Following extensive research into this topic for a piece of coursework last semester, I found myself sucked into the literature and journalism and couldn't get enough of stories and reports from the border regions between the U.S. and Mexico. We were asked to come up with a current environmental issue which could be concisely explained and visualised using maps embedded in a website of our making. I had my doubts as to whether the border wall would qualify as an environmental issue, yet a bit of digging revealed a mound of articles and scientific papers calling the project a "colossal mistake", a "national tragedy" and an "act of self-sabotage" for biodiversity and the unique landscapes of the borderlands.
Since Trump's presidency began in 2016, I have followed the news closely with a growing sense of dread and despair. The Southern border wall was of course one of his signature campaign promises, drawing much media attention and controversy to the efficiency and cost of such a structure, as well as its geopolitical impact. At the time, no one was thinking of the damage caused by a physical barrier on the incredibly diverse flora and fauna of the borderlands. Very nicely put by Kieràn Suckling, the founder and executive director of the Centre for Biological Diversity, "Like many of Trump's ideas, this one has nothing to do with reality."
A study into the impacts of border fences on large carnivores, herbivores and biodiversity concluded that globally, fences and walls erected in the name of national security have severe, long-lasting consequences on biodiversity (Trouwborst et al. 2016). These include habitat fragmentation, elimination and degradation of vegetation, soil erosion and flooding. The results of my research were truly alarming and the animals caught in the crosshairs are so incredibly beautiful that I thought my findings would be worth sharing.
Up until February 2019, legal blocks and lack of funding had prevented Trump from keeping his promise. That all changed when the Trump administration declared a state of emergency over the situation at the Southern border - the 'Caravan' of migrants from South and Central America threatening to flood into the U.S. The Real ID Act of 2005 empowers the executive to take any necessary action to deal with such an 'emergency' - in this case the Department of Homeland Security has to right to bypass any laws challenging or delaying the construction of the border wall. These are laws such as the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the Natural Environmental Policy Act, laws crucial to the preservation of the continent's most biologically diverse and rich regions. Of the total 3,145 km span of the U.S.-Mexico border, 1,050 km already carried pedestrian fencing and vehicle barriers in February 2019, but these do not satisfy Trump's 'impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful Southern border wall" ideal. Replacement of existing structures and construction have since begun in the Rio Grande Valley and are expected to continue in 2020.
Scenery at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Government filings have found three federally protected areas from Texas to New Mexico which will suffer from the construction project. The Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona is one of them. If you type the name into Google now, dozens of headlines like "Trump's blasting through a National Monument to have his border wall" and "Trump's wall-building now involves blowing up mountains in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument" pop up. The monument is a 330,000 acre wilderness home to mountain lions, javelinas, pronghorn antelopes and a richness of bird species. It has been recognised by the UNESCO as an international biosphere reserve yet in the face of this 'national emergency', its future and the future of its inhabitants are at stake.
Mountain lion (above) and javelinas (below)
The concrete wall is being built on the U.S. side of the border and thus bisects the Southern edge of the park, impeding migration by restricting the passage of animals and exacerbating flooding. Following rainstorms, debris was trapped in the slotted barrier on two occasions (2008 and 2011), turning the “so-called porous wall into a solid dam,” says Dan Millis, the Borderlands Campaign coordinator for the Sierra Club. Construction plans for the concrete wall also include pumping water from underground aquifers, threatening many water springs dotted in the landscape, critical for the survival of many species.
The US-Mexico border crosses through six eco-regions (areas with specific natural features), bisects the geographic range (spatial area where a species is found) of 1,506 native animal and plant species, including 62 critically endangered species. A scientific paper has concluded that a wall could cut off 100 native species from 50% their range South of the border, reducing the connectivity between populations and their ability to find resources. Migration corridors are crucial for the recovery of already shrinking wildlife populations of wolves, ocelots and jaguars frequently spotted in the borderlands. Even the ferruginous pygmy-owl and other low-flying birds are susceptible to falling victim of a 30 feet-tall wall. More surprisingly still, the wall could cause trouble for plants which depend on other species for seed dispersal and for insects such as the Quino Checkerspot butterfly. Due to the array of lights and other technology, the life of nocturnal creatures could be disrupted. The entire ecosystem is at risk.
As well as natural biodiversity, conservation efforts along the southern border are threatened by the wall due to the bisection of pieces of land that are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The 100,000 acre Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1979 to restore and create wildlife corridors between shrinking forests and scrublands. This region is the first in the crosshairs of the construction project, which has already started. The valley is home to 1,200 plant species which support a rich assemblage of wildlife, birds and butterflies, notably the ocelot (pictured below). The bisection of the reserve fragments habitats and disconnects populations, making conservation efforts more challenging than ever.
A painted bunting spotted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Big Bend National Park in Texas is another borderland treasure and geological marvel. There have been discoveries of sea fossils, dinosaur bones and more types of birds, bats and cacti than any other national park in the U.S. The Rio Grande river meanders through Big Bend, irrigating the land and acting as a water source for many of its inhabitants. The wall is planned to stand on the U.S. side of the river, cutting wildlife off from their water source in this arid landscape. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, 93 listed or proposed endangered species are at direct risk of water scarcity.
Another example is the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, a private reserve home to 200 species of butterflies. The main concerns are the eradication of native habitats and host plants for butterflies, as well as devastating flooding. Conservation of butterflies and other pollinators will be negatively impacted by the floodlight infrastructure and road network associated with the wall, which will both disrupt natural light cues for many nocturnal and crepuscular species.
Two javelinas confused and trapped by the new wall structure
Construction of the border wall will pump out vast quantities of greenhouse gases through cement production and construction vehicle exhaust. These emissions will contribute directly to the looming global climate catastrophe, the pressure of which will force wildlife to adapt globally. As the climate warms, species will tend to extend their range northwards, chasing shifts in conditions. Climate change will also exacerbate the frequency of wildfires and floods, already common in the borderland regions. The wall will block any movement away from emission-caused disasters, trapping animals and leading to a loss in biodiversity and even extinctions.
The focus of media and politicians needs to shift to solutions to the climate crisis, which is at the root of many displacements and conflicts pushing people to the U.S. border. Furthermore, the efficiency of a border wall in the face of desperation is arguably limited and new technologies such as underground pressure sensors, radar technology and drones may be more useful to curb unauthorised immigration. Protests and pressure on congressional representatives to halt construction and consider biodiversity and indigenous communities are growing. There are success stories to fuel the uproar but none that seem strong enough to halt Trump in his stride.
Sascha
