Hola mi gente! A big shout out from all the way across the pond where finally, FINALLY, the sun is starting to grace us with it’s, somewhat, sustained presence. As the bitterness of winter slowly fades from London, there is a buzz about the city that is implacable. Tourist season has definitely crept in, add to that all the Londoners who had been eagerly awaiting a chance to catch some vitamin D, and what you have is an explosion of chatter and activity amongst the streets. The city really has come to life as the sun has warmed and so it is my prerogative to make sure I make it to at least one new green space/park every month while I’m here.
This month, I’ll include one that I have grown to love wholeheartedly, Hampstead Heath.
The first trip I took to the Heath happened very sporadically. I forget now whether I had sparked the idea, or whether it had been a friend of mine, but nevertheless by noon I found myself and 5 other friends on our way to the Heath. The sun was out and like any Londoner, we jumped at the slightest possibility that we would be able to bask in some simmering sun for longer than half an hour. Piecing together a veritable feast from some cheeses, a bit of wine, crackers and other snacks, we marched on from our home to the park.
The Heath, however, was a place I was just beginning to get to know. Unlike the other things in my life at the time, my classes which were going well, friendships that were blossoming, I was softly, sinking into an intimacy with London which was lifting my spirits substantially. I was beginning to come to grips with some of London’s topography, the hills, the smell of the plants bursting from the soils, the sounds of it early in the mornings when there was but the rush of winds or sharp chirp of bids.
Hampstead Heath, was at on my first visit, new territory. The Heath is a sprawling piece of somewhat wild woodland in the northwestern side of London. It comprises about 320 hectares (roughly 790 acres) and includes a lake, old mansion, trails and some wildlife. Among the critters that traverse the grounds include foxes, rabbits, grass snakes and various birds.
That first time I went with friends, I was somewhat distracted. Chatting away had me unable to completely take in the scenery around it and I was conscious of it, noting that at some point I would come back on my own (more on that later). For the moment, we had become fortunate in that the sun remained bright throughout most of the day. We took a short hike through the woods, came upon an old mansion which captured my curiosity and sat by a lake to talk about the goings on of our lives.
A month later, I would go back on my own, this time, with camera in hand and with plenty of time as well. Walking slowly from my residence to the Heath, this time I registered so much more.
When walking to the Heath, I realized how it rested on a street that seemed quite busy. The sounds of construction nearby, the buzzing of engines along the roads, busses trudging up the hill, it made me wonder how I hadn’t noticed it before. I wasn’t sure I’d find the solitude I was actively seeking this time, but figured I would give it a try.
This time, I headed straight for the old mansion, also called the Hill. Surrounding the mansion is a pergola which was built by Lord Leverhulme in an attempt to create an atmosphere for grand garden parties and a place for his family and friends to enjoy the gardens. These days, it has gained the nick name the Secret Garden. I found that fact fitting considering it does seem to have this sort of unkempt, overgrown and solitary nature about it. You can lounge on the ground floor and visit the shrubs and various plants, or take set of softly worn stone steps to gain a higher view of the grounds.
The day I went it was clear and cool. Nothing could be heard but the birds and I was slow to realize that all of the sounds of what I formally knew as the city, had faded. There was just the soft rush of wind tossing leaves, an occasional buzz of a bee and soft shuffling of someone else who was at the pergola, admiring it’s beauty.
I took my time this time. Taking in the various flowers, touching a petal or two. At one point, I lifted a wilted rose that had fallen onto the ground and noticed a swarm of roly poly’s! I quickly put the flower back and was reminded of my “Leave No Trace” teachings gained during backpacking trips on the east coast. Roly poly’s, in case you aren’t aware, actually play a key role in the decomposition of flowers and plants that are in decay. They were clearly there munching away and doing their jobs, so I let them get to it.
As I walked I felt a little overwhelmed with the unfamiliarity of the flora I saw. Back in California, I had become used to spotting the poppies (Eschscholzia californica), meadow foam (Limnanthes douglasii), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) and Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla). Here, I was a bit thrown off. Having moved to London in September, I have been very interested in feeling ‘grounded’ and ‘rooted’. There’s this connection I feel I seek that has to do with stability which I feel I appreciate with the flora around me. Trees for instance, are known for being great adapters. Finding their roots in a place in some of the strangest locations. Whether they are planted in spaces that are cramped, or swampy, or stony trees have an incredible way of finding a way to build a strong foundation and then going for it.
As I was leaving the pergola and out of the Heath, my eye caught on a familiar face. Was that…a redwood…?!
