HAF Releases Toolkit on Equity & Environmental Justice in California’s 30x30 Goal

 Today, Hispanic Access Foundation released its “Equity & Environmental Justice in California’s 30x30 Goal” toolkit. It explores Governor Newsom’s Executive Order to protect 30% of California’s lands, water, and ocean by 2030 (known as 30x30) and how we can increase access to nature for communities of color and ensure equity in how funds are spent on protection, to assure all communities have safe, accessible public spaces and nature where they can recreate and restore.

Virginia Latinos Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Free Fishing Event

Virginia Latinos are welcomed to attend Vamos a Pescar Virginia this Sunday, September 19 to not only learn the fundamentals of fishing but also the importance of environmental stewardship in sponsorship with Hispanic Access Foundation and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 

HAF Releases Toolkit on Equity & Environmental Justice in 30x30

Explores How to Increase Access To Nature For Communities Of Color And Ensure Equity 

Today, Hispanic Access Foundation released its “Equity & Environmental Justice in 30x30” toolkit. It explores the Biden Administration's America the Beautiful initiative and how we can increase access to nature for communities of color and ensure equity in how funds are spent on protection, to assure all communities have safe, accessible public spaces and nature where they can recreate and restore.

Hispanic Access Foundation Launches Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week

Festival Will Highlight the Intersection of People of Color, Culture and the Environment    

Today, Hispanic Access Foundation announced free tickets are now available for the inaugural Our Heritage, Our Planet Film Week, which will be held in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, following Indigenous People’s Day from Tuesday, October 12 to Friday, October 15, 2021. During this week, come and celebrate life through the stories of Latino, Black, Indigenous and other people of color with roots in nature – learning, experiencing, and uplifting the nexus between human communities and the lands, waterways, and ocean we call home.

Anchoring Down in Anchorage

It is mid-September, and I just landed in Anchorage!

Park Equity for All: Developing Critical Consciousness, Empowering Youth and Leveraging Community Resources

Without a doubt, the greatest part of my fellowship so far has been the Latino Conservation Week event that I was given the opportunity to co-produce with my coworker and accomplice Kate Montanez.

A Bittersweet Return to Civilization

I excitedly waited for the parade to start. My arm hung out of the side of our “float”, a pickup truck adorned with two wooden side panels depicting Alaska wildlife. I fiddled with a kit-kat while discussing strategy with Travis, a fellow intern. As the “kids” of the refuge, we were tasked with the honor of hurling as much candy as possible to the parade-goers. We took this duty very seriously.

Suddenly it was go-time. The truck started up, and we joined the line of other decorated vehicles. Some had restored military trucks, others had banners draped out of their windows. Another person tied a sled to the top of their car, where a husky and his handler sat proudly. Everyone seemed to be just as into it as we were, which made sense- because Bristol Bay’s fishing season overlaps with 4^th of July, Fishtival was the biggest event of the summer.

The next five minutes or so was a commotion of cheering, waving, and throwing handfuls of candy at the smiling crowd. Of course, the kids loved it- but the parents and fishermen were happily surprised to have Reese’s and skittles flying at them too. The parade met up at the community center, where the bazaar would take place.  Most people were selling things - fragrant foods, soft furs, and vibrant art. I, instead, unloaded boxes of flyers, calendars, and coloring books. I placed a stuffed walrus - who we jokingly put sunglasses on and named “Walt" - as the centerpiece. I got to meet locals, tourists, and fishermen alike and talk about their experiences with marine wildlife. I was even able to inform someone of the proper tagging procedures of his walrus skull. My favorite visitor was a dog, who wandered from table to table as if he was no different from the rest of us.

Fishtival was my final sendoff from King Salmon. The next week, I drove to my favorite café to say goodbye to the workers I had gotten to know after quite a few visits (seriously, Heart O’ the Shire has some of the best coffee and sandwiches I have ever eaten). On the drive back, it had hit me that I had been at King Salmon for seven weeks. Seven weeks of walrus watching, coffee drinking, fishing, and finding new ways to entertain myself in such a remote place. While I missed hustle and bustle, Bristol Bay was just beginning to feel like home.

