Wildlands Protection

Whittler timber sale between the Trinity Alps and Russian Wildernesses

The Klamath-Siskiyou region of Southern Oregon and Northern California is home to the largest remaining network of designated and waiting-to-be designated wilderness areas on the U.S. West Coast.

These rugged wildlands are a priceless treasure that is the collective legacy of all Americans. Preserving wildlands as Wilderness is essential for many reasons:

- Wilderness designation is the highest level of protection available, offering the best remaining core habitat for at-risk species.  Large blocks of wilderness can include corridors that help species move between intact habitat tracts surrounded by lands already disrupted by logging, road building and other development. In this era of rapidly changing climate and disappearing forests, these areas are becoming ever more crucial to the continued survival of countless species.

- Ecosystem functions such as the production of pure drinking water and clean air as well as large-scale disturbance events such as backcountry wildfires, all require large tracts of native habitat. Only by preserving whole ecosystems and intact watersheds can we ensure these priceless natural services will continue uninterrupted.

- Wilderness provides critical habitat for careworn humans.  In this increasingly high-stress world, Wilderness areas offer places of refuge and revitalization for humans that can be found nowhere else.

With its extraordinary natural features the Klamath-Siskiyou offers world-renowned hiking trails and rafting waterways, including the Pacific Crest and Rogue River Trails, and the Wild & Scenic Rogue, Klamath, and Trinity Rivers. 

Learn more about KS Wild's efforts to protect the wildlands of the Klamath-Siskiyou:

Save the Wild Rogue Campaign - KS Wild is a member of the coalition working to preserve the spectacular wildlands of the Lower Rogue River as a legacy for future generations.

Oregon Caves National Monument and Grayback Grazing - KS Wild is working to remove cows from Grayback Mountain and the Kangaroo Roadless Area, and to expand the Oregon Caves National Monument.

Siskiyou Crest Campaign - KS Wild is focused on protecting the exceptional wildlands of the Siskiyou Crest. This key area for biodiversity and regional connectivity contains ancient forests, high elevation meadows, spectacular peaks, and outstanding botanical and butterfly diversity.

Oregon Wilderness Coalition - KS Wild participates as a Steering Committee member in the Oregon Wilderness Coalition seeking protection of Oregon's forested roadless areas as designated Wilderness.

California Wilderness Coalition - KS Wild is a member of the California Wilderness Coalition which leads the effort to protect key wild and roadless areas in California.