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News about Borderlands

The U.S.-Mexico borderlands region is globally treasured for its biodiversity. The region is home to over 800 species, including more than half of all bird species found in the U.S. Native animals like jaguars, pronghorn, Mexican wolves, black bears, and ocelot depend on unobstructed movement between the two countries.

Border wall in San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge

How Border Walls Alter the Evolutionary History of North America

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Earlier this week the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1158, which includes the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security 2020 Appropriations. Once again, Congress has delivered another blow to wildlands by providing $1.375 billion in funding for the construction of more border wall. This is enough funding for 350 more miles of wall… Continue reading “How Border Walls Alter the Evolutionary History of North America”…

Challenges and Opportunities for Transboundary Conservation in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

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Leer una versión en español abajo Conserving the shared ecosystems and species of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands depends on understanding who is in charge of managing the land that species need to recover, persist and thrive. Yet we often ignore or are overwhelmed by the land management aspects of conservation, especially in Mexico where ownership and… Continue reading “Challenges and Opportunities for Transboundary Conservation in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands”…

Achieving Shared Goals: New U.S. Jaguar Recovery Plan Affirms Wildlands Network’s Conservation Strategy

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On April 24, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the final Jaguar Recovery Plan. Many of the recovery actions proposed in the plan reaffirm Wildlands Network’s key strategies for protecting and enhancing jaguar populations in Mexico and the U.S., while also demonstrating the need for continued robust advocacy with government officials to improve and strengthen the official recovery programs. Photo: © milosk50 / Adobe Stock

Lone pronghorn walking through a meadow of yellow flowers

Border Construction Concerns Conservation Groups, Wildlife Experts

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KVOA, a local news station in Tucson, Arizona, interviewed our borderlands coordinator, Myles Traphagen, about the Pentagon’s recent transfer of $1 billion to build the border wall in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. If such a wall is built, it will facilitate an ecological disaster, cutting off iconic species who call both the U.S. and… Continue reading “Border Construction Concerns Conservation Groups, Wildlife Experts”…

We Wall Ourselves Off: Response to Pentagon Allocating $1 billion for Border Fencing

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On Tuesday, the Department of Defense, in response to a directive issued by President Trump, announced that it was transferring $1 billion U.S. dollars to build Trump’s unnecessary and destructive border wall.Wildlands Network strongly opposes the construction of a border wall. The building of such a structure in southern Arizona and New Mexico would be an ecological disaster with far reaching implications. Photo: Tom Koerner, USFWS

Organizaciones de conservación se reúnen para mejorar la protección de la vida silvestre en Estados Unidos y México

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El mes pasado, unos 40 líderes de conservación de la vida silvestre de Estados Unidos y México formaron la Colaboración para la Conservación de los Estados Fronterizos, un grupo de trabajo informal dedicado a preservar la conectividad y la biodiversidad única de las tierras fronterizas. Foto: Cortesía Colaboración para la Conservación de los Estados Fronterizos

Conservation Organizations Gathered to Discuss Enhanced Wildlife Protections in the U.S.-Mexico Border States

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Last month, some 40 wildlife conservation leaders from both the United States and Mexico formed the Border States Conservation Collaborative, an informal working group dedicated to preserving the connectivity and unique biodiversity of the borderlands. Photo: Courtesy Border States Conservation Collaborative

Native Grasses of the Apache Highlands: An Interview with Artist Matilda Essig

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In the world of conservation, grasslands usually take a back seat to mountains and forests. But at the Tucson International Airport, grasses take center stage in larger-than-life prints in artist Matilda Essig’s exhibit. Our borderlands coordinator, Myles Traphagen, sat down with Matilda for an interview on the critical role grasses play in healthy ecosystems. Photo: Myles Traphagen

A small brown pig-like animal grazes on tall yellow grasses under a short green tree.

Join Us for the 2nd Annual Border BioBlitz!

You’re invited to participate in the Border BioBlitz, March 2-3, all along the U.S.-Mexico border. Join us, Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researchers, and other collaborating organizations to document the stunning biological diversity of the borderlands at several key sites. All citizen scientists are encouraged to participate! Photo: Myles Traphagen