GreenLatinos’ fight for la liberación ambiental includes conserving 30% of public lands in their natural state to address our disproportionate needs. Latino/a/e and Hispanic communities have deep-rooted connections to public land that define our cultures and affirm our rootedness in the past, present, and future of the United States and Territories.
Only 24 of the more than 400 National Park units specifically preserve Latino/a/e history, cultura, and contributions to the United States of America. Yet 89% of Latino voters support creating new conservation areas that protect historic sites.
Fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters accounts for 23% of the national greenhouse gas emissions that cause deadly climate events like extreme heat. Nearly 400 outdoor workers died from heat exposure in the previous decade; since 2010, Hispanics have accounted for a third of all heat fatalities.
Communities of color are three times more likely to live without access to natural areas compared to white communities in the U.S. For example 9/10 Latinos in the area surrounding Castner Range National Monument are nature deprived.
Decision making for public lands management happens through public processes that are primarily delivered in English, yet about 30% of Latines speak exclusively in English, and 71.1% speak a language other than English at home.
People of color are underrepresented in the U.S. Department of Interior workforce. 26.2% of the total DOI workforce in FY 2021 was identified as non-white race and ethnic identities, compared to
At least 177 land and water defenders internationally were killed in 2022. Since 2012 1,910 conservation champions have been murdered in the fight for conserving lands, waters, and cultures, including one in the United States, Tortuguita. The majority of deaths estan entre latinoámeica including Colombia, Brazil, México and Honduras.
Fight for equitable heritage representation: GreenLatinos is on the frontlines of the movement for inclusive cultural interpretation at conservation areas such as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Castner Range National Monument, and National Park Service-managed areas across the country. Public lands should equitably reflect the histories, futures, and contributions of everyone.
Wield conservation to meet national climate goals: We resist generations of public health violations like urban heat, pollution, barriers to healthy food, and the effects of other extreme weather events by advancing nature’s power to address climate change.
Defend biodiversity and habitat: By protecting more-than-human species, water, and soil health, we protect our identities. GreenLatinos is here to ensure that these unique cultural assets to the Latino/a/x communities across the nation are properly protected by conserving and restoring federal, state and municipal conservation areas across our country.
Eradicate the nature gap: It is a right for everyone to receive the healing powers of nature, not a privilege. Our vision for environmental liberation includes equitable and carbon neutral access to nature for all.
Demand justice in public process: We urgently call on agencies and decision makers to ensure that decision making processes for public land are available in languages other than English, starting with Spanish. We center and value the diversity of our community members, particularly those that are undocumented or have non-citizen status.
Protect conservation champions on the frontlines: Nobody’s life should be in danger while they fight for 30% of lands and waters conserved in their natural state by 2030. We demand justice for those who have been murdered, disappeared or threatened when they stand up against the desecration of la tierra madre.
Join our community: GreenLatinos cultivates deep, authentic relationships between Hispanic and Latino leaders and allies committed to addressing public lands and ocean conservation issues at the Public Land and Ocean Collective.
66 organizations endorsed–and 491 individuals signed–the Take Back Cinco de Mayo Declaration.
25 organizational signatories on a community sign on letter and House and Senate appropriations committee witness testimony submitted to advance Hispanic and Latino/a/e representation in the U.S. Department of Interior workforce and conservation site interpretation.
Hundreds of GreenLatinos members reached Congress for: co-sponsorship of the Transit to Trails Act; and opposition to the Protecting our Communities from Failure to Secure the Border Act of 2023.
Technical comments submitted to the public register on: carbon capture and storage in National Forests; National Forest Plan Amendments for old and mature tree conservation; the U.S. Department of Interior Environmental Justice Strategic Plan update; and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan.
Publication of a report on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act investments in Latino/a/e communities.
Designation of Castner Range National Monument in coalition with Castner Range Forever.
Fiscal sponsorship and operation of the America The Beautiful For All Coalition.
As a member of the PLOC, you are part of a community that organizes with each other so we are resourced to win our battles hacia la liberación ambiental.
