The Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) and Nevada Wilderness Project are excited to announce the return of the Desert Conference this fall, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Sierra Club.

Since 1978, the Desert Conference has served to bring together, inspire and educate those who care about the high desert of the Great Basin and beyond. The conference provides a forum for land-managers, conservation organizations, academics and advocates alike to educate and inspire one another, and collaborate on critical desert issues.

Panel topics include: Sage-grouse management and conservation, beaver recovery and stream restoration, public lands stewardship, renewable energy and habitat conservation.

Desert Conference XXVI will take place where the sagebrush sea meets the mountains in idyllic Bend, Oregon. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will kick off the conference on the evening of Sept. 20 and panels will run Sept. 21-22.This year’s conference features keynote speaker and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Kathleen Dean Moore, guest speaker and honored poet Ursula K. Le Guin, music by local bluegrass band Truck Stop Gravy, plus panels on topics covering a variety of desert issues.

For more information and to register, go to www.onda.org/desertconference.