About Friends of Douglas-Fir National Monument

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Our Mission:

To establish Douglas-Fir National Monument comprising federal public lands in the upper North, Middle and South Santiam watersheds in Oregon, to conserve and fully restore a naturally functioning landscape dominated by old-growth forests, as well as to protect the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities for the benefit of this and future generations.

BOARD MEMBERS

	Milo Mecham, President Milo Mecham was born in Eureka, CA, and grew up outside of town among the redwoods, where his love of big trees was established. After living in Iowa and Arizona while working on a PhD and a JD at the University of Arizona, Milo moved with his family to Eugene, where he was in private practice, then with the Lane Council of Governments, where he worked on land use issues, practiced municipal law, and worked on economic, infrastructure and telecommunications development projects. He now lives in Campbell, CA.
	Stephen Sharnoff, Vice-President Stephen Sharnoff is a botanical photographer and forest advocate based in Ojo Caliente, NM. He is co-author of Lichens of North America (Yale University Press, 2001), author of A Field Guide to California Lichens (Yale University Press, 2014), and co-author of Flowering Plants of the Sierra Nevada (available December, 2025, Heyday). His photographs have been used in numerous exhibitions, magazines and books; in 2012 he was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.
	Andy Kerr, Secretary Andy Kerr began his conservation career in 1976 with what is know known as Oregon Wild. Through 2015, Kerr has been intimately involved with the establishment or expansion of many Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Special Management Areas, Oregon Scenic Waterways and two National Monuments. He has lectured at all of Oregon’s leading universities and colleges, as well as Harvard and Yale. He is currently is the Czar of The Larch Company where he consults on environmental and conservation issues. His website is http://www.andykerr.net/.
	Glenn Van Cise, Treasurer Glenn Van Cise was the chief financial officer for a nonprofit agency that worked with people who experience disabilities for over 30 years. Currently he is the board president of the Central Oregon Environmental Center after a four year stint as Treasurer. Glenn is a founding board member of Oregon Natural Desert Association. He was the conservation chair of Central Oregon Audubon for 10 years as well as being President for 5 years. Wilderness photography is one of his hobbies.
	Rand Schenck, Board Member Rand Schenck began his environmental activism focused on forestry in the late 70s with the Sierra Club in North Carolina. After moving to Oregon in 1996 Rand joined the Board of Oregon Natural Resources Council, now Oregon Wild, and continued to focus on protecting Oregon's wild lands, wild waters and wildlife. He is one of the founders of 350PDX and MCAT, both focussed on climate change. In 2024 WSU Press published Rand’s book, Forest Under Siege, The Story of Old Growth after Gifford Pinchot.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Woody Jackson has been a long time advocate for the forest in the Breitenbush section of our Monument proposal. Years ago, he put down roots in that area and has been committed to protection of that forest ever since. Currently, he is President of Friends of the Breitenbush Cascades, serves on the North Santiam Watershed Council and is a Volunteer Team Leader for SOLVE and Cascade Volunteers.

Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a professor of plant ecology, writer and Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY. Her writings include Gathering Moss and Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Her work focuses on restoration of plants of cultural significance and renewal of human relationships to place.

Kathleen Dean Moore, Ph.D., is a philosopher, environmental advocate, and essayist, best known for award-winning books that celebrate the natural world. Among them are Riverwalking, Holdfast, Pine Island Paradox, and Wild Comfort. Her most recent book, Great Tide Rising: Toward Clarity and Moral Courage in a Time of Planetary Change, follows the pivotal Moral Ground, testimony from the world’s moral leaders about our obligations to the future.

Peter H. Raven PhD., is President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden, which he built into perhaps the foremost botanical research institution in the world. He is a leading conservationist and spokesperson for biodiversity, the recipient of the U.S.National Medal of Science (2000) as well as many other awards. He is the lead author of Biology of Plants (W.H. Freeman & Co.), now in its eighth edition.

William Sullivan is author of eighteen books about Oregon hiking, history, adventure and mystery. He has recently published the fourth edition of "100 Hikes of the Central Oregon Cascades", which covers our proposed Douglas-Fir National Monument in detail. His Oregon Hiking website is http://www.oregonhiking.com/

Tom Titus PhD, is a Research Associate at the University of Oregon, a scientist who studies salamanders, President of the Eugene Natural History Society, and the author of “Blackberries in July; A Forager’s Guide to Inner Peace” (Red Moons Press, 2012) as well as articles and poetry.

George Wuerthner is an ecologist, writer and photographer who has published 38 books, many of them dealing with national parks. He is currently board chair of RESTORE which has advocated for creation of a Maine Woods NP which was partially realized when President Obama established the Katahdin Woods and Lakes National Monument.

The creation of Douglas-Fir National Monument has been endorsed by the following organizations:
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs
Many Rivers Group, Sierra Club, Eugene, OR
Marys Peak Group, Sierra Club, Corvallis, OR
Lane County Audubon Society, Eugene, OR
Oregon Cougar Action Team
350 Eugene
Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Willamette Chapter
Cascadia Wildlands
Interfaith Earthkeepers
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, NY
Old-Growth Forest Network, Easton, MD

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Friends of Douglas-Fir National Monument
P.O. Box 176
Bend, OR 97709

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