Oregon Wild

Our Mission:
Oregon Wild works to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.

Founded in 1974, Oregon Wild (formerly the Oregon Natural Resources Council or ONRC) has been instrumental in securing permanent legislative protection for some of Oregon's most precious landscapes, including nearly 1.7 million acres of Wilderness, 95,000 acres of forests in Bull Run/Little Sandy watersheds (to safeguard the quality of Portland's water supply) and almost 1,800 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers.

As a leader in the national grassroots campaign for conservation of roadless areas in our national forests, Oregon Wild helped secure administrative protections for more than 58 million acres of spectacular roadless areas across the country.

Our wilderness, old-growth forest and clean rivers/watersheds programs protect pristine drinking water, unparalleled recreation opportunities and fish and wildlife habitat across Oregon. With a staff of 14, including regional coordinators, Oregon Wild's strength is its active grassroots citizen network. Through the power of 3,000 members, over 20,000 e-mail activists and dozens of active volunteers, Oregon Wild works to maintain environmental laws, while building broad community support for our campaigns.

View an archive of Oregon Wild newsletters.

Meet the Oregon Wild staff and board.

Remember when we were ONRC? Learn about the name change here.

You can help keep Oregon Wild by becoming a member and joining our email list!

Our Vision for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
To better fulfill Oregon Wild's mission to protect and restore Oregon's wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations, we will weave enhanced diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of our planning and everyday work. By evolving our internal systems and practices to build and nurture strong, authentic relationships with people of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, we hope to accomplish better diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Just as Oregon’s landscapes thrive when biodiversity is protected, we will thrive by honoring and leveraging human diversity.

With staff, board, and volunteers more representative of Oregon’s population, the organization will be more relevant to a changing culture. Our appeal to broad-ranging communities will grow and sustain a diverse, inclusive, and equitable support base, allowing us to be more nimble and successful in our programs and campaigns.