Access to land and open, green spaces is one of the most tangible issues of environmental justice. The right for individuals to have access to protected, natural lands and open spaces is an important part of land and water conservation and stewardship. These lands--whether national, state or local parks--have the ability to not only connect us to lands and water but also allow us to tell our stories, protect history and honor culture.
Showcasing Black History on Public Lands |
Honoring Hispanic Heritage on Public Lands |
In September of 2022, NRPE published Stories on the Land: Showcasing Black History on Public Lands, detailing the perspectives and priorities of Black church leaders around public lands. This report seeks to enhance, not supplant, the equity and inclusion work already being done to center Black perspectives in conservation. In June 2023, NRPE published Telling the Stories: Protecting Black History Through Land Conservation, a briefing book that highlights various sites that tell Black History. These places, which are in need of preservation, are ways to tell the full American story. The sites featured reflect the priorities that were named in the Stories on the Land report.
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NRPE joined with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Hispanic Access Foundation, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), Nuestra Tierra and Onoo Poo Strategies to document Hispanic leaders' perspectives and priorities as it relates to public lands through a series of interviews. These deliberations are outlined in the report Changing the Landsape: Honoring Hispanic Heritage on Public Lands, which highlights the value of public lands, the inherent need for access to public lands and the imperative to protect lands and waters that honor and preserve Hispanic stories, history and culture. Click here to watch the video. |