This summer, Defenders of Wildlife hosted an amazing group of summer interns. These students and early-career professionals have brought their incredible energy and talents to Defenders during their time with us.
As the next generation of conservationists and changemakers, we wanted to know their hopes and dreams for the future of America’s wildlife and wild places. They graciously shared their thoughts on America’s safety net of conservation laws and protections, coexistence between wildlife and humans, and much more.
These interns represent the future of the movement to protect and restore wildlife. We’re grateful for their time and words. We hope you’re as inspired as we are by their hopes for a better, wilder world!
Bella Astin, Center for Conservation Innovation Intern
My dream is that wildlife and habitat conservation will become a central part of how society lives and governs. During my life, I hope to see stronger protections for endangered species and habitat restoration on a global scale, especially in biodiversity hotspots. I am passionate about the expansion of wildlife corridors in all major metropolis areas to allow animals to roam safely and freely. To create real change, I hope the voices of Indigenous peoples and local communities will be fully considered and incorporated in conservation decisions. Most of all, I want to see a major cultural shift in which people recognize that we are part of nature, not separate from it. Then, conservation becomes something everyone views as our shared responsibility, and we can change the world for the better.
Sebastien Comtois, Alaska Program Intern
I hope to see lasting protections for the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. Though rich in oil, this vast landscape is even richer in Biodiversity: polar bears, caribou and migratory birds that journey thousands of miles to breed here. These species have thrived at this Reserve for millennia yet face mounting threats from industrial development. We must choose preservation over extraction and recognize some places are too important to drill.
Elise Longley, Biodiversity Law Center Intern
In my lifetime, I want to be able to admire wild animals and the wild lands they call home without worrying about whether future generations will be able to do the same. I hope to see Congress pass new and amend existing conservation laws with enough specificity to avoid letting those laws rely wholly on agency regulations to be effective. When implementation of federal laws depends too heavily on agency interpretation of ambiguous terms, implementation can vary wildly between administrations. And when conservation laws are not consistently implemented in the way Congress intended, the justified expectations of regulated entities are undermined, and the laws lose their bite.
Raphael Mazhandu, Inclusion & Belonging Intern
I hope we continue to make progress each year in protecting habitats and uniting around the issues that matter most for keeping our planet as biodiverse and beautiful as possible. In recent years, I’ve seen conservation become increasingly divisive. I believe it’s crucial we recognize the vital role wildlife plays in shaping a healthy world for everyone. My own experiences in nature have inspired me to pursue a path in the conservation sector and I want future generations to feel that same passion for the environment.
Hannah Naehring, Southeast Program Intern
Over my lifetime, I hope to see wildlife and habitat conservation efforts that focus on sustainable coexistence between humans and animals. This includes implementing strategies that protect natural habitats while allowing for community support, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and promoting education and awareness about the importance of biodiversity. To be successful, conservation efforts must consider diverse points of views, find opportunities to build coalitions, and listen to local and traditional knowledge.
Hannah Schwartzberg, Communications Intern
I hope to see a deeper respect and appreciation for the natural world reflected in both our culture and our policies. I want to see stronger protections for wildlife and the habitats they depend on, not only through stronger laws, but through a shift in public values. By expanding access to environmental education, people from all communities can engage with and advocate for conservation. When people are informed and empowered, they are more likely to advocate for bold conservation policies and hold leaders accountable.
Ava Jutras, Marketing Intern
I hope we reach a point where caring for the Earth feels like common sense and is something we’re all raised to do. We’ve been taught to see the environment as something separate from us, when really, we’re part of it and it’s part of us. I’d love to see a world where kids grow up learning to work with the Earth, not just take from it. Where respect for wildlife and wild places is taught early, like a language or value. Nature reminds us we're a part of something bigger; it grounds us, heals us and connects us. If we can raise a generation to sees the Earth as kin, maybe we’ll finally start treating it like a home.
What do you hope to see happen in wildlife and habitat protection in the future? Share your thoughts below!
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