“Latino communities are passionate about the outdoors and hold a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to be good stewards,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “Latino Conservation Week helps break down barriers for Latino communities to access public lands and waters, encourages new opportunities for engagement and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards. LCW was first launched in 2014 with 9 events, and grown has grown tremendously to 140+ events.” 

The Latino population has grown to more than 60.6 million people  -- more than 18 percent of the nation’s population  --  and are projected to become nearly one-third of the population by 2050. Yet a 2020 Outdoor Industry Association report found that only 11.6 percent of Latinos were engaged in outdoor recreation activities. In simple terms, the future of public lands depends on engaging and welcoming our diverse youth and Latino communities to take care of it. But it doesn’t end with engaging with the outdoors. While advocacy has always been a part of LCW, this year, after the inaugural Latino Advocacy Week, the importance of the overlap between the two has only been heightened. The voice of the communities at the frontlines of climate change (Latino, Black, Indigenous communities) must be heard by national decision-makers. The platform created by Latino Conservation Week raises and highlights the voice of the Latino community in the decision-making process.

"During this past year with the global pandemic, we learned that virtual advocacy is not only possible, but also more accessible than traditional advocacy, which relies on in-person meetings between constituents and legislators,” said Shanna Edberg, Hispanic Access Foundation’s director of conservation programs. “Armed with this knowledge and findings, this year’s Latino Conservation Week features the “traditional” type of event, especially now that we’re gathering in person, but will also provide a platform for continuing the conversations started in March during Latino Advocacy Week by engaging elected officials in events and encouraging Latinos to take action, advocate and bring these issues to the forefront to help bridge that gap.”

More than 200 parks, organizations and community groups have joined Latino Conservation Week as partners and sponsors. Sponsors of Latino Conservation Week include Southern California Edison, Patagonia, REI, Colorado Partners in the Outdoors, Defenders of Wildlife, and the National Park Foundation’s Latino Heritage Fund.

The activities span several states and a full listing of events is available at www.LatinoConservationWeek.com. Celebrate online by following #LatinoConservationWeek and #LCW2021 on social media.

SPONSOR AND PARTNER QUOTES

"The 8th edition of Latino Conservation Week is here and Latino Outdoors is proud to be a part of it together with Hispanic Access Foundation and the growing number of people, communities, and organizations that have increasingly joined the celebration over the years," said Luis Villa, Executive Director of Latino Outdoors. "We congratulate and thank Hispanic Access for this annual initiative centered around las comunidades Latinas enjoying and protecting the outdoors."

“Latino Conservation Week is an exciting time to come together and celebrate the generations of Latinos that have helped preserve our shared natural and cultural heritage,” said LaTresse Snead, chief program officer at the National Park Foundation. “Through our Latino Heritage Fund, the National Park Foundation is honored to support ongoing efforts, including those of the Hispanic Access Foundation, to preserve and elevate Latino stories and contributions to the U.S., past and present, in national parks.”

“Latino Conservation Week is an important time to celebrate the Latino community’s voice in environmental stewardship and outdoor engagement. We must continue to advocate for bold action to confront the environmental challenges our community faces around equal access to the outdoors and the impacts of the climate crisis.” - Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44)

“As Latino Conservation Week gets underway, I’m reminded of the opportunities I’ve had to visit our public lands and waterways. But I’m also reminded of how much more we have to do to secure nature equity for underserved communities nationwide. In order for us all to be great environmental stewards, we have to ensure Latino communities have local greenspaces to enjoy and proper access to our national parks. By guaranteeing equitable access to the outdoors, we’ll improve our public health and uplift the cultural and environmental education necessary to protect and preserve our public lands.” Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

"For far too long, the Latinx community's contributions to conservation have gone unnoticed, and at worst, ignored, despite being rooted in conservation traditions and sustainable living practices,” said Gabe Vasquez, Las Cruces City Councilor. “Latino Conservation Week presents an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the love we have for this planet, and the importance of being good stewards of our environment. In the City of Las Cruces, Latino Conservation Week has become an annual tradition that brings out the best in our community - artists, organizers, hunters and anglers, elected officials, business people and more - who celebrate the practice of taking care of our air, land and water in the Southwest desert." 

"Latino Conservation Week is a celebration, invitation, and invocation. As the diverse community we are, we celebrate our role in this work, we invite others into it, and invoke the power and leadership we have as active participants for the protection and stewardship of our public lands and natural spaces." - Jose Gonzalez, Founder of Latino Outdoors and Partner at Avarna Group. 

“Latino Conservation Week is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the countless contributions of the Latino and Hispanic communities to conservation in New Mexico and all along the Continental Divide,” said Teresa Martinez, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “Our communities have lived and stewarded these lands for generations, and this week invites people of all backgrounds to learn about the conservation heritage of Hispanic and Latino peoples and to enjoy New Mexico’s public lands together.” 

