January 31, 2025
The Ballona Wetlands Land Trust remains fully committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We recognize that, in addition to promoting a more level playing field for aspiring wildlife conservation professionals, DEI policies are also necessary to expand the conservation workforce. A growing array of environmental threats will require a larger pool of qualified and well-trained professionals to address those threats. In such an “all hands on deck” moment, we cannot afford to artificially exclude whole segments of the population from access to career development opportunities.
It is a simple fact that some children in Los Angeles have greater access than others to such things as nature camps, family nature outings, and natural open space in general. The children who have such access should be encouraged to take advantage of it to learn about nature and to consider careers in the environmental sciences. At the same time, however, it is critical that we also provide opportunities for others who may be just as interested in pursuing environmental careers. This is not just a matter of basic fairness, but a necessity for effective stewardship of our natural resources. It applies not only to organizations with conservation missions, but organizations with other missions as well. Providing access to career development opportunities increases the quality of any workforce.
Much of the current backlash against DEI seems to fundamentally misunderstand what DEI actually is and how it benefits all of society. Corporations making headlines for scaling back or eliminating their DEI programs seem to be doing so out of fear of political retribution, not any actual concern about DEI itself. In the face of this disappointing shift, we thought it was important to not only reaffirm our strong commitment to the principles of DEI, but to explain the reasons behind that commitment.
Our organization is small, so we understand that our policies have limited impact. We are in the pilot stages of a paid high school intern program designed to help students who are not within immediate geographical proximity to the wetlands learn about the plants and animals there, not just during a one time visit, but through a more immersive and ongoing developmental program. Our college intern program and staff hiring will also continue to incorporate DEI principals. We believe this approach will better the odds that we can successfully protect this important ecosystem from threats ranging from sea level rise to the extirpation of native plant and animal species.
If you agree with our approach to DEI, we hope that you will actively advocate for it in your own sphere of influence, whether that relates to hiring practices, investment in workforce development, choosing who you give business to, or even just conversations with others about this often misunderstood topic. If you have questions or a different perspective that you’d like to share, we always welcome discussion.