Gatekeepers in the Environmental Conservation Industry
My husband is the environmental science guy in our family. But a friend recently started working for National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and I’m leearning how the federal government approaches BIPOC landowners. Interesting indeed. So, of course, I did a shallow dive and stuck a pin in this to come back to it later. -kg
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The environmental conservation industry involves numerous stakeholders and gatekeepers, each playing a significant role in shaping policies, allocating resources, and enforcing regulations. Here's a breakdown:
Gatekeepers in the Environmental Conservation Industry
Federal Agencies
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): Oversees programs related to agriculture, forestry, and natural resources, including conservation efforts such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
U.S. Forest Service: A division of the USDA, it manages national forests and grasslands, implementing policies for sustainable forest management and conservation.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency): Regulates activities that impact the environment, such as pollution control, and enforces environmental laws.
State and Local Agencies
State departments of natural resources or environmental protection often have a significant say in land and resource conservation within their jurisdictions.
Conservation districts or boards at the county level help implement federal and state programs locally.
Private Organizations
Land Trusts and Conservation Nonprofits: Groups like The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, and local land trusts can influence conservation priorities and funding.
Foundations: Entities providing grants for conservation projects often act as gatekeepers by determining which initiatives receive financial support.
Academic and Research Institutions
Universities and think tanks provide data and recommendations that shape conservation policies and best practices.
Industry Stakeholders
Agricultural and Forestry Industries: Companies and trade associations may lobby to shape conservation policies that align with their business interests.
Developers and Landowners: Often resist conservation measures that could restrict land use or development potential.
Role of Lobbyists
Influence Policy: Lobbyists, often representing industries, NGOs, or advocacy groups, work to shape conservation policy by lobbying Congress, federal agencies, and state governments.
Funding Allocation: They can influence where conservation dollars go, such as funding for specific programs or grants.
Regulatory Impact: Lobbyists may push for looser regulations or more stringent conservation rules, depending on their interests.
Impact on BIPOC Landowners
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) landowners face systemic barriers in the environmental conservation sector:
Access to Resources
Historical exclusion from USDA programs, land grants, and conservation funding has left many BIPOC landowners without the same level of financial and technical support as white landowners.
Discriminatory practices, such as redlining and loan denial, have reduced land ownership and stewardship opportunities.
Generational Land Loss
Black and Indigenous communities, in particular, have faced systemic land dispossession due to legal loopholes (e.g., heirs' property laws) and predatory practices.
Limited access to legal assistance has made it difficult for these groups to retain their land.
Policy and Program Barriers
BIPOC landowners often face challenges navigating federal programs like those offered by the NRCS or FSA, which may have requirements that unintentionally disadvantage smaller or nontraditional farmers.
Environmental Justice Concerns
Many BIPOC communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation, such as pollution or deforestation, with fewer resources to advocate for conservation or mitigation efforts.
Lack of Representation
BIPOC landowners and communities are underrepresented in decision-making bodies, which affects the prioritization of issues relevant to them.
Ways to Address These Challenges
Equity in Funding: Increasing access to USDA and conservation grants for BIPOC landowners.
Technical Assistance: Providing culturally relevant training and support to help navigate conservation programs.
Legal Reforms: Addressing heirs' property laws and other legal structures that disadvantage BIPOC landowners.
Community Advocacy: Amplifying the voices of BIPOC landowners in policy discussions through organizations like the Federation of Southern Cooperatives or Land Loss Prevention Project.
Understanding and dismantling these barriers is essential for equitable environmental conservation that includes and benefits all communities.