Destacado del personal: Leslie Lew (ella/ella), Especialista en Recursos Naturales

diciembre 28, 2023

Antes de unirse a Ag + Open Space, Leslie fue Jefa del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. – Oficina de Planificación del Refugio de Vida Silvestre de California\Nevada. Leslie ha trabajado en restauración de hábitat, control de inundaciones, construcción de senderos, gestión de reservas y fuegos prescritos. Ha trabajado para el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército de EE. UU., los Parques Estatales de California, el Servicio de Parques Nacionales y el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. Leslie también ha trabajado como guía de escalada en roca y esquí de fondo, guardabosques de NPS y coordinadora de voluntarios.

Leslie tiene dos hijos, es arquitecta paisajista y le encantan las actividades al aire libre, la buena comida y el vino y la creación de arte. Cuando no está en el trabajo, es activista y presidenta de la junta directiva del Fondo de Acción de Planned Parenthood Northern California, y es miembro de la junta directiva de Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. También fue seleccionada para formar parte del comité directivo de la Asociación de Quemaduras Prescriptas del Condado de Napa.

What’s your favorite Sonoma County place to get outside and why?
Having managed Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve for over ten years, I feel deeply connected to this magical place. The preserve takes in the full range of elevations, from the floor of the Valley of the Moon to the ridgetops of the Mayacamas Mountains. Calabazas is a geographic snapshot of all the beauty and majesty that makes our county special. In one short hike, you can see redwoods, grasslands, oaks, madrones, chaparral, and remnants of historic buildings while taking in panoramic views of Sonoma Mountain and the Sonoma Valley. You can find refuge on a hot day in deep dark hollows near the creek and on sunny calm winter days, you can luxuriate on a warm rock surrounded by chaparral so high on the ridge that it’s like being on top of the world. In the nearly 15 years that I managed Calabazas Creek, I came to know so many of the Preserve’s nooks and crannies, secret waterfalls, special rock formations, and all the best redwood trees – yet there was always more to discover.

Cuando Calabazas se quemó por completo en 2017, se proporcionó un laboratorio de cómo reaccionan los bosques del condado de Sonoma al fuego. Gestioné proyectos de reducción de combustible en Calabazas durante meses, principalmente trabajando con equipos de jóvenes; fue gratificante contribuir a la resistencia al fuego de la Reserva y al mismo tiempo preparar a nuestra próxima generación de profesionales de la conservación.

What’s one fact, statistic, or interesting tidbit about land conservation that you enjoy sharing with others?
When I lead public programs, I always share that for every four dollars – the price of a cup of coffee – you spend in Sonoma County, Ag + Open Space receives a penny and that we’ve leveraged all those pennies to protect Calabazas Creek, Taylor Mountain, Jenner Headlands, plus another 123,000+ acres or so to protect wildlife, water, scenery, community, agriculture, and places for us to play – forever. That’s just astounding to me!

What’s your proudest moment working in land conservation and why?
When I was the Preserve Manager for Montini Open Space Preserve, I worked very closely with David Goodison, the city of Sonoma’s Planning Administrator, and California State Park’s award-winning trail designer, Don Beers. We wanted a trail that would be built using the best trail construction practices so that it would be sustainable and require the least amount of maintenance while leading hikers on a wonderful journey of plant life, views, and other outdoor experiences. We laid out that trail during one of the wetter winters – usually in the rain – and devised a plan that was barely visible on the landscape.

Si bien los vecinos plantearon algunas inquietudes, establecimos relaciones con la comunidad y encontramos soluciones que, al final, funcionaron para todos. Me sentí muy satisfecho con este proyecto porque nuestro equipo hizo lo necesario para que el sendero funcionara para la comunidad. Cada vez que salgo de excursión, me complace ver a otros excursionistas disfrutarlo y ver la evidencia continua del uso de la reserva por parte de la vida silvestre: hace que el esfuerzo que se necesita para construir un sendero valga la pena.

What compelled you to pick a career in land conservation?
My parents took me to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks when I was quite young and that was that – I knew that I’d have to work protecting and sharing our natural world. I don’t think I ever gave myself any other truly viable career choice. Even growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles, I dreamed of wild places and started backpacking with our high school hiking club. I delighted in being immersed in nature and found a wonderful challenge in the arduousness of the journey. My first job out of college was as an interpretive Ranger at Yosemite National Park. When that job ended, I pestered the Chief of Planning for California State Parks until he created an internship for me, and have continued working in conservation to this day.

Respeto profundamente el equilibrio que el mundo natural proporciona para nuestro crecimiento y bienestar espiritual y físico individual, así como para la salud de nuestro ecosistema global. No me imagino trabajando en otro campo que no sea la conservación.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
My vice is salty and greasy, and in that category, I can never resist well-crafted truffle fries (lousy truffle fries are so disappointing). However, whenever I see a FatFace mango sticky rice popsicle, I have to have one. Their mango ice cream with the sweet and chewy rice is delicious and maybe because I grew up eating rice every day, I’ll always love rice.