Meet Erwin Lopez Osorio, an international volunteer from Oaxaca, Mexico. Erwin spent the summer at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico with the International Volunteers In Parks program. He shared his expertise as a biologist, including during research and education programs about birds in the park.

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Celeste: Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Conservation Diaries, a National Park Service podcast. I am your host, Celeste Morales and in these episodes, we are featuring youth from around the world volunteering in national parks through the National Park Service’s International Volunteers In Parks Program.

Sometimes called "IVIP” for short, this program brings many talented people from different cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds to gain experience to work in conservation-related fields in National Park Service sites and programs. Our agency also has the opportunity to learn from their knowledge and perspective. While this podcast series focuses on youth, the International Volunteers In Parks Program is open to all ages.

Erwin Lopez Osorio participated in an international internship with Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology at the Technological Institute of the Valley of Oaxaca. A few years later, he obtained a master's degree in conservation and management of natural resources at the National Polytechnic Institute CIIDIR in Mexico.

Erwin: I'm a Mexican biologist and I'm from Oaxaca City. This year, I had my first experience abroad thanks to the National Park Service and Environment for the Americas.

Celeste: Since he graduated, Erwin has been promoting bird conservation in his community teaching others how to identify birds and involving them in monitoring projects. He wanted to devote his career to their preservation. Working with scientists in the US national parks appealed to him because he wanted to learn new techniques to apply to his work in Mexico. Learning about bird migration patterns and their habitats in the US was equally valuable to him.

Erwin: I specialize in birds, and through them, I make my bachelor's and my master's degree thesis. And also, I participated in some volunteerings in Mexico. One of them focused on bird banding, and another to promote bird watching in my state. I'm a person that loves spending time in nature, so this position was perfect for me because it include all things, right?

Celeste: Erwin worked in Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. Situated in high mesas, located in a beautiful canyon with red rock cliffs, the park contains many signs of ancient Native Americans, who carved pueblo dwellings, into rock walls. It also includes a diversity of wildlife and plants.

The park’s natural resources staff conduct many inventories and monitoring research projects to access the existing conditions of the Bandelier’s natural resources. This helps its scientists to understand the current state of its biodiversity and to develop the best management actions. Bird banding is an important part of its efforts to understand the health and numbers of the park’s avian population.

Erwin: And additionally, in most of the land of this part park is considered a wilderness area, so that represent a refuge of many species of birds, such as beards, and mammals, fish, plants, et cetera. This year, we started an introduction of two species because the water quality and the macro vertebra appoinents is better in the park.

Celeste: Erwin was an intern with the park’s 2022 bird banding team which monitored and tracked nesting birds at four sites at different locations in the park. Erwin assisted the park with identifying, banding, sexing, and ageing southwest birds. This included setting up mist nets, removing birds from the nets, banding the birds, and releasing the bird quickly and without harm.

A key part of Bandelier’s bird banding program was educating under-served school children about the bird banding processes, with an emphasis on the biology of birds and potential influences from warm climates. Erwin created a 45-minute bird banding presentation to deliver it to 20 different 4th-6th grade classes. The classes also visited the banding site to see the park scientists and Erwin in action.

Erwin: We caught different kind of warblers. Yeah, it's pretty cool. During the breeding season, and some of them during migration. Yeah, it was exciting.

Celeste: Bandelier’s bird conservation program is helping to protect species that migrate to Latin America. Working across borders is important to their survival. Teaching conservationists from those countries how to study birds and protect their habitat is crucial. Moreover, relationships between future leaders abroad and national park scientists will promote cooperation to further protect shared populations.

Erwin: Yes, this park has another method to banding birds. So yeah, I learning new techniques. I learned, of course, about characteristics of new species for me. Well, a good news through this time at Bandelier is that now I'll help in our new banding station in Oaxaca thanks to support from Bandelier in a place called Monte Alban.

Celeste: The National Park Service realizes the importance of diversity in the work force. Having different perspectives helps us manage our resources better and helps us to connect to all communities. We need to extend the benefits of parks to everyone and to enlist their stewardship. Hosting international volunteers allows National Park Service to share its conservation strategies around the world.

Erwin: Honestly, I didn't know that, as a foreigner, I could participate in the National Park Service. Yeah, but now I understand that organizations such as Olympias and Environment for the Americas are supporting underrepresented groups like Latinos, which is fantastic. This year, through the Fish and Feathers Internship, most of us were Latinos and that is so cool.

Celeste: Helping children and youth to understand and appreciate nature is vital to the future of protecting our national parks. The experiences that we provide will have a lasting impact on their conservation values; thus, ensuring that our public lands will last for generations to enjoy.

Erwin: We need a better environmental education for tourism activities, promoting activities with children are crucial.

Celeste: Working in national parks is a great experience for young people. They can see first-hand what park rangers and other staff do and have opportunities to live close to nature. For many, it expands their understanding of conservation careers and provides a catalyst to want to learn more about science and history.

Erwin: I want to say thanks for this opportunity as a Latino. I enjoyed my stay in the United States. Yeah, I would recommend that other young people with a similar ethnicity apply to this program. It's a great experience. It's not only a job. It definitely helped to learn new things, and it's sometimes a challenge.

This international program represents an excellent opportunity of training for people involved in the natural sciences. And additionally, we can increase our English skills through these programs.

Celeste: Erwin had a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills that he will bring to his own conservation efforts in Mexico.

The National Park Service Office of International Affairs helps parks throughout the United States share its mission with partners around the world. It coordinates international volunteer programs like Erwin’s, which benefit national parks by connecting them with the global community through sharing skills with future conservation leaders who will be better equipped to protect resources in their own countries.

And remember, there are many opportunities for youth and young adults 15-30 years old and veterans 35 years old and younger to work with the National Park Service. To learn more about these jobs, internships, and volunteering opportunities, you can go to nps.gov slash youth programs.

Thanks for listening and happy trails!

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