Press Release: HECHO Applauds Action Taken to Advance America the Beautiful Initiative

Contact: Camilla Simon, HECHO, camilla@hechoonline.org, 503-975-6355

LAS CRUCES, N.M. [Dec. 22, 2021] – This week, the Biden-Harris Administration issued its initial report on the America the Beautiful Initiative, highlighting important steps to conserve and restore our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife and to achieve more equitable outdoor access for American communities. Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO) applauds the initial efforts taken by the Administration and encourages the President to take further, and more decisive action on protecting critical landscapes important to diverse communities across the country. 

Camilla Simon, Executive Director of HECHO said: 

"The Administration's America the Beautiful initiative is laudable and has provided the nation with tangible investments and tools to conserve 30 percent of our country's land and waters. Protecting places like Chaco Canyon, restoring the boundaries of our cherished national monuments, and honoring and incorporating Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge in conservation decisions has helped us manage more resilient landscapes that will help combat the impacts of climate change. HECHO looks forward to working with the administration and lawmakers to promote further action that will build on an inclusive conservation legacy that includes protecting places such as Castner Range in El Paso, the Caja del Rio in New Mexico, and Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada." 

HECHO strongly supports the Administration’s initial priority areas to create more parks and outdoor spaces in nature-deprived communities, increase access to outdoor recreation, support Tribally-led conservation efforts, expand collaborative restoration of fish and wildlife habitat, incentivize voluntary conservation efforts, and create jobs by powering a new, more diverse workforce to power the nation’s restoration and resilience projects. 

“It is clear that when more representative leaders are at the decision-making table when it comes to the future of our nation’s conservation efforts, larger and more inclusive goals can be planned for and achieved to protect our nation’s natural resources ensure an equitable career path for future conservation workers and for those who seek to enjoy the outdoors. We are grateful for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s leadership and for the administration’s forward-thinking and inclusive vision for the future of conservation,” said Gabe Vasquez, Strategy and Partnerships Director, HECHO. 

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Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) engages Hispanic leaders and their communities in the conservation of public lands and water. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

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