Los Alamos Certified As Wildlife Habitat Community

Community Wildlife Habitat presentation Saturday at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Luisa Grant, senior coordinator of community programs for the National Wildlife Federation and County Councilor Pete Sheehey at Saturday’s ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
Luisa Grant, senior coordinator of community programs for the National Wildlife Federation traveled to Los Alamos from Reston, VA to officially present the Community Wildlife Habitat certification to Los Alamos
Los Alamos County was officially recognized as New Mexico’s first “Community Wildlife Habitat” Saturday morning during the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s annual Earth Day Festival at the Nature Center. Luisa Grant, senior coordinator of community programs for the National Wildlife Federation traveled from Reston, VA to officially present the certificate to county officials.

“It’s a pleasure to be here in a community that works on providing a wildlife habitat where people live, work, play, go to school and worship,” Grant said at Saturday’s event.  

Grant told the group gathered for the ceremony that Los Alamos is the first community in New Mexico to receive the certification and the 85th community in the nation. She explained that the certification process for Los Alamos began with an email PEEC’s Selvi Viswanathan sent to Grant. More emails followed and a local Community Wildlife Habitat Team was formed that includes Viswanathan, her son Hari Viswanathan, Michele Altherr, Hedy Dunn, Laura Loy, Yvonne Keller and Bob Walker. Other community members as well as students pitched in to work toward obtaining the certification. 
 
Hari Viswanathan explained that the national program started in 1997 as a way for homeowners, businesses, places of worship, schools and community leaders to protect wildlife habitates in their locales.
 
“Realizing that human development encroaches on habitats, the National Wildlife Federation devised a set of requirements for certification,” he said. “The criteria promote healthy conditions for indeigenous wildlife through educational activities, community outreach and environmental restoration projects. While most communities require a minimum of five years to complete the rigorous requirements for the certification, Los Alamos did it in two.”
 
The local community has been environmentally conscious for a long time and that awareness has been growing in the last decade as evidenced by the enthusiasm of the community to certify 140 homes, four schools, four community parks, three businesses, two places of worship and the community rose garden, he said. To become certified, each entity must provide the four basic elements that all wildlife need:
  • water;
  • food;
  • cover; and
  • places to raise young.
“Receiving this designation does not mean the committee’s efforts are finished, we will continue encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to certfy their properties, and the committee will continue to bring educational and outreach opportunities to Los Alamos,” Hari said. “To accomplish our vision we will provide educational opportunities and lead projects that raise awareness and further the enjoyment of our diverse flora and fauna.”
 
He added that educational efforts will be focused in four broad areas:
  • Coexisting with the communities’ abundant wildlife;
  • Sustainable garden with native plants in this arid environment and thereby provide for the needs of wildlife while conserving water as well;
  • Habitat restoration of areas damaged by construction, drought, erosion, mountain pine bark beetles or fire; and
  • Lessen the impact of litter on wildlife and the environment as it blows, washes and scatters throughout the mountains, mesas and canyons.
Gathering at Saturday’s Community Wildlife Habitat presentation at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
From left, Volunteers Laura Loy, Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus, Kaya Loy, Katelyn Tapia and County Councilor Pete Sheehey. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

On behalf of the communty, Michele Altherr, left, presents National Wildlife Federation representative Luisa Grant with a gift bag. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Members of the Barranca Mesa Green Team take turns speaking at the certification ceremony. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos High School students speak about the community wildlife habitat designation. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Mountain School Choir performs at Saturday’s event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Executive Director Jean Gindreau of PAC 8 films the certification event as County Councilor Pete Sheehey addresses the crowd. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

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