Environment for the Americas
$37,070  Willamette Valley 

The convergence of climate change and population growth underscores the need to help foster a deeper and broader understanding of stewardship and inclusiveness in conservation. Oregon’s annual temperature will increase by 5℉ by mid-century and 8.2℉ by the 2080s. This level of warming will exacerbate impacts on the natural and human environments that have started to manifest in the state. The state’s Latinx population grew by over 30% over the last ten years, as Oregon has added nearly 140,000 Latino residents, according to the 2020 census. Latinos are now the largest minority group in the state, accounting for almost 14% of the state’s population. Among Oregonians under 18, Latinos make up 23% of the population.

The Willamette Valley National Refuge Complex (WVNWRC) has been working to reach more of their communities since 2015. Long aware of the faces and families missing from public lands, the Complex started a Latino Engagement Program nearly 10 years ago. To ensure a member of the Latino community and a native Spanish speaker joined the team, the Complex partnered with the Environment for the Americas (EFTA), to recruit bilingual interns. Increasing and continuing to lead access to nature in the Willamette Valley continues with a focus on four bilingual nature programs throughout the mid-Willamette Valley with additional partners and across all of the complex Refugees. Using the assessment of field tests of the curriculum developed by a previous WVNWRC-EFTA intern, the intern will expand the program’s reach across Hispanic communities in four mid-Valley counties. Funding provided by the Oregon Conservation & Recreation Fund will support the intern, provide materials for appropriate hands-on education in bilingual learning environments, and produce easily replicated activities for future learning.

Project Report