Auto Save 2/12/2026, 6:24:34 PM

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

Reclaiming Nature: State Agencies Partner with Black-Led Groups Aiming to Expand Access, Belonging

For generations, Black Ameri- cans have been written out of the story of the outdoors, say Black nature enthusiasts and leaders of Black conservation and environ- mental organizations.

They point out: It's as if hiking trails, fishing lines, campsites, and open skies were someone else's inheritance.

That absence from official docu- ments and cultural narratives has shaped not only public perception, but policy, access, and confidence. Yet the truth is far richer: Black people have always cultivated deep relationships with land, wa- ter, and wildlife.

"So often, the story of Black peo- ple is told through a lens of pain and peril," Rue Mapp. founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro said. "But Black people have long tra- ditions of fishing, hunting, camp- ing, gardening -- even in the worst of times."

Across California, Black-led or- ganizations are reclaiming spaces long coded as "other people's" outdoors. Through hiking clubs, stewardship programs, and career pathways in public land manage- ment, groups like Outdoor Afro

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media and Black Girls Hike are not asking for permission to belong. They're restoring what has al- ways been theirs: a deep, genera- tional connection to nature, rooted in joy, responsibility, and leader- ship. At the same time, the state is opening pathways to careers in public lands and actively inform- ing the public about access, help- ing ensure that these spaces are welcoming and inclusive for all Californians.

That shared vision was on full display during a recent Black His- tory Month webinar hosted by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), which brought together organizers, advocates, and public servants working to ex- pand access to public lands while honoring the legacy of Black en- vironmental leadership.

The conversation highlighted not only the barriers Black communi- ties have faced, but the enduring traditions -- and future possibili- ties -- rooted in reconnecting with the outdoors.

• To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com.
• Out A FRESH
• NEWS
• + DAILY
• = FRESH NEWS DAILY
• Subscribe to www.WSSNEWS.com
• SEND EMAIL TO:

WSSNEWS.COM PUBLISHER, WALLACE ALLEN, WITH "SIGN ME UP" AS THE SUBJECT

[email protected]