Event Recap: Phoenix Community Comes Together to Discuss Climate Change and Public Lands
Jan. 13, 2020 (Phoenix, Arizona) – Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Gardens was the site where HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting & the Outdoors) hosted 30 community leaders on Sunday, all invested in learning about the intersection of Climate Change and Public Lands. This is the second workshop in a series of Public Lands & Natural Resources workshops present by HECHO.
The goal of the HECHO event was to create an awareness of the impact of climate change on our nation’s public lands and some of its local impacts. Specifically, in Arizona, where some of the ramifications include extreme high temperatures, drought, dangerously dry forest conditions, wildfires, and subsequent flooding.
Liz Archuleta, Arizona Spokesperson for HECHO communicated the importance of Latinx/Hispanic voices to be heard on important issues of Climate Change and Public Lands.
“For centuries the Latinx community has had a cultural connection to the land and have been strong stewards of the land, so naturally we are concerned about the disproportionate negative impacts of climate change on the Latino community and the impacts to the public lands we enjoy,” Archuleta said.
Workshop speaker, and Energy & Climate Campaign Manager at the Wildlife Society, Juan Perez, spoke on the importance of preserving our public lands as a measure to combat climate change.
“Our shared public lands and waters provide an important opportunity for the United States to act on climate change – from reducing fossil fuel emissions and encouraging responsible renewable energy development, to protecting valuable habitats and landscapes like the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and Coconino National Forest,” Perez said. “Everyone has the power to influence how these and other wonderful places across the country are managed for climate and protected for current and future generations,” said Perez.
The workshop also investigated the potential of public lands supporting renewable energy production such as solar and wind, as well as what individuals could do to encourage sustainability and protection of public lands, natural resources and wildlife.
Workshop speaker and outreach director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation, Nikki Julien, spoke about the importance of passing on a tradition of stewardship to future generations.
“The most important thing we can do to protect our wildlife and public lands are to share our enjoyment and our commitment to these resources with our friends and family,” Julien said. “There are so many issues vying for attention—wildlife and public lands cannot afford for us to be silent. We hope that participants were able to take away confidence in their abilities to make a difference,” said Julien.
The event took place as wildfires ravage Australia’s bushland, with many scientists attributing the dangerous fires to the rising climate.
At the event, the HECHO Climate Change & Public Lands Workshop attendees went on an interactive walking tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens with Raul Puente, Curator of Living Collections and Research Botanist who spoke about the effects of Climate Change on desert plants. HECHO urged local leaders to take action on climate change by getting involved and making their voices heard in public lands and natural resource policy.
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