Northeast Oregon Field Coordinator Robert Klavins joined the Oregon Wild team in 2008. After growing up hiking, fishing, and exploring the upper Midwest, Rob was moved to action by seeing the destruction of once intact landscapes.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in biology and ecology from Lawrence University, he was drawn to the big, wild places of the Pacific Northwest and took a job teaching outdoor education with OMSI. He then spent a year traveling the country working on local environmental campaigns as a community organizer with Green Corps.
After spending two years teaching young people about Oregon’s environment and a year organizing on environmental issues in other places, Rob wanted to start fighting for the things he cared most about – preserving our wildlife and wild places for future generations in the place he cared most about – Oregon.
Rob has worked on a number of issues including roadless area protections, wolf and wildlife recovery, and public lands policy, protections, and project implementation. He also coordinated Oregon Wild’s outdoor program for 5 years. Rob represented the organization on several National Forest Collaborative groups, and continues to work with tribal, conservation, and other partners.
Rob’s work has been featured in media outlets across the country, and in 2012, his work at Oregon Wild was recognized with a Skidmore Prize.
Outside of work, Rob and his wife own and operate Barking Mad Farm Bed & Breakfast – a working farm and bed & breakfast in rural Wallowa County. He has dual citizenship with Australia, is an avid hiker, wildlife watcher, paddler, theater geek, and is a rabid fan of the Portland Timbers and 13-time World Champion Green Bay Packers.
