Image courtesy Bryan Matsumoto
This is the final entry in a three-part series on the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act. In this post, Juana Torres, an environmental activist in Los Angeles, discusses the spiritual power of the outdoors, and how the PUBLIC Lands Act will protect landscapes and waters in the San Gabriel Mountains and expand access to these powerful places.
Part I: The Next Big Step in Protecting California's Lands
Part II: To Fight Climate Change, We Must Protect California’s Public Lands
My passion for the environment started when I was very young. My parents left El Salvador in the late 1970s before a brutal civil war broke out. I was fortunate enough to be born and grow up in Los Angeles, far from the violence of the war. Nevertheless, I was deeply exposed to the injustices occurring in my parents' homeland from a young age. We would receive calls from El Salvador with reports of missing loved ones who had taken refuge in the jungles and mountains to hide from the war and the military. I quickly learned that the mountains were a place of refuge, a sanctuary for people in need of protection.
I had the opportunity to get to know the San Gabriel Mountains as a kid, and I was blown away not only by their beauty but also by the spiritual feelings the mountains stirred within me. I could not believe how a brief drive up CA Route 2 could transport me from the concrete of Echo Park to the most celestial place I had ever seen. I felt like I was in a different realm, peaceful and safe. It felt like I was a part of something bigger than just myself.
I quickly learned that others were also feeling spiritual ecstasy in the San Gabriels. People from all over Southern California were using them not just for recreation but for a whole range of spiritual and religious purposes. I witnessed evangelical baptisms on the San Gabriel River, Korean church members being dropped off at the trailheads for hikes, and other faith groups coming together for outdoor retreats. The benefits of nature were improved health and cleaner air and water, yes, but they were more, as well. In the San Gabriels, nature could heal the soul.
I wasn’t alone in feeling that the San Gabriels were a place of healing, and I’m anything but alone in my belief that it is our mission to protect these sacred lands, communities and natural spaces. A diverse partnership of faith groups, local residents, cities, government agencies, business owners, community leaders and health and environmental justice organizations have worked to expand those benefits to more people in the Los Angeles area.
Working collectively, and with leadership from Representative Judy Chu, we succeeded in passing bipartisan legislation that protected 40,000 acres of land and nearly 10 miles of rivers in the Angeles National Forest. That work was also key in the creation of the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area.
Now we have a chance to go even further. The Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act, introduced by Senator Alex Padilla, would strengthen protections for our lands and rivers and improve access to nature across California. It would go further than any previous legislation to protect these landscapes and waterways locally and ensure that all Angelenos have direct access to nature. Los Angeles County residents have some of the most limited access to parks and green space in the country. The PUBLIC Lands Act would increase equitable access to the outdoors for L.A. residents by protecting tens of thousands of acres and dozens of miles of waterways in the San Gabriels. That means more recreational opportunities, cleaner air and water, and improved health and wellness for 17 million people.
We’ve made great strides in protecting the San Gabriels since our first meetings with community residents, but our work is far from over. Too many people in the Los Angeles area do not have access to these natural spaces, despite how close they live to the mountains and waters. And that lack of green spaces leaves communities with dirtier water, polluted air, and more vulnerable to excessive heat. The PUBLIC Lands Act can help us address all of these issues. The benefits of spending time outdoors are as varied and diverse as Los Angeles itself, but we all deserve a liveable planet that belongs to all of us.