Oregon Natural Desert Association

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Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA)

Oregon Natural Desert Association, or ONDA, is a nonprofit organization based in Bend, Oregon. It was founded in 1987 and operates as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) group. ONDA’s mission is to protect, defend, and restore the wild lands of eastern Oregon. Ryan Houston serves as the Executive Director, and ONDA’s website is onda.org.

Key focus areas:
- Protecting wildlife habitats, including Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and areas along the Owyhee River.
- Creating and mapping the Oregon Desert Trail, a long-distance hiking route from Bend to the Idaho border, which has received praise from outdoor groups and publications.

Community involvement:
- In 2016, after the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation, ONDA helped mobilize volunteers to support environmental restoration, with more than 600 volunteers from the Pacific Northwest participating.