For 131 years, the Mazamas has stood as steadfast defenders of our public lands, advocating for access, preservation, and protection of the wild places that define the Pacific Northwest. Since our founding on Mt. Hood in 1894, the organization has worked alongside dedicated land managers, biologists, and trail crews to ensure that these lands remain open, healthy, and protected for everyone.
Today, that legacy is at risk. Public lands across the country — and right here in Oregon — are facing an unprecedented crisis that threatens the trails we hike, the mountains we climb, and the forests and watersheds we depend upon.
An Unprecedented Threat to Public Lands and the People Who Protect Them
In recent weeks, sweeping staffing cuts have deeply impacted the agencies responsible for managing and protecting our public lands. According to the Outdoor Alliance, as well as reporting from the Statesman Journal, E&E News, and the Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management have seen between 10 and 30 percent of their workforce laid off, with some reports indicating that up to half of all recreation staff have been eliminated.
These cuts are already being felt, as noted by National Parks Traveler resulting in unmaintained trails, closed campgrounds, and reduced emergency response capacity. Communities that depend on the outdoor recreation economy—an industry that generates billions annually according to the Outdoor Industry Association—also face economic impacts as public lands become harder to access and enjoy.
Industrial Logging and Environmental Rollbacks Compound the Crisis
Making matters worse, a recent executive order promotes a major expansion of industrial logging on public lands, including old-growth forests, as outlined by Oregon Wild. This directive calls for weakening long-standing protections under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Reporting by The Washington Post, Earthjustice, and the Statesman Journal confirms that these plans will fast-track logging projects while limiting public input and environmental review.
Rather than promoting thoughtful, science-based wildfire mitigation, this order prioritizes large-scale logging under claims of wildfire prevention and national security. Analysis from the Center for Biological Diversity and Earthjustice highlights how this move endangers ecosystems and wildlife while putting short-term industry profit ahead of conservation.
Why This Matters to the Mazama Community
As Mazamas, we know that public lands don’t maintain themselves. We’ve worked with rangers, scientists, and trail crews for generations to protect the places we love. Trails need maintenance. Forests need responsible management. And wildlife needs protected habitats to thrive. Without the trained professionals who safeguard these lands—and without the environmental protections now under attack—the future of our public lands and the outdoor experiences they offer are in serious jeopardy.
How You Can Take Action Today
- Contact your members of Congress. Let them know you oppose public lands staffing cuts and the rollback of environmental protections. Ask them to reverse the staffing cuts, restore funding for public land agencies, halt large-scale logging in mature and old-growth forests, and prioritize science-based land management. Use Democracy.io to send a message quickly and directly.
- Join the Mazama Conservation Committee. We need members to help us monitor and respond to these threats. Email us at conservation@mazamas.org to get involved.
- Volunteer for trail maintenance and stewardship. The Mazamas regularly partner with organizations like Trailkeepers of Oregon and Washington Trails Association, which offer hands-on ways to care for our outdoor spaces. Look for trail tending opportunities on the Mazama calendar and via TKO and WTA directly.
- Attend the Rally to Protect Public Lands hosted by People for Public Lands, happening Saturday, March 15 at noon in front of the Edith Green Federal Building in downtown Portland. Public lands belong to all of us, and showing up in person sends a strong message.
- Finally, talk to others about what’s happening. Share this information, encourage friends, family, and fellow Mazamas to speak up, and remind them that these lands belong to all of us.
The Future of Public Lands Is in Our Hands
Whether you hike, climb, or simply find peace in nature, your voice matters. By speaking up, getting involved, and standing together, we can protect these places for generations to come. The wild places we love—mountains, forests, and trails—are still here because people stood up to protect them. Now it’s our turn.
If you’re ready to take action, email us at conservation@mazamas.org. Together, we can continue to protect and advocate for the mountains and forests that inspire and sustain us all.