April 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Saving Nature Through Community
Connection
In January, The Revelator published an article that lists 24 species that were declared
extinct in 2022 - " including two frogs, one of the world's biggest fish, an
orchid from Florida, a grass from New Hampshire and many others " - and links
to a study that claims as many as 562 more have potentially been lost (tinyurl.com/
y5rd6eyw).
Another troubling fact raised by The Revelator is that the more nature we lose,
the more disconnected we become from it. " Increasingly, research has shown that
as species and ecosystems vanish, it also chips away at our ability to preserve what
remains - because we no longer understand what we're losing, " says author John
R. Platt (tinyurl.com/3ut67y2y). According to the article, as children and families
spend less time outdoors, they become more detached from - and, in turn, more
afraid of - nature and wildlife. This phenomenon, known as " biophobia, " causes
apathy toward wild spaces and species, making it exponentially more difficult to
galvanize the movement for conservation.
The facts cited in these articles make evident that access to and experience within
nature are critical to protecting the lands and wildlife that are vital to a healthy
future for our planet and our communities. And for many people, their connection to nature begins
with their local parks. Whether attending an environmental education program, picnicking at a neighborhood
green space, biking local trails or harvesting crops at a community garden, the programs and
spaces run and maintained by park and recreation professionals are where the vast majority of our
community members are likely to fall in love with the outdoors.
Not only does support for nature lead to local actions, but also it prompts national objectives, such as
the Biden administration's " America the Beautiful " initiative (tinyurl.com/bde8sp5s). Areas of focus
identified within the initiative include creating more parks and safe outdoor opportunities in naturedeprived
communities; supporting Tribally-led conservation and restoration priorities; expanding
collaborative conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors; increasing access for outdoor
recreation; incentivizing and rewarding voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers and
forest owners; and creating jobs by investing in restoration and resilience - all areas where parks and
recreation has a direct impact. " There are hundreds of locally supported conservation and restoration
efforts already underway in communities across America...that can be advanced over the coming
decade to strengthen our economy, fight climate change, address environmental injustice, and improve
outcomes for fish, wildlife, and people, " states the initiative report. Many of these local efforts begin
with our town, city, and county park and recreation agencies.
This Earth Day, how are you and your agency encouraging your community to celebrate nature?
By providing our community members with opportunities to engage with the natural world, we can
develop future generations of people who feel connected to - and, in turn, compelled to protect - the
wild spaces and species that make our world healthy and vibrant.
CAROLYN F. MCKNIGHT-FREDD
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
8 Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
https://tinyurl.com/y5rd6eyw https://tinyurl.com/y5rd6eyw https://tinyurl.com/3ut67y2y https://tinyurl.com/bde8sp5s
April 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2023 - Parks & Recreation
