Watch a video of Naomi discussing how she came to understand how important wild places are to our collective well-being.

“I live in Bend, Oregon, the fastest growing city in Oregon. Without wilderness, our economy would collapse.”

“Oregonians love to hike, fish, and enjoy wilderness.”

“As a Mexican-American youth, wilderness is where my culture comes from, it's where history started and where it continues, it's where youth and community can come to together and experience nature.”

“As an ecologist, I see it as critical to maintain areas that are primarily influenced by nature, not by human disturbance. With the increasing numbers of people who want to see, enjoy, and visit wilderness, we need more and bigger wilderness areas to keep up!”

“Wild areas are far more than lines on the map. They are headwaters of drinking watersheds, strongholds for great forests capturing and storing massive amounts of carbon, havens for biodiversity, corridors for wildlife, and sanctuaries for the human spirit.”

“Every time I have the privilege to experience wilderness, my heart rate drops and my whole body smiles. Wilderness is majestic, beautiful, and offers many meaningful experiences.”

“These are places I physically depend on for clean water and clean air. And they are places I depend on for connection to friends and family, community, my favorite memories, and to a much bigger, wilder world.”

“I hope that advocates for wilderness in the future cast a wide net—across the political spectrum and various backgrounds—to protect these places but crucially make it so wilderness is not led by any certain group or background. Rather, I hope wilderness will be viewed as something that can be accessed, enjoyed, and loved by all.”

“Protection, protection, protection. We must do all that we can to work towards continued protection of our wilderness areas. Encourage our young folks to get out and experience what wilderness is so they can be the continued champions in the coming years to continue the work of protecting her.”