Roots in the Desert: Baltazar Hernandez on Nature, Heritage, and Conservation

In this personal reflection, Baltazar Hernandez shares his upbringing in rural Arizona and how those early experiences shaped his connection to nature and conservation. Raised in a Mexican-American family with deep roots in Arizona, Baltazar grew up in the town of Maricopa, surrounded by desert landscapes, wildlife, and the realities of rural living, from monsoon flooding to hauling water and encountering native species firsthand. Now a public policy and sustainability professional and a member of the Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council, Baltazar reflects on how his heritage, upbringing, and lived experiences continue to inform his work in conservation and community leadership.