Once again, I found myself in the air. Instead of venturing into the flat, pond-speckled tundra to see the walruses, we headed in the opposite direction. Upon landing, I felt like I time traveled or left the twilight zone. There were highways, bikes whizzing by, and people. So many people. I forgot how loud the world could be. I’ll admit, the first thing I did after work was get fast food.

Despite the change in setting, my actual workday did not change much. I was still working with the walruses. On my time off, I explored Anchorage, which is rather easy considering their extensive bike path system. I went downtown, visited the zoo, and went sightseeing on the shore. Anything I wanted to do was simply a bike ride away. 

The final weeks of my fellowship were approaching quickly. On August 6^th, I met with other wildlife enforcement workers, Alaska-based FWS members, and fellow DFPs to discuss my findings on the project. It was the first time I had ever pulled up a PowerPoint and had been excited instead of nervous. Not only did the presentation have a positive reception, but it made others aware of haul-out disturbance. It opened up new doors for communication within and across federal agencies.

With the walrus project wrapping up, I had the opportunity to branch out and work with the wildlife inspectors. For reference, the walrus investigative work I have been involved in falls under the duties of a special agent. Wildlife inspectors, on the other hand, are responsible for documenting instances of illegal trade that may later become cases for the special agents to handle.

I spent a total of three days working with Officer Chad Hornbaker and K-9 Dock. A typical day began with walking Dock through the cargo area of Ted Stevens International Airport. He is trained to identify the scent of various wildlife. We even tossed a “test box” in among the boxes to watch him excitedly paw at it for a treat. The rest of the day was spent in the office, where Dock took a well-deserved nap while we searched through shipment databases and tagged packages to inspect. Then, we went out to the warehouse, opened the boxes, and inspected their contents for wildlife. 

Before I knew it, I was headed back to Jersey. The summer had gone by so fast. While I am sad to have left Alaska and all of the amazing people I met, I am excited to push myself towards my goals even further than before.

- Allison

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Alaska Office of Law Enforcement

NorthWest Family Daycation

Technology is all around us nowadays, especially when it comes to phones. I find myself scrolling through lists of restaurants, new music, but what about the great outdoors?

Our phones can still connect us with the natural world. For example, there are great nature-centered applications that focus on the identification of flora, fauna, and fungi. I don’t see applications centered on family adventures in city parks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnerships with organizations like Valadrian Creative. Valadrian Creative has developed an application called “NorthWest Family Daycation” to connect families with nature in Portland, OR.

Growing up in the big city of Miami, Florida there weren’t many options to visit natural areas without a car. The first time I visited the Everglades I was fifteen years old on a school trip. There were two barriers of access to nature that I faced. Public transportation, and the absence of natural parks. There were few bus stops in my neighborhood, that connected to downtown. This posed a problem for people who relied solely on public transportation. In the neighborhood I grew up in there were little to no trees in my suburban concrete jungle. The absence of natural parks created hot microclimates because of few trees, and wetlands. There was also no smartphone that could show accessible trails nearby.

NorthWest Family Daycation connects people with nature by showing parks nearby their neighborhood. The application pinpoints your GPS location and finds parks in your area. Certain parks have “Daycations”. Daycations provide activities for young families to participate in. Daycations such as “Ancient Trees & Dinosaurs” takes families on an adventure through time, connecting flora that has been around since the age of the dinosaurs. Parents can help their kids connect with nature that is engaging and fun for everyone. The project I’m working on during my internship is creating Daycations in underrepresented and low-income communities, so they don’t have to go very far to experience the outdoors. This project redefines what nature means to people. Experiencing the outdoors shouldn’t have to be strenuous hiking, it could be a walk in a city park. By helping the next generation connect with nature we can help promote the protection of the land.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service

Location: Portland Regional Office