On Sunday morning, July 21, 2019, just about a mile north of Flagstaff, AZ, a hibernating fire, started from an excavator striking a rock, began to grow until it came to be what is now known as the Museum Fire. The fire was first spotted around 10:00 A.M. that day, and continued to burn at varying intensities for almost a month before being fully contained. During the days that the fire burned, one of the city’s most popular recreational spots was covered in a thick blanket of smoke and the sight of an orange sky loomed over city residents. Helicopters and ground crews worked tirelessly trying to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Once the fire was 100% contained nearly a month later, on August 12th, it was determined that 1,961 acres were completely burned leaving the area, that is not only important to the local residents but also many species of concern, like the Mexican Spotted Owl, completely destroyed.
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In Guatemala, conservation is just a part of the culture. You are one with the land, and you only use what you need. My family carried these values and we took them with us to every state we lived in, from New York to Florida, and Arizona.
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Albuquerque, New Mexico (December 27, 2020) -- Following the holiday at Petroglyph National Monument, a Navajo and Oneida man named Darrell House was repeatedly tased by a National Park Service ranger for stepping off-trail to maintain social distancing protocols when he noticed a crowd walking in his direction.
The site plays an important role for Indigenous people, and was designated after Native American activists sought to protect the stone carvings from vandalism and land development. House visited the national monument to pray before the petroglyphs, and to collect earth for ceremonies.
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“The Great American Outdoors Act is beneficial to us all, protecting our country’s most precious places, and expanding critical outdoor and recreational opportunities to our communities,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO). “The future of our nation’s special and venerated public lands is bright, and we look forward to the upcoming park projects, and improved outdoor access many will experience in our country’s landscapes.
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An example of good planning and incorporating diverse voices in the management of public lands can be seen in the Heritage Area in Yuma, Arizona on the border with the state of California. In this area, adjacent to the Colorado River, wetlands have been restored and space has been created for family life and contact with nature. Development and management of the project has had major participation from Latino communities who have lived in the area for generations and know, inhabit, and have close links with the region. Today, we are proud of this space where natural beauty, conservation, cultural traditions and recreational spaces are merged.
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The Centennial of the National Park Service is a time for all Americans to celebrate, enjoy, and engage in the conservation of our nation’s public lands. It is also a time to call upon federal government agencies to engage multicultural communities, including the Latino community, in the decision-making process and management of public lands to reflect the diversity and changing cultural landscape of America.
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Let’s call on President Obama to issue a Presidential Memorandum to ensure that the second century of conservation in America reflects the full diversity of our nation’s citizens; respects the historical, cultural and spiritual stories and unique contributions of all Americans; and actively engages all people.
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HECHO Board Member Juan Palma speaks to the Salt Lake Tribune about the today’s challenges on public lands and incorporating more diverse stakeholders in management decisions. As we celebrate the National Park Service’s 100-year anniversary, we have a chance to reflect on the 84 million acres of cultural and historic landscapes that have been protected, as well as the future of the Park Service. Today’s and future generations look much different than those of 100 years ago, and all federal land management agencies need to make significant changes to reflect the changing American cultural landscape.
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Despite NPS’s commitment to protecting night skies, threats remain. At Chaco Culture, for example, light pollution emanating from expanding urban areas including Albuquerque and Farmington, New Mexico, and the growing demand for oil and gas development in the northwestern corner of the state have the potential to impact the quality of the night skies at the park. Natural gas flaring and an increase in intensive artificial lighting from construction activities, vehicle traffic, and support facilities can all create light pollution at the park’s higher elevations and inside the canyon.
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