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Contact: Kim Vacariu
Wildlands Project
(575) 557-0155
kim@wildlandsproject.org
Contact: Jenny Neeley
Defenders of Wildlife
(520) 623-9653
jneeley@defenders.org
At-Risk Wildlife Corridors Identified
Along U.S.-Mexico Border
Report recommends alternatives for protection including
“virtual wall,” wildlife-friendly barriers
TUCSON, AZ —Critical cross-border wildlife corridors between Mexico and southern Arizona and New Mexico must be protected from the effects of solid security barriers, says a report released today by two national conservation organizations.
The report focuses on four traditional cross-border wildlife pathways used by numerous native species, many already listed as endangered, including jaguars, bears, wolves, and several birds, fish and amphibians. The corridors and animals were identified through collaborative workshops at which conservationists, scientists, educators, and state and federal agencies combined data and field experience to reach their conclusions.
“We are fortunate to be able to supply these recommendations to security officials now so they can consider alternatives before constructing barriers that will harm wildlife movement in critical areas,” says Kim Vacariu, Western Director of the Wildlands Project, co-sponsor of the ecological symposiums that produced the report.
Thirty-five agencies, universities, zoos, and conservation organizations participated in writing the “Stakeholders Recommendations” report, which identifies the Baboquivari, Pajarita, Huachuca, and Peloncillo Mountain complexes in the Sky Islands ecoregion of southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico as the major cross-border connections for key species between the U.S. and Mexico.
The report lists priority alternatives to solid walls, including “virtual wall” technologies such as unmanned aerial surveillance, motion sensors, laser barriers, and infrared cameras. Other barriers that allow wildlife movement but stop vehicles are also encouraged. Additional emphasis is placed on compliance by U.S. officials with existing environmental regulations such as NEPA, the Wilderness Act, and the Clean Water Act—laws that the Department of Homeland Security are allowed to avoid under recent legislation.
According to Jenny Neeley, Southwest Representative for Defenders of Wildlife, the other sponsor of the symposiums, solutions that protect both border security and wildlife habitat will require broad collaboration to succeed. “We understand that some activity is going to be required to secure the border,” she said, “but that should not include blocking critical wildlife corridors essential to the survival of endangered species.”
Vacariu noted that the report’s recommendations while important to incorporate into ongoing security planning, are merely a stop-gap until the real solution to the immigration problem is found.” “We need comprehensive immigration reform legislation that provides controlled incentives for legal entry into the U.S. through legal ports of entry rather than forcing immigrants to travel through the wild country of the borderlands,” he said.
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