In May of 2020, a Black birder named Christian Cooper was accosted by a white woman while birdwatching in New York City's Central Park. She called 911 and falsely accused him of threatening her. Given the country's history of violence against Black people, the incident sparked widespread discussion about the racism and barriers that Black people and other marginalized communities face in outdoor spaces. It underscored the reality that access to nature is not always equitable and that many people do not feel safe or welcome in public green spaces. This inequity is deeply rooted in history—here in Western New York, the land we cherish today was taken from the Indigenous nations who have stewarded it for generations, disrupting their deep connections to these landscapes.
At the Land Conservancy, we believe nature should be accessible, welcoming, and beneficial to every Western New Yorker. We recognize that the conservation movement has a complicated history that has often reinforced systemic race and class segregation, including in our region. For many Black people, Indigenous nations, and people of color, this has resulted in limited access to nature and farmland as well as the sense for many that they are unwelcome or unsafe in natural places.
Since 2020, we have taken steps to address how these systemic inequities have impacted our community and our organization. Working in collaboration with leaders in the field of racial equity, including Open Buffalo, Dr. Joanna Shoffner Scott of Stamey Street Consulting, and Anthony Armstrong of Make Communities, among others, we have begun the important work of humbly identifying the ways in which we can do better by all Western New Yorkers. Our staff has enthusiastically participated in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training initiatives and developed a Racial Equity Plan to help us move closer to our North Star. This winter, as part of our Race, Power, and Privilege training with Open Buffalo, we created a North Star Statement that is posted on our website. Moving forward, this statement will guide our work.
Like the actual North Star, the statement gives the Land Conservancy guidance and direction. It reminds us that we must stay unwaveringly true to ourselves and to follow our path toward justice. It is a clear statement about how the Land Conservancy seeks to be a culturally responsive/anti-racist institution. While addressing historical racial harms, we openly declare why this work matters to not only our institution, but the entire conservation movement. We are pleased to share it with you:
North Star Statement
We believe that healing the land and healing our communities are deeply interconnected. The land we steward belongs to all beings—plants, animals, and people—and everyone, regardless of background, deserves access to the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of nature.
We are committed to preserving the ecological values of the land while recognizing and addressing the systemic racism that continues to exclude and remove BIPOC communities and marginalized populations from access to land, nature, and open spaces.
As an anti-racist organization, we actively seek diverse perspectives, build meaningful relationships, and lend our skills and resources to partner organizations working toward equity and justice. We acknowledge the generational trauma caused by our collective history and commit to framing our current and future work with intentionality, respect, and openness.
Through open dialogue and active learning, we aim to create a more inclusive and just future where both the land and all who depend on it can thrive together.
We understand that this North Star statement is simply one step of many to come. DEI work is an ongoing process, one that requires an honest assessment of our organizational structures and aspirations, and we recognize that we have much to do. We remain committed, however, to the vital goal of providing truly accessible and welcoming places for all Western New Yorkers to enjoy.
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