Urban Initiative

The Service has developed the Urban Wildlife Refuge Initiative and the The National Wildlife Refuge System designated eight demographically and geographically varied cities as the pilot programs for the ¿Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships¿ in in 2013. One of the goals of the Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships is to engage communities, where awareness of the Service is minimal to lacking, in order to encourage and nurture an appreciation of wildlife conservation to new audiences. The Friends of the Los Angeles River (FOLAR) was selected as one of the eight Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships to provide education and outreach about the past, present and future of the Los Angeles River. FOLAR has recently completed the construction of the $500,000 River Rover, a mobile visitor center and environmental education classroom that will be able to uniquely reach diverse urban communities along the Los Angeles River. The River Rover will be used by the Friends of the Los Angeles River to ¿bring the river to the people and the people to the river.¿ By visiting schools, hosting events at community riverside parks, and participating in outreach events the River Rover will educate community member and school children about the past, present and future of the Los Angeles River. The River Rover will travel to schools and community parks along the Los Angeles River to teach community members about the valuable resources the Los Angeles River has for wildlife and the people.