Land Preservation for Future Generations

Intern - Cepeda, Kyrie

Mentor - Dave Cabrera

08/19/2025 - "The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth." - Marlee Matlin conveys a very powerful message, urging us to be respectful and take responsibility for the planet that gives us life. This summer, I was given the opportunity to intern at the Division of Coastal Resources Management (DCRM) within the Land Preservation Section under the guidance of David Cabrera. Working with Dave gave me valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how land preservation efforts are planned and carried out. 

My project focused on raising awareness about conservation in Areas of Particular Concern (APCs), assisting with outreach materials, and organizing project records. Through this work, I aimed to help people gain knowledge about conservation efforts in APCs and support the effective implementation of land preservation plans. As part of my internship, I shadowed my mentor during site visits, tracked inventory purchases and usage, and documented the locations we visited. I also communicated with representatives from different agencies to gather information about the lots we surveyed and used a site-scoring field form to assess each lot. Additionally, I contributed to website content and created an outreach post for the Land Preservation Section. I utilized editing and data tools such as Google Sheets, Adobe Express, the BECQ Permitting WebApp, and more to engage the community, raise awareness, and manage important project details. These efforts took place at various locations, including Lake Susupe and Obyan.

The article I referenced stated, “The institutional structures of the programs vary in both payment mechanism and eligibility criteria” (Lynch, 2009). It also noted, “The programs were designed to: preserve agriculture and forest land; provide ecological services; attract landowner participation; and meet budgetary constraints” (Lynch, 2009). These goals closely align with the work we do here in the Land Preservation Section. These efforts are needed because they carry out the process for the community by protecting natural spaces, supporting local wildlife, and keeping the environment clean and healthy for everyone.

Land preservation is very important because a healthy land supports clean water, fresh air, food production, climate regulations and most importantly helps keep our culture alive. By connecting with the  community we help more people understand that protecting special places isn't just the job for scientists or the landowners - it's a shared responsibility  that benefits our local communities now and generations to come. 

Reference Article - 

Lynch, Lori. “Land Preservation Programs Achieve High Levels of Efficiency.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol. 91, no. 5, 2009, pp. 1368–74. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20616310. Accessed 10 July 2025.