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Since 2012, our Land Use Leadership Initiative has mentored more than 250 community leaders across the state on Oregon’s land use system. This year's spring cohort is centered in the Portland metro region, gathering 31 community members together to explore diverse land use issues across both sides of the urban growth boundary.

On May 29, we celebrate the anniversary of Senate Bills 100 and 101 being signed into law. We also are celebrating decades of impactful work by Working Lands Policy Director Jim Johnson and board member Jeff Mapes, who recently talked with our 2026 Land Use Leadership Initiative cohort and about facilitating intergenerational collaboration and ensuring that our land use system remains strong for the next 50 years.

The increased frequency and severity of wildfire in Oregon is not just an abstract possibility. Some communities—like Talent, Phoenix, Detroit, and the Santiam area—have had to rebuild after significant wildfire damage, and many others have faced wildfire-related impacts to public health. Oregonians are facing these significant challenges with characteristic toughness and ingenuity. Here are just a few examples of well-planned wildfire recovery and resilience measures that cities around the state are taking.

Woman-owned and operated, Est Wines uses organic, regenerative farming practices to create wines that are vibrant, expressive, and deeply rooted in the land. Plus, they grow in the exclusive farm use (EFU) zone and manage a tasting room within the urban growth boundary (UGB)!

In early May, 1000 Friends of Oregon cohosted a webinar focused on accessible housing policy for advocates, alongside partners at AARP Oregon, Community Vision, and Sightline Institute.

Last week, we looked at actions that individuals, families, and communities can take to protect homes and neighborhoods from the spread of embers and other wildfire-related dangers. Now, we are zooming out to look at landscape-wide and statewide ways in which we can reduce wildfire risk to communities—which involves statewide policies and programs, including Oregon’s land use system.

When people think about making homes wildfire resilient, they often think about building them that way from the ground up. That is an option—which currently is only 2–11% more expensive on average—but what about the rest of us who live in already-built homes? Fortunately, there are many ways to make those structures—and other buildings—wildfire resilient as well, including through state grants, incentives, and education about simple and cost-effective steps that can be taken on any home.

This Oregon Wine Month and Wildfire Awareness Month, 1000 Friends of Oregon is proud to feature Winter’s Hill Estate, a Yamhill County vineyard where three generations of the Winter and Gladhart family have built a legacy rooted in care for the land and a deep sense of responsibility for its future. They are also navigating an era of increased wildfire frequency and intensity with thoughtful and innovative approaches—creating hope for the future of Oregon wine.

Wildfire is a natural part of our ecosystem—although human-caused climate change, sprawl, and excessive fire suppression have increased its impacts. We can’t afford to ignore these realities—as, frankly, many did when they responded to the fear-mongering campaign that successfully demanded that the legislature repeal Oregon’s wildfire hazard map. The good news is that there are actions we can and should take to live safely with wildfire. A better, safer, and more sustainable future is possible, but it calls for joining hands and working together.

Community members, local leaders, and advocates are invited to attend a public forum on Saturday, May 2 to discuss the proposed Washington County Data Center Moratorium and its potential impacts on the region.