This week, the country and the world are focused on systemic racist violence and injustice in the United States. It is essential that we center, elevate and honor the voices and experience of Black people and other people of color. As part of the world’s largest conservation organization, we must not be silent.
At The Nature Conservancy, we work toward our vision of a world where people and nature thrive. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting economic crisis, climate change, and racist violence and injustice all shine a bright light on the impossibility of nature thriving when people suffer. And people are suffering.
Resources
I’m a Black climate scientist. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet. (Washington Post)
White Lies (NPR)
The 1619 Project (New York Times)
As we acknowledge in our Equity Statement, the conservation movement, including The Nature Conservancy in Washington, benefits from white-dominant culture and operates comfortably in an unjust, racist society. We have failed to focus on the inextricable connection between conservation and racial, social and economic justice. And though we are striving to do better now, it isn’t enough.
Bias and oppression are embedded in our society, systems, organization and within ourselves. Today we commit again to increasing our cultural awareness and humility through consistent learning and actions, including developing a deeper understanding of social-justice issues and how they impact not only our work, but our lives and the lives of the communities we seek to serve.
As a predominantly white conservation organization, we must do more. We commit to examining our power, and the role it plays in our work, focusing on listening, humility, relationships, sustained collaboration and learning from our mistakes. We commit to using our resources toward equitable and effective conservation that ensures racial, social and economic justice are achieved in strategies, practices and projects.
We are known for our nonpartisan approach to protecting nature and people. The issue of racial equity is not political. It is about the humanity and rights of people. The right to live in safety, free from racism, with equal opportunity to thrive should not be up for political debate. This moment is yet another opportunity to unite across the aisle and commit to working together to do better.
Black lives matter. Human life is more important than property. The demonstrations sweeping the country are overwhelmingly a cry for justice that has been too long denied. We do not crave a return to “normal” life. We crave, and we commit to working toward, a more just future.
We encourage you to listen deeply and learn humbly along with us – and also to act. Speak up in situations of injustice. Call your elected officials and hold them accountable to using their positions to dismantle structural racism in your community. Donate to frontline organizations doing work on the ground. And vote for leaders who prioritize Black voices and community-led solutions.
As our CEO, Jennifer Morris, said this week: “When injustice reigns – whether it is unequal access to nature, unfair and inequitable laws, or police brutality – we must all do our part to push for change.” We hope you will join us in fervent hope and concerted action for a better world.
Banner photo by Michael Durham
