ONDA 30th Anniversary

Three decades ago, a Bend resident took out a newspaper ad and spread the word among friends: Come by Thursday night if you’re interested in protecting Oregon’s high desert. By the second meeting, the fledgling group gave itself a name – Oregon Natural Desert Association – and everyone chipped in $5 to get it going.

In the years since, the Oregon Natural Desert Association – or ONDA – has continually made a difference for public lands and waterways on the state’s dry side. From the creation of Oregon’s first three desert wilderness areas – Steens Mountain, Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin – to removing obsolete barbed wire fence that allows wildlife to move freely across the landscape, the Bend-based nonprofit organization has grown into a solid voice for conservation in the high desert.

Stand for the Land: A Community Celebration of Conservation

Join this free, family-friendly event to honor 30 years of conservation in Oregon’s high desert with beverages, inspiration, information, and tools to act on behalf of your public lands