We here on the Central Coast know the importance of the
outdoors to our quality of life, health, and the economy. My own family is
indelibly tied to the Los Padres National Forest. Growing up, I spent long days
on the Santa Ynez River, connecting with nature the way our family has for
generations — socially and culturally.
Rep. Salud Carbajal (D) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D) are
carrying the banner for us in Congress. They’ve introduced the Central Coast
Heritage Protection Act, and this past summer, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to ask Congress to pass this
legislation protecting public lands on the California Central Coast. The
Central Coast Heritage Protection Act would expand wildlands and rivers
protections in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties.
Approximately 280,000 acres of land and 159 miles of rivers would include added
protections for hiking, camping, and exploring. Many of these lands are near
developed communities with less access to green space and are more accessible
than national parks in the region. That’s incredibly important to all
communities but especially under-resourced families.
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara. It is known to many
as an affluent community, but those of us who grew up here know that the town
is not an exception to economic disparities. My parents immigrated to the U.S.
from rural Mexico to find work, and they made a life here, working hard
servicing the town’s middle-class and wealthy residents. In Mexico, they had
grown up surrounded by hillsides, rivers, and agricultural landscapes, and it
was because of this resemblance to home and nostalgia that we often visited Los
Padres National Forest.
During my youth, summer days were not spent in national
parks or at summer camps; instead, we would pack up my dad’s work truck and
head out for a weekend in Los Padres with other relatives. We spent time in the
local swimming hole, exploring the area, and gathering for family dinners at
the campsite while the sun would set over the Santa Ynez Valley. This would be
where I had my first wild experiences that continued through most of my youth —
my first deer sighting, my first river swim, my first camping experience, and
so much more. It was a place our family and extended family could gather that
was close, affordable, and provided something for all ages.
In my current role at Los Padres ForestWatch, I work to
connect youth and families to the forest and to increase access to federally
protected natural spaces for the enrichment of our communities and our economy,
and to ensure that all people regardless of socio-economic background have
access to wild places. Some of them come from under-resourced communities and
are struggling with their academic performance, social harmony, and other areas
of their well-being. Most have never had the opportunity to visit such places
and I’m fortunate to witness the transformative power of our local mountains
and rivers, and the effect it has on them. There are numerous benefits to low
cost, nearby access to public lands. Research consistently shows that nature
makes children smarter, healthier, and
happier. Psychologists believe that experiencing awe from wild places can play an important part in
bolstering happiness, health, and social harmony. It’s something every
community around the world seeks out.
I support the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act because
as someone who comes from a long lineage of Latin American and indigenous
traditions, protecting the natural world is a moral obligation deeply rooted in
my culture. Recent polls from Colorado College show that 75 percent of Latino voters in
Western States want legislators to place more emphasis on protecting sources of
clean water, air quality, and wildlife habit while providing opportunities to
visit and recreate on our national public lands. Studies also show that 82 percent of Latinos in western states see public lands,
such as national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife areas as an essential
part of the economy. It confirms what I see every day from my position at Los Padres
ForestWatch — that Latinos and other disparate communities care about public
lands and want them protected.
My parents stressed to us the importance of cherishing our
natural wealth. The sunsets cast long shadows of the trees, and those
experiences have long helped make me who I am today. I want others to have
access to similar experiences, whatever their socio-economic status is so that
we can all feel the richness of nature.
In November, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed
the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (H.R. 2199), and it now moves to the
full House and Senate for consideration. The bill’s advancement builds on
momentum in Congress to permanently protect cherished landscapes and waters
across the nation. Now more than ever, as residents of California’s Central
Coast, we must act to express our support for the bill, and let our
representatives know we want to see the region permanently protected.