Idaho Senator Mike Crapo recently returned from Mozambique, Africa, where he says he learned about environmental and conservation efforts taking place at Gorongosa National Park in hopes of implementing some of those strategies here in Idaho.
Crapo says his two main focuses of the visit were to learn how the African country is working to build up the people and the environment together, and to show an example of the way that work is being done to government entities here in the United States.
“Too often we have this idea in America that the environment and the people or the economy are at odds and you either have to hurt the economy and hurt people and their jobs to strengthen the environment, or you have to hurt the environment in order to strengthen people and help them maintain a strong economy," Crapo said.
Crapo says he's been advocating for this for years in Washington--to get rid of mandated government decisions and, in turn, help people build their own successes by allowing them to find solutions that work in their own communities.
Gorongosa National Park is connecting with Idaho through the efforts of Idaho native, Greg Carr, who has been working for years to help people restore and protect the Gorongosa ecosystem.
Zoo Boise opened a Gorongosa exhibit this summer that supports the African park.
