It’s been said that those who experience wilderness areas firsthand are more likely to want to protect it. We believe that visiting our public lands and establishing meaningful connections are important steps to building a strong conservation movement. As we continue to grow, we are working towards fostering valuable wilderness connections and ensuring that visitors, stewards, and advocates reflect the demographics of our communities.
Youth Engagement
Many of us know how good being in the forest can make us feel. The vistas, the sounds, the warmth of the sun, or the smell of the rain can ease our worries, help us relax, and spark a sense of wonder and appreciation. This is especially true for today’s youth and children who are spending less time outdoors, and more time indoors. Research suggests that nature-deficit disorder “contributes to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, conditions of obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses.”
Nature and the great outdoors have the power to make children smarter, healthier, and happier, and it’s important for us to work towards creating equitable access for the benefit of our communities and the protection of our public lands. ForestWatch is working to promote protection of our region’s natural spaces by increasing access to outdoor recreation and environmental education. We work with schools and youth groups to help provide positive experiences in our forest that foster an appreciation for wildlife, wilderness, and stewardship.
Community Engagement
Research shows that mainstream environmental organizations are far behind racial diversity efforts. While our mission has always been centered around protecting our resources in the best interest of all communities, our work has not always been focused on ensuring stakeholders reflect the community demographics of the areas that surround Los Padres National Forest. The Green 2.0 Report concludes that environmental organizations 
are not adequately reaching out to organizations representing people of color, in spite of strong support for environmental protection amongst such groups. We are taking steps to narrow this disparity by seeking out new relationships and partnerships with groups we may have unintentionally left out in the past. We understand this work takes time, and must be approached with authentic and respectful intentions.
As an organization, we believe that our supporters and stakeholders should reflect the communities we serve and are taking steps to increase access to the forest through culturally relevant events, guided hikes, and working with community members to ask what their needs are, and how they want to be engaged, heard, and represented.
Graciela Cabello, ForestWatch’s Director of Youth and Community Outreach, leads a group of fourth graders on a talk and hike in Wheeler Gorge near Ojai.
For more information, please contact Graciela Cabello at Graciela@lpfw.org or 805.770.8740.
