Oregon Wild


Oregon Wild, formerly the Oregon Natural Resources Council, is an American conservation organization based in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Eugene and Bend. The group is notable for having had a case, Marsh v. Oregon Natural Resources Council 490 U.S. 360, tried before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Organization

Founded in 1974 as the Oregon Wilderness Coalition, and later renamed Oregon Natural Resources Council, Oregon Wild claims credit for helping to bring about legislative protection for nearly of preserved wilderness, of forests in the Bull Run watershed and more than of roadless areas, as well as the addition of almost of rivers and streams to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. To this end, they claim the ability to muster 3,000 members and over 11,000 "e-mail activists." Additionally, Oregon Wild is listed as a plaintiff in cases against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State of Oregon.

Name change

In 2006, the ONRC changed its name to Oregon Wild, citing concerns that the organization was frequently mistaken for either a government agency or a state chapter of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The new name was hoped to be shorter, less confusing, and easier to remember.

Areas of focus

Oregon Wild's focus is to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for all Oregonians.

Wilderness

Oregon Wild is seeking wilderness protection for all of Oregon's roadless forested lands of or more, as well as a restoration of ecosystems bordering current protected areas. With about 4 percent of Oregon designated as wilderness, Oregon Wild proposes adding of forested public lands to the wilderness system, to add to past campaign successes.

Rivers and Clean Water

Oregon Wild seeks to protect Oregon's rivers, lakes and wetlands from dams, development, mining and logging. Oregon Wild has ongoing campaigns to protect Portland drinking water quality and the Klamath Basin.