English: Name: Marcia Pradines

Title: Division Chief, Visitor Services and Communications, National Wildlife Refuge System

Duty station: Headquarters (Falls Church, VA)

Amount of time worked in public service: 15 years in nonprofit, 8 years in Federal Government
How much of this at USFWS? 8 years

Female Conservation Hero or Mentor? Why?

Lady Bird Johnson is actually an under appreciated conservationists. She realized that native plant conservation could best be “sold” to the American public through beautification of roadsides and other public areas. But make no mistake about it, she realized that this was all about conserving native plants and their habitats. She understood how to get the support and get the job done!

When you began your career, did you ever see yourself working for the USFWS?

From an early age, I knew I wanted to work with wildlife, somehow, someway. When I was young, I thought being a park ranger or refuge manager would be the best career, but I thought it wasn’t likely possible for me- that there were too few jobs that paid way too little to support oneself. I came to the Service after working in nonprofit conservation for 15 years, so was excited to join the agency. I wasn’t sure that I would ever be able to “get into” the USFWS since I didn’t start there out of school. The Service has been looking for diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and that allowed me the opportunity to be where I am now.

The mission of the USFWS is “Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people” How do you contribute to this mission?

I am passionate about engaging new audiences and communities in conservation. It’s where conservation ultimately starts, but is often underrated in importance. If people do not enjoy or care about natural resources, they will not value or support conservation-- and we will not succeed. Leading the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program has been my career highlight, working to create connected conservation communities. Helping refuges across the country connect with their communities has been extremely rewarding and I know will pay dividends into the future.

It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to public service. Why did you choose this path?

I love wildlife. I love the outdoors. And I am idealistic, believing that one person can make a difference when joined with others for a common mission. Whatever I do in life, it must have a greater purpose.

What is a special memory you have of working at the USFWS?

I had the honor of traveling to China as part of a USFWS delegation to share lessons and challenges about engaging visitors in our refuges and parks, in both countries. At one wetland park several of us had our binoculars and were birdwatching while our tour continued. At the end, a local couple clad in khaki vests, floppy hats, and binoculars, came up to us, speaking no English, and pointing to our binos and field guides. They too were birders and wanted us to know that! They offered to show us around the wetland and help us identify their local birds. Even though none of us spoke each others’ language, we had a lovely time and spotted several new life birds. It was so heartwarming to see the universal language of birds uniting us.