U.S. Rep. From Oregon’s 1st District, known for her support of environmental issues; Robert Freimark, director of the Pacific Northwest region of the Wilderness Society; and Chris Wood, senior advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.
Melissa Unger, a senior at UO and campus organizer of OSPIRG, explained what a unique opportunity it is that this conference will happen in Eugene. ONRC expects about 200 people at the conference, which costs $55 for the weekend (including meals). Registration for Saturday events is $25.
Siart encourages the public to take advantage of this opportunity to be a part of what she calls “conservation history in the making.”