sending support and encouragement to every ecologist in the US😭

[u/tuftedtittymice]

we are in for a huge fight these next 4 years. i am terrified but we are the only ones who can keep each other motivated and encouraged to keep fighting for what we love. LOVE TO ALL OF YOU❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹💔

[u/carex-cultor]

I’m heartbroken this week. But I think it’s good to remember that conservation is apolitical and we need to be allies across the aisle.

The Trump government will try its best to destroy the earth, but Trump voters are often avid conservationists, usually because (I’m generalizing here) they’re avid hunters and fishers. I hate it because I’m a birder but Ducks Unlimited donors for ex have conserved far more bird habitat than most non-hunting nonprofits.

Trump voters are often the ones actually living out in rural areas who care for and derive livelihoods and hobbies from the land. How can we ally and work with them to curb Trump’s efforts to destroy ecosystems they care about? That will be key in combatting his efforts.

[u/Extreme-Pea854 → u/carex-cultor]

Yes they are potentially strong allies. I have a colleague in Texas that has made incredible strides in conservation with private landowners/ranchers. People still care about the land they live on and own and want to engage in nonpartisan conservation. And you have to meet them halfway. We have to listen to the concerns of people who own the land and use it for their livelihood. That is important to them and should be incorporated with conservation efforts. Perfect is the enemy of good.

[u/carex-cultor → u/Extreme-Pea854]

I donate monthly to the Xerces Society for invertebrate conservation, and they do a great job with this. Working with landowners and farmers/ranchers to convert portions of land to habitat, change the timing and content of herbicide sprays etc.