Taking a picture of it or two, I was happy to see something that connected me so intimately with California.
A cheeky reminder, I think, that home can really be anywhere. You just need to find where and how to put down your roots. Then, you go for it.
The alarm buzzed at 5:00 am last Tuesday, and while I wasn’t thrilled about the early start, I was very happy about the short 70 miles commute from San Francisco to join #CAOceansDay in Sacramento.
Dozens of ocean lovers joined from around California, coming in from as far as San Diego, Los Angeles, OrangeCounty and Arcata to participate in the yearly tradition that is Ocean Day in the State’s Capitol.
After weeks of planning (Environment California ftw!) we converged in the Capitol’s downstairs dining room to caffeinate and plot our day. Teams hunkered around the tables to discuss strategy and after greetings and hugs, it was my turn to put together a plan for my day (trying to decide on a schedule from all the options on the table was mildly reminiscent of first week of college semester: trying to get into a 10 am Western Civ I wanted instead of the 7:20 organic chemistry class I really needed). While the teams are pre-planned around geography and issue collaboration, I’ve found it most effective to “float” throughout the day. I’m technically based in San Francisco, but Azul takes me all over the state, working with Latinos from Los Angeles to Humboldt, so I end up making drop-bys on unsuspecting teams all day and usually doubling up on the total number of meetings by the end of the day (unexpected benefit: totally obliterating my fitbit step goal).
Every year the focus is ocean and coastal issues (like working on protecting the big blue from plastic trash and acidification), but this time, the dire water situation in our state couldn’t be ignored, so naturally, talking to decision makers about climate change was a priority (specifically, making sure our state and federal agencies are working as efficiently as possible).
I will admit though, personally, my favorite subject to talk about at Ocean Day is still our state’s awesome underwater parks(and not just because I personally sacrificed my car’s transmission, engine and alternator to driving around thousands of miles talking to people about them). While all the media attention tends to go to massive ocean sanctuaries like the newly designated Pitcairn Islands marine reserve(which is roughly the size of California), our own network of marine protected areas was a trailblazing effort at its inception and implementation.
While it is possible to protect thousands of square miles in remote parts of the Pacific, we had to adopt a much more measured approach, fitting in smaller reserves alongside prized fishing holes, shipping lanes, and coastal developments. Together, they make up a statewide chain of refuges linked by currents. In a heavily populated state where every inch of coast is well loved, these underwater parks are critical for sea life and popular with visitors.
The design process (I was one of the stakeholders) is an example in public participation, bringing together all the different interests invested in ocean health (public agencies, conservation organizations, commercial and recreational fishermen, universities and local elected officials) to craft a plan that best benefits ocean health and by extension, Californians everywhere. As the results start to come in, it’s a delight to talk about teamwork that pays off.
For now, the work continues throughout the state. Maybe next year you can join us at the capitol?
Marce Graudiņš is the Founder and Director of Azul, a project focused on empowering Latino coastal and marine stewardship. In a previous life she used to sell fish, now she saves them.
Miguel Ordeñana is a wildlife biologist and educator at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He conducts urban mammal research projects (bats and carnivores!) and citizen science outreach at the museum.
Tell us your story, what is your connection to the land and conservation?
I have been passionate about wildlife since I was a young kid (as far back as I can remember) so I think this was my original connection to nature. This was a challenging interest for my family to nurture because we lived in urban Los Angeles where there aren’t many opportunities to get connected with nature unless you know what you are looking for and know where to look.
Nonetheless, my family recognized and fed my passion whenever they could even though they didn’t really have a background in science or wildlife. Fortunately, I had the luxury of growing up across the street from Griffith Park which is also home to the L.A. Zoo. However, I would say I developed a connection with conservation due to my interest and concern for wildlife not necessarily because I enjoyed being outdoors. In other words, I cared about “the land” because I began to view it as habitat and important to the wildlife that I cared about. My mother would take me on hikes for exercise and when my mom married my outdoorsy stepdad, we went on a few backpacking trips. However, I really preferred the Natural History Museum, Zoos, and watching urban wildlife roam through my neighborhood considerably more than the outdoor experiences. During hikes or backpacking I rarely saw wildlife, and when I did I had no idea what I was looking at. From that standpoint, being outdoors was not very rewarding. This highlights the importance of nature education and literacy. After receiving some nature education and being more aware of my natural surroundings, I now thoroughly enjoy going on hikes and even urban nature explorations. Now, I can’t get out there enough.
