Partnering to Meet the Moment

Advocates for the West has a long track record of assisting our partners in sustaining healthy human, plant, and animal communities by increasing the legal capacity of conservation organizations and Tribes.

We’re thrilled to further that commitment through a new partnership with Central Oregon LandWatch, whose mission is rooted in the idea that vibrant communities and healthy ecosystems are inextricably linked. Through the partnership, Advocates for the West will provide LandWatch additional capacity to flex legal muscle in areas of public lands defense and water allocation.

“This investment in legal capacity is an investment in the future of Central Oregon,” said Ben Gordon, Executive Director of Central Oregon LandWatch. “With Advocates for the West on our team, we’re better prepared to meet the moment—and protect the places we all love.” 

This partnership comes at a critical time. Central Oregon is facing an onslaught of threats—including attempts to privatize public lands, rampant water waste, and erosion of bedrock federal protections, such as the Endangered Species Act.

With the additional capacity, Advocates for the West is helping LandWatch take its legal defense to the next level. This includes defending our public lands by responding to harmful industrial proposals and navigating the rapid changes to federal laws and policies that threaten our public lands and wildlife. At the state level, we will help advocate for restoring instream flows to benefit fish and wildlife and improving water management in the Deschutes River Basin. Overall, this will allow us to be better informed and more proactive to protect the natural resources important to Central Oregon communities.

“We are excited to partner with LandWatch to help strengthen their smart, strategic advocacy on behalf of Central Oregon’s natural resources,” said Lizzy Potter, Staff Attorney who will lead the partnership for Advocates for the West. “We’re ready to bring our proven legal expertise to assist LandWatch in protecting our forests and safeguarding our water.”