Sierra Club Co-Hosts Press Conference for Public Lands Service Corps

On July 22nd, dozens youth and adults from the Sierra Club, the Student Conservation Association, the National Parks Conservation Assocation, the DC-based Earth Conservation Corps, and The Corps Network gathered at the US Capitol building to advocate for Congressman Grijalva's Public Lands Service Corp Act of 2009 (HR 1612).  The bill will expand opportunities for youth and young adults from underserved communities to gain valuable job skills, and to experience the outdoors while providing much needed service to our nation's public lands.

The bill expands on an existing program, the Public Lands Corps, and would be jointly administered by the Departments of Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture.  The Corps would focus on traditional restoration projects such as eradicating invasive species, rehabilitating campgrounds, restoring historic structures, and helping to conduct science and research projects in the park system.  However, the legislation would also make eligible projects that help reduce climate change stressors to public lands and that would facilitate the building of resilient habitats.  Passage of this legislation would encourage a new and diverse generation to follow the path toward green and service-oriented careers, and become the next generation of public lands employees and enthusiasts.

Read the Sierra Club press release here.