Latino Conservation Week is coming to St. George next week, and Conserve Southwest Utah is holding a variety of events to support Latino conservation efforts.

Latino Conservation Week is a national effort to promote conservation and provide recreational activities for Latinos.

On Sunday, July 21, 2019, experience Spanish language programs at Homestead National Monument of America. Enjoy a Spanish language tour of the Heritage Center exhibits or a guided bird walk, and a family picnic in the park’s shaded picnic areas.

Latinos are the largest minority group in America, representing nearly 17% of the nation's population. But when it comes to taking part in outdoor recreation activities, a 2018 report by the Outdoor Industry Association found only 10% of Latinos participated.

We all have special people in our lives – those who are friends and mentors. One of mine passed away July 12th. He is Dr. Jesse Miranda. It’s with reflection and joy that I write this statement on behalf of Hispanic Access Foundation because Dr. Miranda was an influencer in my life, and therefore, he had an impact on HAF.

On Monday, Jun. 24, Hispanic Access Foundation, Watershed Management Group, 23 members from the Tucson Evangelical Pastoral Association and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance, which unites Latino faith leaders in the development of stewards for God’s creation, celebrated the Santa Cruz River Heritage water release and El Día de San Juan, the start of Tucson's annual monsoon season.

Starting Monday, June 24, Tucson Water will begin the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, reviving a historic stretch of the river near downtown Tucson. Tucson Water will put as much as 2.8 million gallons of reclaimed water daily into a stretch of the river south of Sentinel Peak, which was of major importance to earlier residents and area tribes. The city and county already release treated water into a lower stretch of the river near Marana.

With the goal of creating opportunities for organizations and parks to engage Latinos and for Latinos to demonstrate their passion for the outdoors and protecting public lands, the 6th annual Latino Conservation Week will take place July 13 – 21, 2019 and is expected to be celebrated with over 150 events nationwide. Communities will have the opportunity to camp under the stars, go canoeing, take sunset walks, and hike with family among other activities as they engage in the outdoors and learn about stewardship.

Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule, titled the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, that would undo much of the Clean Power Plan, which placed the first and only federal limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants – the largest stationary source of pollution that drives climate change.

Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement in response to Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s (D-NJ 2nd District) introduction of the LWCF Permanent Funding Act to permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This bill serves as the House companion bill for the bipartisan legislation, S.1081, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

On May 28, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation, Hispanic Access Foundation, and Latinos in Heritage Conservation were joined by 43 groups and 67 individuals in submitting a joint letter to the Senate Committee on Appropriations to support the Underrepresented Communities Civil Rights Grant program with a $30 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2020.