This year, we have added a section on the ocean and its deep connections to Latino heritage, jobs, and public health. As ever, the ability of Latino populations to access protected public lands and waters for work and leisure remains critical to socio-economic equity, health and well-being.

Latinos remain the largest untapped segment of the population with a passion for environmental stewardship and the willingness to protect our nation’s natural resources for future generations, which is embraced as a moral obligation. This represents huge growth potential for the recreation and tourism economies. Combined with the Latino community’s increasing electoral power, we find a growing political force with the potential to shift the balance on conservation issues. Moreover, there is mounting desire to do so.

Recent polls have shown that Latinos care deeply about the environment, a sentiment that is rooted in a culture and history of taking care of the land for future generations. At Hispanic Access Foundation, our goal is to bring this perspective into environmental decision-making. Latinos are vocal advocates for creating new national monuments, protecting water sources like the Colorado River, encouraging the permanent reauthorization and full dedicated funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and establishing and maintaining regulations under the Clean Air Act.

This is also available in Spanish.