{"id":228634,"date":"2024-07-07T19:35:35","date_gmt":"2024-07-07T19:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/07\/3-things-our-experts-loved-in-may\/"},"modified":"2024-07-07T19:35:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T19:35:35","slug":"3-things-our-experts-loved-in-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/07\/3-things-our-experts-loved-in-may\/","title":{"rendered":"3 things our experts loved in May"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Editor\u2019s note: Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries \u2014 their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map. In this monthly feature, our experts share some of their favorite things.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

A journey in conservation<\/strong><\/h3>\n


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Jess Brown hiking at Yosemite National Park. Photo courtesy of Brown<\/h6>\n

Every spring, two of my faraway friends and I meet to explore the outdoors. Our goal is to visit each of the 63 U.S. national parks \u2014 hopefully together. I\u2019ve just returned from this year\u2019s adventure, hiking through Yosemite, Grand Tetons,
\nYellowstone, Wind Cave and the Badlands. <\/p>\n

On this trip, it was extra special to visit Yellowstone\u00a0\u2014 the world\u2019s first national park. Established in 1872, Yellowstone not only protects land and wildlife, but also aims to teach visitors<\/a> about the history of the Indigenous peoples and local communities that have long-lasting ties to the region. Respecting these often undertold stories has become a big part of my personal conservation
\njourney. While at Yellowstone, I picked up a copy of \u201cBraiding Sweetgrass<\/a>\u201d by Robin Wall Kimmerer to read on the road.
\nI\u2019m nearly finished and can\u2019t recommend it enough if you\u2019re looking to learn about the connection between people and nature from an Indigenous perspective. The imagery and storytelling are profoundly beautiful. <\/p>\n

Time spent with nature \u2014 physically or through the pages of a book \u2014 is always time well spent. When I return home from hiking my hands are always a little dirty, my face a little sunburnt and I\u2019ve usually ripped a pair of pants, but
\nI\u2019m always reenergized to continue my work as an advocate for nature, people and our collective well-being. It reminds me why we do what we do every day at Conservation International. <\/p>\n

Jessica Brown<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Director of Media Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Washington, DC<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lessons from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu<\/strong><\/h3>\n


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Neil Vora at a jiu jitsu competition. Photo courtesy of Hunter Latourette<\/h6>\n

It\u2019s inspiring to work in conservation; I\u2019m helping to solve some of society\u2019s greatest challenges alongside some of the most dedicated people I know. But the work is hard, too. Hearing about yet another species going extinct, or an
\necosystem being degraded takes its toll. During those moments, I\u2019m grateful to have stumbled on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a self-defense martial art.\n<\/p>\n

Some may find it odd that a physician-conservationist like me is so passionate about a combat sport that focuses on forcing your opponent to succumb to your will. But I love it because it teaches me lessons that are applicable to my work. I\u2019m certainly
\nnot the most naturally gifted athlete, but through perseverance I\u2019ve seen improvement. In this sport you quickly learn that no matter how long you’ve been training, ego doesn\u2019t get you far. <\/p>\n

Most importantly, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu puts me in a state of \u201cflow\u201d where I\u2019m fully immersed in what I\u2019m doing. It\u2019s like a form of meditation that helps me find peace even when my heart breaks for the destruction of nature.
\nIt has made me a more authentic version of myself. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a coincidence that I landed my job at Conservation International \u2014 one I had dreamed of for more than a decade \u2014 shortly after I began training. Brazilian
\nJiu Jitsu reminds me that success is never guaranteed, but the decision to pursue my life\u2019s purpose \u2014 to protect nature for people \u2014 is mine to make.\n<\/p>\n

Dr. Neil Vora<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pandemic Prevention Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York, New York<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reflecting on wisdom<\/strong><\/h3>\n


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<\/span><\/p>\n

Dani Amico visiting Nuwa’s Forest in Peru.\u00a0\u00a9 Marlon del Aguila<\/h6>\n

In her new podcast \u201cWiser than Me<\/a>,\u201d Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is famous for her breakout role
\nas Elaine on the hit sitcom \u201cSeinfeld,\u201d invites women in (or around) their 70s to share their personal journeys, life lessons and regrets. It\u2019s refreshing to hear Louis-Dreyfus (who is 62) tap into the wisdom of our \u201celders\u201d
\n\u2014 something we seem to brush off in many modern societies.\n<\/p>\n

Working in Peru with Indigenous women, I see they are respected not only in their communities, but by conservation and scientific experts. Their traditional practices, like the use of plants and other natural resources for medicinal purposes, represent
\nan opportunity for their communities\u2019 economic development and for the conservation of their forests. I\u2019ve often wondered why we don\u2019t similarly value the wisdom of older women in our own societies. <\/p>\n

In listening to the podcast, I especially enjoyed the episode in which Louis-Dreyfus talks with actor and activist Jane Fonda about her commitment to the climate and environmental movements. This genuine conversation is worth your time, as two legends
\ninvite us to reflect on what \u2014 and who \u2014 we value.\n<\/p>\n

Daniela Amico<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Communications Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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Editor\u2019s note: Conservation International is powered by 1,500 people in more than 30 countries \u2014 their interests, like their hometowns, are all over the map.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":228635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[189],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-228634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newhampshiredigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}