The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex will get $1 million in funding for public outreach programs, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced Wednesday.
The idea is to reach new audiences, especially youths and urbanites, to get them involved in conservation and outdoor recreation. San Diego and Los Angeles counties will be targeted.
“From teaching urban youth about the magnificence of the California condor to unlocking opportunities to explore nature along the Los Angeles River, the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a model of how we can leverage innovative partnerships to connect new and diverse audiences to the great outdoors,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.
“This dedicated funding will help engage the next generation of conservationists while also strengthening connections between the community and these public lands that belong to all Americans.”
San Diego’s wildlife refuge complex became the first of the nation’s urban national wildlife refuges to be awarded outreach funding through a nationwide competition.
Locally, the funding will go to the Living Coast Discovery Center for programs that instruct the next generation of environmental scientists and develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, to train teachers and students to use cutting-edge science to solve conservation problems; and Earth Discovery Institute to build a cadre of young technology-savvy environmental stewards and expand service opportunities for volunteers.
The Los Angeles Conservation Corps also will benefit from the award.
— City News Service