The Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project

of the League of Wilderness Defenders

Since our inception in 1991 in rural eastern Oregon, our mission has been to protect, defend, and restore the natural ecosystems of the Blue Mountains and eastern Oregon Cascades bioregions. Our efforts include proactive public education on ecological issues, forest surveys and documentation of proposed public lands projects (timber sales, road building, livestock grazing, herbicide and biocide programs, etc.), training, ongoing involvement in public lands policy management decisions, and litigation in federal courts to protect the biodiversity and ecological integrity of the region.

The Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project now covers four National Forests - the Umatilla, Malheur, Ochoco, and Deschutes - and the Prineville BLM District. We reach public audiences and activists across th Pacific Northwest and nationally with our outreach on threats to biodiversity in the Blue Mountains bioregion, strategy ideas addressing root causes of these threats, and activist skills trainings.

Our key accomplishments:

Our litigation efforts have resulted in precedent-setting legal victories, protecting essential wildlife habitat and creating beneficial environmental case law for use by activists elsewhere.

Among our many legal wins are:

Tower Fire, Umatilla NF, setting legal precedent on post-fire logging;

Hash Rock, Ochoco NF, and Timber Basin, Prineville BLM, cases affirming and strengthening the Tower case law;

JOBS and Mule timber sales, Malheur NF, victories protecting Aldrich roadless area (rare ancient forest which has never been logged) and old growth forests in five other proposed sales;

Tussock Moth/BtK case, Region 6 USFS, stopping biocide spraying against a native moth species on up to five million acres across nine national forests in Washington and Oregon, setting new legal precedent on point sources of pollution. The BtK spraying would have killed all species of moths and butterflies in larval stage;

Herbicide case, Malheur NF, stopping use of dangerous herbicides on public forest lands, which again set beneficial legal precedent;

Flagtail CE and timber sale, Malheur NF, setting helpful legal precedent, stopping ecologically harmful abuse of post-fire logging.

These are just a few of our many legal victories on behalf of wild nature. Many other harmful projects have been prevented or significantly modified through appeals, public exposure, and negotiation. Two of our cases - Tower and the Tussock Moth case - were upheld by the US Supreme Court.

Other BMBP accomplishments:

The creation of the ``Conference on Ending Corporate Dominance Over Ecosystems and Communities'' at Oregon's Portland State University which ran annually for three years and brought thousands of people together. The conference was an alliance building effort linking many organizations from diverse movements.

The publication and distribution of the award winning book, Elite Consensus, a guide to the institutions that leverage corporate power.

Our seasonal internship program, with over 100 volunteers trained. Interns are provided education in forest ecology and political process, for which some receive college credits. Volunteers enjoy a meaningful work experience in natural ecosystems, some from urban backgrounds for the first time. Ranging in age from 12 to 55, many new activists have taken the skills learned to other campaigns.

Our rural outreach newspaper, The Pacific Mountain Wildcat, distributed primarily in rural areas across the Northwest, many of which previously had little access to alternative information on pressing issues such as forest destruction, fire ecology, militarism, corporate globalization, threats to civil rights, native sovereignty, ecological sustainability, etc.

Numerous educational presentations throughout the Northwest and across the country, including conference events, university talks, school and community presentations, slide shows, and workshops on ecological, legal, and corporate issues.

Countless interviews, op-eds, press releases and articles in newspapers and magazines, as well as radio and tv coverage across the Northwest.

What You Can Do to Help:

We are a very economically lean and efficient organization. To support our efforts, please consider becoming a major donor or regular contributor to our work. For instance, $1000-5000 could pay for a lawsuit or staff time for one to four months; $500-750 could pay for gas and repairs for field-checking timber sales; $100-400 could cover postage and/or printing for public outreach events and activist trainings; $20-75 can cover costs of film and development, field gear, or food for hungry volunteers (many of whom are low-income). Or tax-deductible contributions please make your check out to LOWD and mail to the address on this website. In-kind donations are also appreciated - contact us. We also sell books, T-shirts, and hand-drawn wildlife cards - please inquire. Also consider volunteering: internships, setting up speaking engagements and benefits, volunteering legal time, etc.

For more information, to volunteer or contribute, contact us:

Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project
27803 Williams Lane
Fossil, Oregon 97830
(541) 385-9167