Have you ever wondered how a species gains protection in Congress or what the process is for getting an area or species listed? I’ve asked myself these questions several times, and so I connected with my good friend Hailey Hawkins to learn more.
Hailey works for the Endangered Species Coalition and works with the public and political leaders to put conservation into legal action. We dive deep into the process of listing a species and discuss next steps for reintroducing wolves into Colorado. She also opens up about her battle with mental health struggles and shares her coping strategies.
This was recorded in December of 2020 and so a few things have changed slightly since then, but the overall concepts are still very valid.
Little side note here: since this is more of a political episode, I want everyone to keep an open mind. If a viewpoint is stated that doesn’t exactly align with your beliefs, then it’s totally cool. This show is made for chatting about different ideas and sometimes controversial topics. It’s fun. We need more open, safe places to chat about these things and that’s what Rewildology is all about.
We drank lots of wine and had a blast recording this one for you all.
Here is my convo with Hailey:
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Show Notes
- So to start to really let the listeners know who you are, where did you come from? What was your childhood like? [2:01]
- So if you wouldn’t mind sharing what you went to school for and what was the reason why you studied what you did? [6:50]
- What did you experience during grad school that really took you down your path? [14:20]
- Hailey and I discuss how landed her job at The Endangered Species Coalition. [18:01]
- How exactly does a species or piece of land gain protection? [21:10]
- What exactly is happening in government for something that powerful [The Endangered Species Act] to be weakened? What exactly is going on? [27:15]
- Where does the American people come into this? [30:51]
- What are some of the best resources that you know of for people to get just honest information so that they know what’s going on? [36:32]
- How can the powers that be put the power back into the endangered species act? [42:15]
- Hailey and I discuss what’s next for reintroducing wolves into Colorado. [44:18]
- How do we bring in a more diverse group of people into the conversation that we’re having right now? Whether it comes to conservation or just having access to, sustainable food or from your experience, how do we bring more people into it? [1:27:07]
- When do you think you’ll have reached success or whatever you define success as? [01:34:44]
- What is one of the biggest asks or one of the final asks that you have of anybody listening to this right now? [1:43:30]
- Parting thoughts. [1:46:12]
Sources
- 58:57 – Survey: “Public perspectives and media reporting of wolf reintroduction in Colorado“
- 1:11:14 – 23.5 million Americans live in food deserts (source)
- 1:20:23 – “Bezos makes $2,489 per second — more than twice what the median US worker makes in one week.” (source)
- 1:26:48 – 5% of Americans hunt (source)
- 1:30:42 – The artist is Cal Duran, https://www.artbycal.com/
- 1:43:17 – The Nap Ministry is combating racism, capitalism, and white supremacy with rest.
Links
- Hailey’s contact info: hhawkins@endangered.org
- Resources for Help with Mental Health
- Hailey’s Twitter
- Southern Rockies Facebook Group
- Endangered Species Coalition*
- *In this podcast, Hailey is speaking from her own perspective.
Check out other Rewildology episodes.
Ep. 6 Show Notes | Sustain the Stoke with Arthur Lefo
Ep. 5 Show Notes | Bugs, Cameras, Ecotourism, Oh My! with Court Whelan, PhD
Ep. 4 Show Notes | The New Face of Conservation with Jawnie Payne
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