With that said, I do have a few memorable experiences picnicking and going on night hikes with my family. Nonetheless, even if Latinos don’t take an interest in the flora and fauna or wilderness areas and enjoy being out there simply for the fresh air, exercise, or challenge, it is important that they understand enough to respect nature. Latinos need to know why not to have dogs off-leash, why hiking off trail is very damaging to natural areas, why not to litter, why not to feed wildlife, and how to take care of themselves in nature. Without this base knowledge the open space that they grow to love (for whatever purpose) will not be around for future generations.
Conservation and open space is fortunately a big part of my full-time job as a wildlife biologist. I love living in the city but open space is a huge asset to have because the city can get stressful. I am very grateful to be able to have my background to understand what urban kids like and don’t like about the outdoors. I enjoy being able to introduce school groups to two of my passions wildlife conservation and outdoor access.
How is this connection celebrated and understood in your community and culture—in the broader conservation community?
This connection is celebrated by my community in a different way due to their lack of understanding of their natural surroundings. It is used for picnics, adventures, relaxation, and rejuvenation which are all great ways to utilize the outdoors and engage with nature. However, in light of development pressures to urban areas, I worry that this is not enough to foster a relationship that inspires Latinos to stand up for local outdoor spaces and be stewards. If they think, “Oh well, it’s going to get built on/they are going to start charging. I guess I’ll just try and find another place to picnic or exercise” then the future of our natural areas remains vulnerable.
Even in rural communities in Nicaragua, where I work and where my family is from, the only time people stand up to development is if they perceive the land as profitable for agriculture/business unless they are educated on the economic, social, and conservation benefits of healthy and connected ecosystems. This is why just like in urban L.A., a better understanding of the ecology of a community’s natural surroundings through environmental education is an important piece of the puzzle when fighting for nature access and ensuring its sustainability.
Latino identities are connected to the outdoors, the environment, and conservation—how are those words reflective of YOU, how is it expressed, what does it look like?
I believe it depends on your upbringing and your family’s history. Family is a huge component of Latino identities but my family and many of my friends’ families did not largely identify with the outdoors. This separation in identity increased as the physical distance between open space and the family’s neighborhood increased. Again picnics and outdoor celebrations were frequent but beyond that my family did not have a strong connection with the outdoors.
What needs to change and how do we grow, celebrate, and have the broader conservation movement connect with the role and values Latinos bring to the field?
Environmental NGOs, land managers, and conservation biologists need to be better represented by the Latino community so the conservation movement benefits Latinos and so Latinos can benefit conservation. I don’t just mean more Latino employees in positions of power in each of these institution types but with full-representation in every department. Representation at every level makes celebrations more meaningful to more Latinos of more diverse backgrounds. There are Latinos who are already eating granola and drinking the conservation Kool-Aid but there are many more who aren’t comfortable around nature. This discomfort sometimes turns into a culture of unhealthy fear and disconnect from nature. In order to have a paradigm shift, we need to inform urban Latinos that nature is all around them even if they aren’t in the middle of a classic wilderness area. Hopefully, this understanding will make them hungry for more which will lead to visiting a local wilderness area and then taking it upon themselves to take care of it for the benefit of future generations.
Why does this issue and work matter to you?
I am a Latino who is passionate about conservation. As a conservation biologist, I feel like I need to give back to the natural surroundings and wildlife that inspired and drive my career. As a proud Latino, I know I would not be where I am today without my Latino upbringing and influences. To be honest there are not very many Latinos in science or the field of conservation so I feel a personal responsibility to work equally hard on my work as a conservation biologist as I do as a future Latino role model and educator. I purposely changed the trajectory of my career so that I could fulfill both of these goals and impact, as well as join, both of these communities.
What does success in all of this look like to you?
I think success can come in many forms. One of these would be the diversification of the conservation community. I think Latinos share a lot of disadvantages, mental barriers and fears that other minority groups also experience and I feel like success would involve the involvement of Latinos at many levels within the field of conservation. I think more access to parks / open spaces requires the conservation community doing a better job of actively exposing the urban community to nature and open spaces. For instance, rather than simply having a visitor center or a booth at a nature event, these agencies need to go to where Latinos live and congregate. Its not only important to see more Latinos visiting open spaces but also seeing groups of Latinos bringing other Latinos and minority groups out to nature, debunking damaging myths about nature along the way. When Latinos finally make that big mental and physical leap to go visit and connect with these open spaces, they need some familiar faces there to meet them with open arms. I think a big step to success is going to be helping the Latino community view the urban environment and even the smallest green spaces differently and as living breathing eco systems.
How is your work with the museum reflective of all this?
