On November 3, 2021, Conservation Opportunity (CO) was invited to serve on the Southern Region Advisory Council committee of the United States Forest Service (USFS) - a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF), a 501c3 non-profit organization.
On November 16, 2021, CO signed the contract for the committee that was created to include Puerto Rico and 10-15 other representatives of marginalized communities in decision-making and project creation.
Group photo of some of the members who participated in the in-person meeting in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Gullah/Geechee Nation.
The committee members are members of these organizations: For The Creation Faith Based Alliance, Latino Outdoors, Conservation Opportunity, Gullah/Geechee Nation, Southern Environmental Law Center, Independent consultant on LGBT+ issues, Indigenous Environmental Network, Vet Voice Foundation, Outdoor Afro, Green the Church, y AIANTA (American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association).
As part of the initiative, HAF and USFS educated members with the Forest Service's decision-making processes and for them to provide perspective on the funding of projects of the organizing entities for FY 2024 and beyond.
“Conservation Opportunity's participation in the USFS South Advisory Council. Hispanic Access Foundation is instrumental in elevating the voices of Latino conservation leaders in Puerto Rico,” said HAF Conservation Program Manager Jessica Godinez.
Fabiola Torres (blue t-shirt) meeting with the group and USFS in the forest. Photo by Hispanic Access Foundation
“Fabiola Torres, the founder of CO, brings a refreshing perspective. to the board by sharing her experience as a student of HAND, Hispanic Access conservation advocate and a strong supporter of our community in Puerto Rico. With Conservation Opportunity on board, the reach of our conservation efforts can extend to Puerto Rico and work to highlight and elevate the work of conservation,” added Godinez.
The agency and the foundation created educational materials for broader use and developed criteria and metrics for equitable decision-making on projects that involve and benefit marginalized communities.
The committee met virtually on a regular basis since January, and continued to do so until August for a total of eight times and then attended a face-to-face meeting on June 1, 2022, where they discussed with USFS possible projects to develop in the future.
Hike through Chattahoochee National Forest, Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Conservation Opportunity.
They met at Chattahoochee National Forest located in Georgia, where they joined with forest managers that included local and national staff from the USFS and a non-profit organization called FIND Outdoors. There they discussed directly about projects they wish to carry out in that forest as well as in the USFS in general. Conservation Opportunity had the opportunity to influence nationally how the USFS recreation areas would be shaped.
The initiative has a monthly stipend totaling $1,500 paid to CO, who uses it for “administrative matters, such as the goal of obtaining tax exemption,” according to Fabiola Torres, CO's founder.