Nature is My Refuge

By Papa Gueye

Papa Gueye participates in a biological survey with Conservation Florida partners, Wildlands Conservation.

My name is Papa, and I am a conservation program fellow at Conservation Florida. I am so honored to have been given this opportunity, as it gives me a chance to do meaningful work in Florida where I graduated both high school and college. My work in the field of conservation is meaningful to me because nature is my refuge.

My family moved from New York to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa when I was two years old. It was there, in my grandparent’s small village called Coki, Louga that my interest in conservation began to flourish. Every summer, I looked forward to leaving the city to visit my grandparents on their farm about four hours away from our home in Dakar. In the village, I helped my grandfather water the plants, climbed trees to collect fruit, and played soccer in the sand with friends.

These experiences strengthened my love for nature, and I soon developed the idea that plants need to be protected because they grow so peacefully, yet humans constantly destroy balanced ecosystems for their own gain.

My deep and unwavering appreciation of plants has shaped my life. At the age of 16, I moved back to the U.S. from Senegal. It was then that I began to learn English. During this time of my life, I faced many challenges. I encountered difficulties adapting during my high school years due to my lack of fluency in English and culture barriers, but I always found comfort in nature.

I was fortunate to attend high school in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. I found great joy taking in the unique natural beauty of each state: from hiking the Stone Mountain summit in Atlanta to exploring the trails at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park in Tampa. Over time, my interest grew, and I decided to pursue a degree in environmental science.

Florida is very special to me because it reminds me of the region in Senegal where I grew up. My favorite aspect of Florida is its unique landscapes, especially the abundance of water in springs, lakes, rivers, and bays. Everywhere I’ve been in Florida, there is always a body of water in proximity, which adds substantial beauty and biodiversity.

Working for Conservation Florida is allowing me to help protect this beautiful place and gain valuable experience in natural resource management. Much of my work involves managing Conservation Florida’s 476-acre D Ranch Preserve in Volusia County.

One of our main management goals for D Ranch Preserve is to restore the populations of longleaf pines and habitat for gopher tortoises. We plan to do this by reintroducing prescribed fire, which is crucial for both species’ survival and will improve habitat for other species living in the preserve.

Entrance to cave at a Conservation Florida easement property in Branford on the Santa Fe River.

I have also helped with annual monitoring activities on multiple conservation easements held by Conservation Florida in various locations around the state. As a result, I have been lucky enough to experience a variety of natural communities, each rich in plant and animal species, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Each site I’ve visited for monitoring thus far has such unique characteristics it amazes me that they are all in the same state. To name a few, I saw for the first time a den that had been inhabited by a cougar in Williston. In White Springs, I visited a property that contained a hidden spring and probably the biggest live oaks I’ve ever seen. Finally, in Branford I saw remarkable swamps with huge cypress trees along with an immense cave that is visited by multiple animals.

Looking back, I am grateful for all of the experiences that have led me to this point in my career. From the time I received a scholarship to play soccer at Thomas University where I was able to greatly improve both my social skills and fluency in English to my internship with North Carolina State University where I learned about the importance and implementation of forest management – I have found a career path that allows me to pursue my passion for plants and share my love of the natural world with others.

Papa Gueye accepts a Scholars for Conservation Leadership award from Wendy Jackson, former vice president at the Land Trust Alliance.

In fact, all of my training and education has contributed to my successful fellowship with Conservation Florida. My Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee gave me experience working as a student research assistant at the Center of Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, and I was able to present my research on two occasions! Later, during my internship, I participated in the timely implementation of field activities which include planting, control, and management of competing vegetation, along with monitoring and documenting disease or pest threats.

I was awarded a year-long fellowship with Conservation Florida through the Scholars for Conservation Leadership Program in August of 2020. Working with Conservation Florida has been a very rewarding experience so far. I am able to make a huge impact on Florida’s animal and plant species by ensuring their survival.

In the future, I want to contribute to the diversification of people working in the environmental sector by fostering an intimate connection between young minorities and the environment. I hope to impact this field by contributing to the education of underserved children in urban areas who have limited access to wild places and show them the benefits of nature and the importance of their responsibility to protect it for the next generation.

As a young minority professional, I am determined to use my voice to advocate for justice, equality, and the inclusion of minorities in environmental sciences to reflect the racial diversity of our country.

About Conservation Florida

Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land trust with a mission to save Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, conservation corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy and nature-based recreation. Since our founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has led the way in strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat through acquisition, facilitation and incubation of conservation projects.

We save land by developing conservation strategies, exploring funding sources and purchasing or accepting donations of land and conservation easements. Our other services include providing expertise to guide landowners through the land protection process, serving as a trusted community partner to support statewide land conservation and promoting land conservation through effective education and advocacy. Our vision is large-scale, and we are 100% committed to conservation in the state of Florida – for nature, for people, forever!