“Hosting Latino Conservation Week is simply one of the many steps we are taking to reach and engage diverse audiences as we aim to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards,” said Mandy Santiago, Executive Director of Tyler Arboretum. “We hope our visitors will participate by attending one of our outdoor fitness programs, enjoying one of our many nature tours, and exploring our hiking trails, unique collections and exhibits such as the Butterfly House and Lucille’s Garden. The full event schedule can be accessed at: tylerarboretum.org/calendar.”

“Defiende Nuestra Tierra is excited to partner with the Hispanic Access Foundation once again to elevate the importance Latino Conservation Week on the western slope of Colorado,” said Beatriz Soto, Director of Defiende Nuestra Tierra. “Now more than ever we need to ensure our public lands are part of the climate solution, Latino and all BIPOC voices must be centered in this conversation. Time and time again, solutions have been created for us, without us at the decision-making table; as we face a warming planet, where many in our communities will be the most impacted, we no longer wish to perpetuate the status quo, we are ready to help create solutions that will serve ALL, we know that we need a just and equitable society in order to meet our climate goals and protect our land, air and land. ‘Nada para nosotros, sin nosotros’.”

"As we continue to see the horrific effects of the climate crisis unfold, each of us has a sacred duty to be good stewards of our environment. This fight is personal to me. Conservation is deeply embedded in so many of our histories, traditions and cultural practices. Yet, as Latinos, we often find ourselves on the frontlines of climate catastrophes. That’s why this Latino Conservation Week is so important – it encourages our community to embrace and reconnect with the great outdoors. Our planet is beautiful, and Latino voices are necessary to not only helping it survive, but flourish.” Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29)

La Octava Semana Anual de la Conservación Latina comienza este fin de semana (del 17 al 25 de Julio)

La iniciativa derriba las barreras al aire libre e inspira a los administradores del mañana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Las comunidades de todo el país disfrutarán y se conectarán con el aire libre durante la octava Semana de la Conservación Latina (LCW), una iniciativa de Hispanic Access Foundation. Desde el 17 de julio hasta el 25 de julio, las comunidades, organizaciones, familias e individuos latinos participarán en una variedad de actividades, tanto virtuales como en persona, como caminatas, limpieza de parques, expediciones en línea, mesas redondas, sesiones de preguntas y respuestas, búsquedas del tesoro, proyecciones de películas, etc., con casi 140 eventos que se celebran a nivel nacional.

“Las comunidades latinas sienten pasión por el aire libre y creen firmemente que tenemos la obligación moral de ser buenos administradores'', dijo Maite Arce, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de Hispanic Access Foundation. “La Semana de la Conservación Latina ayuda a derribar las barreras para que las comunidades latinas accedan a tierras y aguas públicas, fomenta nuevas oportunidades de participación e inspira a la próxima generación de administradores ambientales. LCW se lanzó por primera vez en 2014 con 9 eventos, y ha crecido enormemente a más de 140 eventos.”

La población latina ha crecido a más de 60.6 millones de personas, más del 18 por ciento de la población de la nación, y se prevé que se convierta en casi un tercio de la población para el 2050. Sin embargo, un informe de la Asociación de la Industria al Aire Libre de 2020 encontró que solo el 11.6 por ciento de los latinos participaron en actividades recreativas al aire libre. En términos simples, el futuro de las tierras públicas depende de involucrar y dar la bienvenida a nuestras diversas comunidades jóvenes y latinas para que se ocupen de ellas. Pero no termina con la interacción con el aire libre. Si bien la defensa siempre ha sido parte de LCW, este año, después de la Semana inaugural de la defensa de los latinos, la importancia de la superposición entre los dos solo ha aumentado. La voz de las comunidades en la primera línea del cambio climático (comunidades latinas, negras, indígenas) debe ser escuchada por los tomadores de decisiones nacionales. La plataforma creada por Latino Conservation Week eleva y destaca la voz de la comunidad latina en el proceso de toma de decisiones.

"Durante el año pasado con la pandemia global, aprendimos que la defensa virtual no solo es posible, sino también más accesible que la defensa tradicional, que se basa en reuniones en persona entre electores y legisladores", dijo Shanna Edberg, directora de Hispanic Access Foundation programas de conservación. “Armados con este conocimiento y hallazgos, la Semana de la Conservación Latina de este año presenta el tipo de evento“ tradicional ”, especialmente ahora que nos estamos reuniendo en persona, pero también brindará una plataforma para continuar las conversaciones iniciadas en marzo durante el evento Latino Advocacy Week al involucrar a los funcionarios electos en eventos y alentar a los latinos a actuar, abogar y traer estos temas al frente para ayudar a cerrar esa brecha ".

Más de 200 parques, organizaciones y grupos comunitarios se han unido a la Semana de la Conservación Latina como socios y patrocinadores. Los patrocinadores de la Semana de la Conservación Latina incluyen Southern California Edison, Patagonia, REI, Colorado Partners in the Outdoors, Defenders of Wildlife y Latino Heritage Fund de la National Park Foundation.

Las actividades abarcan varios estados y una lista completa de eventos está disponible en www.LatinoConservationWeek.com. Celebre en línea siguiendo #LatinoConservationWeek y #LCW2021 en las redes sociales.