How do we do we achieve greater professional diversity at our national wildlife refuges? (Image credit: Steve Hillebrand/USFWS)
It’s now official: America is an increasingly diverse nation, a melting pot with people from a large variety of ethnic backgrounds gathered under one roof. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, which in late March released details about America’s ethnic make-up from the 2010 Census, non-white populations have grown at a much faster rate than white populations since the last Census was taken in 2000. Here are some highlights:
- Hispanic and Latino populations grew at a rate of 43 percent between 2000 and 2010, and now make up 16.3 percent of the total U.S. population (up from 14.5 percent in 2000).
- Asian populations also grew at a rapid rate, increasing by 43.3 percent to make up 4.8 percent of America’s residents (up from 4.3 percent in the previous Census).
- Black populations increased by 12.3 percent, and now make up 12.6 percent of the total U.S. population.
- American Indian and Alaska Native populations increased at a rate of 18.4 percent.
- Between 2000 and 2010, Texas joined California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii and New Mexico in having a “majority-minority” population, where more than 50 percent of the population was part of a minority group. Among all states, Nevada’s minority population increased at the highest rate, by 78 percent.
In stark contrast, white populations increased by just 5.7 percent between 2000 and 2010. While whites still account for 72% of America’s residents, the balance is shifting—and will likely continue to shift.
So why, when our country’s population is as diverse as it has ever been and is expected to become significantly more so, is the conservation community so stubbornly white? And why doesn’t the National Wildlife Refuge System do a better job of attracting Hispanic, Asian and Black careerists?
Up to now recruiting for diversity may have been more a nod to social responsibility than a mission imperative, but this latest Census data should serve as a wake-up call to wildlife managers everywhere. Why? Because in no fewer than 20 years the make-up of our state and federal legislatures will be far more representative of our society than it is today. If those future elected officials have neither the understanding nor constituent backing necessary to conserve wildlife habitats, our proverbial goose (of the refuge blue variety) will be cooked.
So how do we do we achieve greater professional diversity at our national wildlife refuges? We can start by actively engaging the surrounding communities in environmental education programs for kids and families. Because more and more of our refuges are located in areas of high ethnic diversity, we have a remarkable opportunity to make wildlife conservation a priority in these areas.
Programs like these are vital to the future of the Refuge System and should be an imperative for all refuges. With 553 refuges across the nation, we have the potential to reach out to the remarkable racial and ethnic diversity that is emerging in local communities everywhere. By doing so we can ensure that the next generation of land managers and decision-makers, regardless of their ethnic background, will appreciate and support the need to conserve wildlife in America.
Evan Hirsche, President, National Wildlife Refuge Association
5 Comments in this post »
RSS feed for comments on this post. | TrackBack URL
Duh! We’ve only been saying for close to 16 years – you first have to inform populations of color that do not know about these places and might not feel welcome, based upon the segregation and exclusion that is part of our country’s recent history. My first question is, show me your budget for the past decade and what portion of it has been devoted to targeted outreach, recruitment and inclusion. In most cases, all that’s been dedicated to redressing this situation is talk and handwringing. In my experience, when agencies and nonprofits want to get something done, they dedicate a budget, staff and develop a plan. If this hasn’t happened, you’re not serious.
We are not really starting at square one in asking the question or even in providing some answers. Environmental education is happening in some diverse communities across the nation, but what is needed is a message of relevance and a national scale approach. The Census data confirms what Audrey Peterman and so many other “diversity in conservation” trail blazers and environmental educators have been speaking on for years. Now, it seems that awareness of the need for professional diversity in the Refuge System and the data to support that need, has finally met opportunity and timing as a renewed vision of the National Wildlife Refuge System is underway. The plan and funding that should result from this effort needs to help parents, teachers, community leaders, and youth find relevance in the pursuit of environmental education and conservation careers. Cultivating our youth to value and steward our natural resources is the way to go for the future of refuges and the planet. The time is now to make the shift and engage diversity in a bold move!
Audrey, Flisa, many thanks for your comments! If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll take some time to review the draft document and make specific recommendations about how the Refuge System might pursue a robust strategy to engage people of color as visitors, and recruits to the workforce. Staff and money are definitely important, but a clear strategy with goals and objectives is equally important.
Happily, Evan! As you know in America when a business entity wants to accomplish something important and doesn’t have the expertise in-house, they hire a consultant/firm that has the expertise. So I’m ecstatic to offer the services of our 16-year old consulting firm Earthwise Productions Inc. that is widely recognized as being the experts in this arena. Let’s talk! love, audrey
Thanks Evan for sounding the call to action. Yes, I will comment and encourage others to do so as well. Our refuges are loved and valued by a diverse community. Flisa