1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON

1. A critical mass of Oregonians, representative of the demographics of the State, understands the impacts of our land use planning system and is able to equitably access land use planning processes in their communities.
2. The land use planning system is protected and strengthened to ensure the productive capacity of Oregon’s farm, ranch, and forest lands.
3. Oregon’s statewide climate policy supports viable working lands, preserves natural areas, and contributes to resilient, equitable, and inclusive communities.
4. Diverse, affordable, and climate-resilient housing, transportation, and community parks are inclusive and equitably accessible for all Oregonians.
5. 1000 Friends of Oregon has the human, infrastructural, and financial resources it requires to advance its mission and achieve its vision.

For the past 47 years, 1000 Friends of Oregon has worked to defend, protect, and adjust as needed the urban growth boundaries that surround Oregon’s 241 cities and towns. Over the years, this tool that is unique to Oregon, has proven essential to promoting connected communities and preventing sprawl into our natural landscapes. Ultimately, preserving what makes Oregon so special. Our state’s iconic natural treasures—rivers, lakes, forests, prairies, sagebrush, farms, deserts and woodlands—lie on one side of the line, while the other side holds the promise for the most livable, climate-resilient cities in America.

One of our earliest victories was protecting 12,000 acres of Sauvie Island, near Portland, from sprawl development. Today that land continues to be used by a handful of family farmers whose harvests benefit hundreds of thousands of Oregonians each year. We also played a key role in the protection of other iconic places in Oregon including Smith Rock, Wallowa Lake, and the Metolius River.

Land use is a critical tool for a comprehensive approach to two of the largest threats we face today: living with wildfires and creating community resilience in the face of climate change. 1000 Friends of Oregon advocated for key elements in Oregon’s first comprehensive wildfire preparedness and resiliency bill which passed earlier this year. Senate Bill 762 kickstarts an effort to modernize Oregon’s outdated and underfunded approach to wildfire risk assessment and planning through tools including the development of a statewide map of wildfire risk.

The ultimate outcome sought by 1000 Friends is “an Oregon in which all people share in the economic and ecological benefits of great communities and healthy working landscapes.” 1000 Friends is unique because we are the only statewide nonprofit, not only in Oregon but in the nation, to focus holistically on how each decision made about the use of any land — whether urban, rural, or on the urban growth boundary; whether for housing, transportation, industry, agriculture, or recreation; whether local, regional, or statewide — plays a critical role in determining the quality of life for every Oregonian, and to ensure that every Oregonian has a voice in the process of making such decisions.

1000 Friends of Oregon has been the only statewide group working for balanced land use across Oregon. Our staff includes attorneys, advocates, and community organizers in three offices (Portland, Eugene, Grants Pass), as well as numerous local "Friends of" affiliates in counties statewide. We also oversee the Farmers Advisory Committee and the Cooperating Attorney Program, and our staff are active participants in the Oregon Community Food Systems Network and Central Oregon Conservation Network. We have strong and longstanding partnerships with a variety of community groups, farm and forestry organizations, state agencies, and other regional nonprofits. Our membership base spans the state, and we enjoy steady and significant support from family funds and foundations throughout Oregon.

As an organization that has been working statewide for nearly 50 years, our accomplishments are numerous. We have worked pro bono on thousands of legal actions and hundreds of pieces of legislation that that affected millions of Oregonians, and millions of acres of Oregon. One of our earliest victories was protecting 12,000 acres of Sauvie Island, near Portland, from sprawl development. Today that land continues to be used by a handful of family farmers whose harvests benefit hundreds of thousands of Oregonians each year. We also played a key role in the protection of other iconic places in Oregon including Smith Rock, Wallowa Lake, and the Metolius River.

Perhaps most significant is that, after all that time, the state's land use system still stands, despite constant attempts to undermine or dismantle it altogether. Chief among these attempts was 2004's ill-conceived Measure 37, which lead to land use threats for nearly one million acres of Oregon. In response, in 2007, 1000 Friends of Oregon brought together thousands of citizens from across the state to pass Measure 49, repealing the worst effects of Measure 37 and restoring balanced land use throughout Oregon. More of our key accomplishments can be found on our website, here: http://www.friends.org/about/history.

We will continue to provide Oregon, and Oregonians, with effective legal and land use planning resources to ensure a high quality of life and high degree of livability throughout the state.