What is so tiny that you can hold hundreds of them in a single handful, yet holds the key to restoration and climate resiliency in Oregon’s high desert? A seed. Or rather, millions of tiny seeds, each of which holds the potential to grow into a native bunchgrass and help restore resilient, thriving desert grasslands. […]
Gena Goodman-Campbell
Posted inOutside
Recovering Essential Desert Waters
Working with tribes to restore the lifeblood of desert ecosystems
Oregon’s high desert is an arid landscape, defined by the scarcity of water. A mere 2% of the high desert is wetland or riparian habitat, and nearly all of the wildlife in the region depend on these oases to survive. While mighty desert rivers like the Owyhee and the John Day are critical pieces of […]
Posted inOutside
The Juniper Paradox
Both iconic and beloved in Oregon’s high desert, western juniper is a fascinating,
hardy species with a dual nature
“Are juniper trees native or invasive?” Over the course of my 16-year career working to protect and restore Oregon’s high desert, this is by far the question I am asked the most. And the answer is… both. Western juniper is a native species that exists most extensively in Oregon and northern California, with smaller populations […]
Posted inOutside
Volunteering as Climate Action
Help reverse the overwhelming impacts of climate change
by participating in local restoration projects
Many people see the desert as a dry and barren landscape, but Oregon’s high desert is defined by water. Wetlands and riparian areas, essential habitat that occurs along the edges of rivers and streams, make up only 2% of the high desert, yet nearly all of the wildlife in the region depends on these oases […]
Posted inNews
Public Lands: Shrinkage, Development and De-Funding
Trump and Congress agenda to steal public lands from the people
Of the many bad ideas that gained traction in 2016, privatizing public lands is one of the most radical and lacking in public support. Republicans and Democrats alike use and enjoy public lands, and Americans overwhelmingly oppose removing land from public ownership by selling it off or handing it over to individual states to manage. […]