Oregon Fish & Wildlife first black commissioner Greg Wolley wants to change stereotypes
When it comes to the outdoors, Greg Wolley has been everywhere you can imagine, defying many stereotypes about African-Americans and wildlife.
“They say Black people don’t bike, hike, etc.,” he says. “Students of color are not seeing images of people in natural resources that look like them -- they don’t have role models.”
On May 21, Wolley became the first African-American to serve on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission (ODFW).
Besides increasing the participation of people of color, Wolley wants to focus on policies around hunting and fishing. He says he wants to clarify how many and what types of animals can be hunted and ensure that the fish populations are strong and healthy.
In addition to these agendas, he also wants to look at the impact large mammals like wolves, bears and cougars have on people’s lifestyles. Lastly, Wolley wants to balance populations of prey and predators.
His appointment adds another honor to his long list of services in the area of environmental education. Throughout his career, Wolley has worked to engage the Black community in outdoor activities and the natural world.
“People of color are so underrepresented in natural resources,” he says. “It has changed slowly.”
http://www.oregonlive.com/news-network/index.ssf/2012/06/oregon_fish_wildlife_commissio.html