NATURE ENJOYMENT | Hispanic families participate in Cal-Wood’s summer camps. (Photo/El Comercio Colorado)
SPEAKS THE DIRECTOR OF CAL-WOOD, CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado
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Rafael Salgado, director of Cal-Wood, an environmental education center in Jamestown, Boulder County, is working to acquaint Hispanic families with the natural wealth around them. Born in Michoacán, this biologist leads the team that is revitalizing an extensive forest area devastated by a fire in 2020. In this report, we will explain how Salgado’s conservation and sustainability work is directly connected to climate mitigation. He is a climate champion.
Rafael Salgado dedicates his professional efforts to leading Cal-Wood, an outdoor education center located on the outskirts of Boulder, Colorado. He explained that this site, comprising 1,200 acres of land donated by education-committed individuals, offers the opportunity for those who don’t typically have access to nature to enjoy it. Salgado highlighted the school programs that allow students to learn about forests.
“A typical school program lasts three days and two nights. Here, we provide them with cabin accommodations, food, and all the instruction. Our teachers are nature experts, science experts. We work with schools so that what children learn here is significant for their academic progress, and apart from that, they enjoy nature,” Salgado said. This nature enthusiast also discussed the summer camps they offer to Hispanic children and families, enabling them to experience outdoor activities.
“In the summer, we hold traditional week-long camps for kids. These camps are a bit more recreational with fewer academic activities. In the last ten years, we’ve organized camps for Hispanic families. These camps are held on Saturdays and Sundays “Families camp here, and we provide them with all the equipment. Families help with cooking and activities. We practice fishing and archery. We go for walks and have campfires. We learn a lot,” Salgado affirmed.
CLIMATE HERO | Rafael Salgado, wildlife species specialist. (Photo/El Comercio Colorado)
Total Destruction and Regeneration
Salgado explains that ground fires are ideal for forests because they need fire. The issue arises when the fire reaches the crown of trees and begins to kill 100 percent of them. “We have been reforesting and reducing the forest density at Cal-Wood for years, but we’re not done. It’s very expensive and time-consuming. In 2020, we had a fire here that burned half of this property. About 600 acres “We were burned. We had treated half of that land already. 80 percent of the trees survived,” he explained.
Salgado has had to contend with the effects of the 2020 fire. The director of Cal-Wood recalls, “In the other 50 percent of Cal-Wood’s land, on the steeper slopes, which was dense forest, we hadn’t done any work there. 100 percent of the trees died. That area was pure charcoal on the ground. All vegetation burned, and the soil was exposed. With the strong storms that came, the soil started moving towards the rivers. Losing the soil, we have nothing.”
This expert continues, “After a fire, there’s regeneration. It’s natural, the problem is when the fire intensity is very high. We execute a restoration program, tree planting. Now, the burned area is a carpet full of yellow flowers. It’s impressive how the soil regenerates, as long as you care for it immediately after a fire,” he stated. Salgado expressed gratitude for the community’s participation throughout the restoration process.
Climate Mitigation
Salgado’s conservation and sustainability work through Cal-Wood is directly connected to climate mitigation due to its focus on forest restoration and proper management. Forests play an essential role in reducing atmospheric carbon and are therefore a key tool in combating the climate crisis.
Forests, through photosynthesis, capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This process helps lower CO2 levels, a greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. When forests are in good health and managed properly, they can act as carbon sinks, absorbing more CO2 than they release. Conserving these ecosystems can significantly contribute to mitigating climate change.
Protecting Ourselves from Poor Air Quality
TAKE PRECAUTIONS | Observe how the winds behave. (Photo/EFE)
Deteriorating air quality has become a hindrance to fully enjoying natural spaces in Colorado. “The air quality at this moment is reduced due to the fires occurring in the western US and Canada. These fires will continue to happen. You’ve also seen, especially in Colorado, how frequently forest fires occur. If you want to be outdoors, you must take precautions. We must be vigilant, observe, and review how the winds behave,” Salgado advises.
The expert recommends that, “if the situation is extreme, with very deteriorated air quality, we must stay at home. Not go out much and stay indoors, unfortunately. When there’s a manageable risk, one can go out, but we must protect ourselves If we notice an unexpected deterioration in conditions, we must take refuge in the car or immediately return home.” N95-rated masks are widely recognized as an effective option for filtering a high percentage of particles suspended in the air.
Understanding the Causes
Poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke is linked to the climate crisis. Climate change is exacerbating warm and dry conditions in many regions, creating an environment more prone to devastating forest fires. Burning fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and gas, releases significant amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, increasing global temperatures and prolonging more intense wildfire seasons.
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