HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 9/20/07

Badlands Wilderness Good for Central Oregon’s Economic Health

New study reports positive link between economic growth & the presence of wilderness.

A new report commissioned by the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) concludes that Central Oregon is well suited to benefit economically from protecting the Badlands with a congressional “wilderness” designation.

Bend Badlands, Greg Burke

A new report commissioned by the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) concludes that Central Oregon is well suited to benefit economically from protecting the Badlands with a congressional “wilderness” designation. Click here to view report

The report, “The Potential Ecnomic Impacts of Badlands Wilderness,” produced by Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit organization based in Bozeman, MT, confirms that Central Oregon’s economic growth is largely “quality of life” based.  It concludes that protected natural areas are important economic assets that contribute to faster job and income growth, higher earnings per job and per capita income, and lower unemployment.

Report findings will be presented by the author, Ben Alexander, in a press conference:

Thursday, September 20^th --  9:30 am press conference:

Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 N.W. Kansas Avenue, Bend

10:00-11:00 am, brief tour of the Badlands (transportation available)

11:30 am-1:00 pm, Ben Alexander speaks at the City Club of Central Oregon forum exploring quality of life in a booming economy: “Central Oregon’s Golden Goose: What is it? How do we sustain it?” (St. Charles Medical Ctr., Center for Health & Learning, 2500 NE Neff, 633-7163)

The Badlands is 30,000 acres of high desert, only 15 miles east of Bend, and features old growth juniper, dry river canyons, unique rock formations, and ancient pictographs. The Bureau of Land Management currently manages the Badlands as a Wilderness Study Area for non-motorized recreation.

Input and guidance for the report was provided by a diverse steering committee of Central Oregonians:  Gary Fowles, realtor; Joe Stutler, forester; Dennis Oliphant, pres., Sun Country Tours; Linda Swearingen, former Deschutes County commissioner; Stan Shephardson, M.D., former chair, Cascade Health Care Community board of directors; Rev. Dr. Steven H. Koski, First Presbyterian Church; Suzanne Johannsen, former Bend city councilor; Teague Hatfield, owner of Footzone; Diane Bohle, Ph.D., exec. dir., Prineville Chamber of Commerce; and Rick Allen, former mayor of Madras.

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