In March, conservation groups including Defenders of Wildlife sued the Trump administration over waiving 25 environmental laws in an effort to speed up construction of border wall in New Mexico. The Trump administration broke ground last month on a 20-mile section of wall, converting existing vehicle barriers to 18-foot high steel bollard walls that would obstruct the natural migration of wildlife.
On June 2, local citizens and human rights and conservation groups will rally to protest the wall and highlight the devastating environmental and human consequences of furthering construction through the Santa Teresa region.
“Defenders has worked for decades to support the reintroduction and recovery of the Mexican gray wolf and to protect the habitat of the jaguar, ocelot, Sonoran pronghorn and other border wildlife facing extinction. We are proud to rally against the construction of a wall along our border that would divide communities and habitat for wildlife,” said Bryan Bird, Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife.
What: All Against the Wall: Rally to protest border wall construction
Who: Bryan Bird, the Southwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, will be attending the event. Bryan has more than 20 years of experience protecting and restoring public lands while preserving wilderness and biodiversity across the Southwest and northern Mexico.
When: Saturday, June 2 from 5 pm to 8 pm MDT
Where: Ave. Casas Grandes, near Santa Teresa Port of Entry, Santa Teresa, N.M. 88008
Why: Like many regions along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico boundary, the borderlands of New Mexico and Chihuahua are rich in biological diversity and are home to endangered animals including the Mexican gray wolf and the jaguar. There are signs these animals are making a comeback but the construction of an impenetrable border wall would eliminate any possibility of recovery in the U.S. Extending the border wall would fragment vital ecosystems and landscapes protected on either side of the border by the two countries, jeopardizing decades of binational conservation investment.
For more information, please contact: Rebecca Bullis, 202-772-0295, rbullis@defenders.org
For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.
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