Inmates honored for conservation actions

"Seeing the combined impact of this project on habitat restoration outcomes as well as the well-being of this community of adults in custody has touched me in ways I didn't anticipate when we started," said Kaye.  "I'm grateful for the effort that these women have made, and the positive impact they have had."

One group of women were recognized for planting native wildflowers for habitat conservation, including thousands of violas at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge on the Oregon coast.

The viola plants will provide food for Oregon silverspot larva once butterflies reared in captivity at the Oregon Zoo are released there.  Some violets grown at the prison conservation nursery were cultivated specifically to provide food for silverspot caterpillars at the Oregon Zoo, and inmates harvested leaves during a 12-week period for regular delivery to the zoo facility.  Representatives from the Oregon Zoo attended the ceremony and provided displays on butterfly rearing and conservation.So far the conservation nursery has grown over 100,000 violets and several thousand other plants that benefit the Oregon silverspot.  In addition, the nursery has produced thousands of Kincaid's lupines, a threatened plant that itself is the primary food source for an endangered butterfly, the Fender's blue, and inmates from Coffee Creek have helped plant them at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge west of Salem, Oregon.

During the ceremony, many of the women shared their favorite moments of  harvesting viola leaves and coordinating their gardening efforts. Some of the women shared that they plan on pursuing careers in horticulture or botany when they are released.  

Crystal Magama has served 16 years at CCCF and has less than a year remaining on her sentence. She has been involved in the project since its start and has been a leader in the coordination and success of the violet production. She is excited to work and volunteer for non-profits similar to IAE or the Oregon Zoo and hopes to continue to help care for native and endangered species.

Oregon Department of Corrections sustainability coordinator Chad Naugle believes this program is a “win-win,” situation for inmates, the community and the environment. “There is huge interest on the inside” by inmates hoping to get these work opportunities while they are incarcerated.