America’s public lands cover an impressive 640 million acres – a vast and vital patchwork of national parks, forests, grasslands, wildlife refuges, and BLM land.

We’re celebrating National Public Lands Day – today and every day – by continuing to advocate for the protection of the lands that give us so much.

To better understand the ecological, economic, and cultural threats facing public lands – and what we can do (and are already doing!) to protect them – we sat down with our Director of People and Impact, Sarah Palladino.

Toad&Co: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Sarah! To start, tell us about your work with Toad as the Director of People and Impact.

Sarah: I’ve been at Toad for 7 years but started my career as an environmental geologist. I’ve always been passionate about the environment, advocacy, and doing the right thing. When it came to making the switch from geology, I knew I wanted to go to an organization that was walking the walk and talking the talk, so to speak.

As the Director of People and Impact, I’m responsible for our environmental and social impact, our charitable giving, non-profit partnerships, and Toad’s community involvement.

Toad&Co: Let’s jump right in: what are some of the biggest threats to public lands right now, and what’s at stake?

Sarah: There’s a lot at stake. To start, losing access to public lands would decimate the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation industry. That’s 5 million jobs that are at stake as part of the outdoor industry. Add to that the environmental consequences: habitat and clean water loss, accelerating climate change, and loss of the unique beauty of these incredible landscapes.

Accessibility to public lands is also at stake and would disproportionately affect lower-income communities. It can already be difficult to visit these wild places – if costs to visit increase, so does inequality in our public lands.

Looking at Channel Islands National Park specifically, this year’s defunding has already caused projects to come to an immediate halt. This is why philanthropic partners like Channel Islands Park Foundation are integral – they support parks when the government reduces funding to public lands.

Toad: Relatedly, you’re on the Channel Islands Park Foundation’s Board (CIPF) as well as the Conservation Alliance’s Business Advocacy Network (BAN). What have you learned as members of these organizations?

Sarah: I’ve learned a lot from both! CIPF is the direct philanthropic partner of Channel Islands National Park and as a small nonprofit the board works closely with the executive director. We facilitate funding to support the park’s initiative as well as supporting specific conservation, preservation, and accessibility projects. Being on the board has opened my eyes to how important the business community and public’s support is for nonprofits’ work.

And Toad has been a member of the Conservation Alliance for over a decade and serves as a grant hub for conservation projects nationwide. BAN is a program that equips businesses with advocacy tools. We are all coming together and asking, “What can we do? How can we make a bigger difference and impact?”

Toad: We would love to hear more about that work! What is Toad doing to advocate for public lands?

Sarah: This past year has been a big one for us with advocacy. Here’s a few highlights:

- This year we joined the Conservation Alliance’s Brands for Public Lands, a coalition of more than 125 businesses dedicated to protecting public lands from threats. We sent our Marketing Director to Washington DC to meet with members of Congress and discuss budget reconciliation.

- We support organizations directly through financial giving and volunteer time, including Conservation Alliance, California Outdoor Recreation Partnership, and local nonprofits like CIPF.

- We have signed on to every letter we could in support of public lands and provide our team with resources to be advocates as well.

- Finally, we leverage our network and brand voice to connect with our community, providing resources for them to educate themselves on public lands and the threats they are facing.

Toad: Relatedly, what can readers do to protect and support public lands in tangible and meaningful ways?

Sarah: The first thing is calling and writing to your representative and congresspeople. Finding your representative is easy using the Senate’s website and ensures your voice is heard. Not sure what to say? You can also sign onto organizations’ letters – every voice and signature matters.

I also like to say “vote with your dollar” – when making purchases, look for brands that are part of 1% For The Planet or a certified B Corporation. And of course, volunteering and financial giving supports the important work of nonprofit advocacy organizations. You can get involved locally or at a larger scale.

Toad: Yes! We couldn’t agree more. But we also know it’s so hard not to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. In these challenging times, what keeps you motivated to stand up for our public lands?

Sarah: The community. We have an incredible community of like-minded partners, businesses, and nonprofits who we work with. We recently hosted an “Impact on Tap” gathering where we invited nonprofits, 1% for the Planet brands, and Conservation Alliance members to connect and grow partnerships.

It was inspiring to see how many people showed up in support of working together to do more. We as individuals can only do so much – but when we all get together, we can make a huge difference.

Toad: Cheers to community! We’ve gotta ask, what public land(s) are your favorite to recreate in?

Sarah: It’s hard to narrow down! We’re lucky to have accessibility in our local backyard to Los Padres Forest, but I also love hiking the Sierras and had an amazing time backcountry beach camping on the spectacular Channel Islands.

Toad: Finally, what has been your proudest moment this year in advocating for public lands?

Sarah: A couple months ago, I joined Santa Barbara Congressman Carbajal at a press conference to speak on behalf of Toad&Co and represent the local business community. I was able to speak to the press about supporting a local bill – the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act – and why it is so important to our community and beyond!