I am involved with 3 different NGOs that all impact the Latino community in a variety of positive ways. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) serves thousands of Latino school children from L.A.s urban core through school programs, public programs, and teacher programs/workshops. NHM is moving into a new direction that involves an institution-wide effort to study urban wildlife and connect visitors with local urban wildlife. I specifically joined NHM because I wanted to officially integrate urban wildlife education into my career and because of NHM’s location; surrounded by an under-served community. As a citizen science coordinator, I focus my efforts on science projects that rely on the participation of volunteers. I promote these projects and train volunteers, scientists, as well as teachers/trainers on how to participate and begin their own projects with the support of a scientist. As a scientist, this is very gratifying because I am breaking down barriers between scientists and non-scientists that I and many other people are intimidated by. Citizen science and the variety of projects at least makes science and outdoor exploration less intimidating. For instance, we began a citizen science project called the Southern California Squirrel Survey (http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/southern-california-squirrel-survey) that allows people from all neighborhoods and backgrounds help map the distribution of squirrels throughout southern California. Squirrels are charismatic, ubiquitous (even in urban areas), and diurnal (active during the day), which allows more people to help scientists better understand the ecology of SoCal squirrels. We also use our on-site 3 ½ acre Nature Gardens as urban wildlife habitat, a citizen science training site, and a venue for getting local visitors comfortable and familiar with urban nature.
I am also on the board of Friends of Griffith Park; we make a strong effort to introduce minority children from the inner city to Griffith Park, arguably L.A.s most accessible urban green space, through guided hikes and plant restoration projects. I work hard to share my personal story about my challenges and successes as a Latino scientist with groups, especially under-served school groups (mostly Latino children and teens). My goals are to get these first time hikers comfortable with hiking and aware that their natural surroundings are home to some amazing species and history. Also, I make sure that they know that everyone has their first time in nature, regardless if their first experience is late or early in life. I remind them that open space is for them as much as it is for the rich people that are fortunate enough to live on the foothills of these parks. Hopefully through my story, they understand that these local parks, and cool ambassadors (e.g., P-22) are not only something to take pride in but a privilege that comes with a responsibility. Therefore, we must be respectful and watchful over these cool but fragile open-spaces.
With Paso Pacifico I work with local impoverished communities to change their culture from one that is unsustainable and fearful of their natural surroundings to one that is familiar, comfortable and appreciative of their local biodiversity. My specialty is carnivore research so I often educate school children and adults about the importance of carnivores to the economy and ecosystem and how I go about studying jaguars and other mammals in their local community. We make an extra effort to train the children to be more invested and educated about their natural surroundings. Our efforts are empowering multiple generations of Nicaraguans to sustainably benefit from their natural environment. The commitments of all three NGOs are enabling Latinos to become stewards of their surrounding ecosystems.
Other thoughts, ideas, and reflections:
As a Latino who grew up in urban Los Angeles I understand first hand the many obstacles that keep us from having a connection with nature. Our efforts are not going to succeed if are focus is to simply transport these urban communities on special trips to the closest open large recreation area. We also need to focus on nature exploration that’s easily accessible and often just outside our front door. As an urban wildlife biologist I am learning first hand that urban ecosystems are not just second tier ecosystems, but the next frontier for wildlife discovery. If you can’t quite make it out to a more classic and large open recreation area, there are many fascinating and inspiring natural things to explore in even the most urban environments. We can better serve the Latino community by informing them that they don’t have to wait for the next time they have money or time to reach these sometimes far away recreation areas, but that there is much to do within their own neighborhood with regards to conservation.
Finally, there is value in focusing on children for outreach efforts because they are the future shapers of outdoor access and conservations but it is important to also reach adults and entire families. If parents and role models are not invested, it is easy for kids to become disinterested and discouraged. At the end of the day, most teens and children will follow whatever their consistently present role models support. Even if the kid does want to stray from the pack, the parent is going to provide them with permission, transportation, and time to visit and explore the outdoors. My journey towards my current career barely succeeded because I had just enough support to stray from the pack and follow my goals. I am afraid of what happens when these inspired kids go home to an environment that is disassociated from nature. How many young Latinos have been derailed from a conservation career path before they even get started? And WHY?
“P22 is an incredibly important part of my life, because as a biologist discovering a mountain lion in the middle of a metropolitan area, was a huge accomplishment and discovery for our understanding of local wildlife. To be able to prove that in our own backyard, and to find this amazing ambassador that is going to help mountain lions for many generations to come, is beyond my wildest dreams.” ~ Miguel Ordeñana on Discovering P-22
