Conserving our lands and waters is essential to protecting humans and wildlife and stabilizing our climate, so I’m following the direction from leading scientists and introducing this resolution to set a national goal of conserving 30 percent of America’s land and oceans by 2030 to tackle this urgent crisis. –Congresswoman Deb Haaland, 1st District, NM
Conservation Science Partners–The ‘CSP’ in Team CSP-SBI cycling ambassadors–provided scientific analyses for the Resolution To Save Nature framework supporting this national conservation goal. One of the eight core principles for achieving this bold vision is “improving access to nature for all people in the United States, including for communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities”. Cycling can play a proactive, meaningful role, providing affordable, equitable access to nature right out our front door.
When citizens recreate in nature our motivation to conserve it increases. We enjoy, learn and safeguard places we care about. Outdoor recreation generates a positive conservation ‘cycle’. With its light footprint, energy efficiency, and overall friendly nature, cycling makes a measurable impact on conservation and sustainable development, in addition to achieving related objectives of boosting health and wellness, education, and mobility freedoms for people, especially people living in cities. There are no ‘exterior boundaries’ on nature–it is everywhere–and active travel like cycling forges those connections for us.
At Southwest Bike Initiative, our work on Safe Mobility For Everyone increases awareness through our education and encouragement efforts, and expands economic opportunities through outdoor recreation development. We support youth initiatives such as NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) to implement programs like Teen Trail Corps, where youth learn how to ride while “treating the environment with respect and kindness” through observing the rules of the trail, leaving no trace, and treading lightly. Cycling is a great tool for practicing teamwork and collaboration in the outdoor classroom, and the perfect vehicle for building a better world with #natureforall now and far into the future.
Resources:
The Outdoor Recreation Division, New Mexico is working to expand the outdoor recreation economy bringing jobs, prosperity, and wellness to state residents, and visitors alike.
https://www.nmoutside.com
The Center for American Progress’s Confronting the Nature Crisis video featuring New Mexico’s Sen. Tom Udall and Rep. Deb Haaland
The Press Release from Conservation Science Partners Analyses by CSP used to support a new resolution in the U.S. Senate to conserve 30% of nature by 2030
Southwest Bike Initiative 