Biodiversity at Risk at the Border


In the lower Rio Grande River Valley, there is great biodiversity that will be negatively affected due to the construction of the border wall.

The area around the Rio Grande River is beautiful. It’s here that you can find the palo verde, acacia, granjero, honey mesquite and more native trees, as well as animals listed as threatened by the state of Texas. This area is filled with many kinds of wildlife. Sadly, the wildlife there is being threatened by the wall.

The wall is not a recent idea. In the early 2000’s, during the time of president George W. Bush, dozens of segments were built also negatively affecting wildlife in the area. The wall was no longer in favor until recently, when Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election. The wall was to return back in favor. Earlier this year, Congress passed a bill that provided funding for 33 miles of new walls in the Valley.

The Fish and Wildlife Service have worked hard to bring native wildlife and vegetation back to the region. Once the native vegetation recovered, the animals came back. Biologists found more than 110 species as a result of their environmental efforts. However, this progress may soon be hopeless. “If you wanted to design a structure that has the maximum negative impact on wildlife, it would be [the wall],” commented Jim Chapman, vice president of the nonprofit Friends of the Wildlife Corridor. The wall and its construction have already ruined the habitats of native animals. The wall in the Rio Grande River Valley was built on top of a levee, something that holds water. In 2010, a hurricane caused flooding and left a couple feet of water. As a result, many animals that had been put in a refuge who could not fly or swim were trapped and drowned.

This region is one of the most biologically rich places in the United States of America. Its temperature and location are like nowhere else for plants and animals, but the wall could affect its beauty. So, think about it again: are you in favor of this border wall?

[Source: National Wildlife ]

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