Dear Friend,

I hope you saw Ken Burns’ documentary about our national parks on public television. To call our national parks “America’s best idea” seems rather audacious, doesn’t it? 

Burns makes a powerful case. Creating a system of national parks to conserve wild America was an innovation that changed the face of our country. It also changed our relationship to the land, providing important places where scientific ideas about ecological integrity and the stewardship of wild places could be shaped and tested.

It makes me wonder. How are these same powerful ideas transforming Oregon? Can we envision a future for our state in which the ecosystems that sustain all life are valued and protected for generations to come?

An important part of the answer has to be a dedicated source of funding Oregonians can count on to back up our vision. Funds that will pay to protect and repair habitats, safeguard important natural areas, and create opportunities to bring people close to nature.

Eleven years ago, Oregon voters passed a ballot measure that dedicates 15 percent of the Oregon Lottery to natural areas and parks. It was popular and passed with 67 percent voting in favor. Today these funds are at work restoring habitats, acquiring natural areas, and creating and improving state and local parks. The measure has proven tremendously successful.

The natural area funds, distributed as competitive grants by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, have supported critical acquisitions including Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, the Table Rocks near Medford, and coastal Big Creek. They’re also supporting hundreds of stream restoration and other projects advanced by community-based groups such as watershed councils and soil and water conservation districts. The parks funding has helped protect thousands more acres of important habitat.

However, this crucial funding source for parks and natural areas sunsets in 2014 — unless Oregon voters elect to make it permanent. That’s why, in the coming months, you’ll hear about The Nature Conservancy working with a broad coalition to renew Oregon’s dedication of lottery funds via a statewide vote in the fall of 2010.

A secure, healthy future for Oregon’s great diversity of life, and a permanent fund to help achieve it — would it be too audacious to call that “Oregon’s best idea?” I don’t think so. If you’d like to join us in making it happen, e-mail your name, address and phone number — or give us a call at 503-802-8100.

Russell Hoeflich
Vice President and Oregon Director

p.s. Thank you for joining us in renewing Oregon's conservation fund by e-mailing your name, address and phone number today — we'll keep you updated about the ballot measure and how you can help!

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Rick McEwan (Upper Table Rock, Oregon); Photo © Greg Kozawa (Russell Hoeflich, Nature Conservancy Vice President and Oregon director).