A young woman is challenging deeply rooted assumptions about who belongs in the natural world.
Mya-Rose Craig, a remarkable 22-year-old, holds the distinction of being the youngest person globally to identify 5,000 bird species – an extraordinary feat for any birder. Her journey gained significant attention when she launched her blog, “birdgirl,” at just eleven years old.
Craig has become a vocal advocate for greater inclusivity within environmental spaces, highlighting a long-standing and problematic assumption that engagement with nature is limited to certain demographics. She revealed that within her own family, her passion for birdwatching was once dismissed as “a white people thing.”
Speaking on the RSPCA’s Animal Futures podcast, she recounted how her Bangladeshi heritage often led to exclusion from accepted norms. “I’m half Bangladeshi, my mum’s Bangladeshi, and growing up, I basically never saw anyone that looked like us out in nature, out in the countryside – and that was always kind of the accepted reality.” She described a pervasive sentiment within environmental circles suggesting that certain groups simply wouldn’t be interested.
Craig now dedicates herself to dismantling these prejudices. She recalls facing a difficult situation as a child, knowing her family’s perspective was inaccurate but feeling unable to directly challenge it.
Her accomplishments are numerous. At seventeen, she received an honorary degree from the University of Bristol in recognition of her record-breaking achievement. In 2016, she established Black2Nature, a charity dedicated to fostering connections with nature among children and families from minority backgrounds.
Through Black2Nature, Craig organizes excursions to rural areas for young people in urban environments, nurturing an appreciation for wildlife, birds, and the beauty of green spaces. “I went into the city, and I kind of spent time talking to people in the community – Black and Asian communities – explaining why they should be interested. And – long story short – I did, and it went really well, and they all kind of came away with some relationship with nature.”
She emphasizes that a diverse range of voices are crucial for meaningful conservation efforts.
“If large swathes of society choose not to get involved in conversations like this, then I fear there’ll continue to be large parts of our population who potentially feel disconnected from nature and animals,” she stated. Craig believes that everyone has a role to play, recognizing the vital connection between people and the animal kingdom.
- Mya-Rose Craig is the youngest person to spot 5,000 bird species.
- She founded Black2Nature in 2016 to encourage minority communities to connect with nature.
- Craig received an honorary degree from the University of Bristol at age seventeen.
