Trump's U.S.-Mexico border wall will endanger wildlife, says scientist
Donald Trump and his supporters have a plan for a wall on the U.S. Mexican border. But a wall authorized by George W. Bush is already there and some scientists are raising concerns about the effects of these geopolitical machinations on wildlife — especially if the wall becomes bigger, taller, and longer.
Sergio Avila, a conservation research scientist at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, has been living in the region along the U.S.-Mexico border for roughly 20 years. He tells The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti how the border is endangering wildlife.
"I have seen the blockage and the destruction of some habitats and corridors and the destruction of the Borderlands."
He tells Tremonti that blocking corridors for wildlife at a time when climate change is "putting pressure on some animals and creating a real problem for wildlife that need to migrate."
This week, Avila is among a group of scientists presenting to the environmental chiefs of Canada, the United States and Mexico, at the meeting of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America.
"It really doesn't matter if you're south or north of the border, you are trapped."
Avila says animals can't reach places where they can eat and drink water and sees herds of deer just looking confused.
The U.S. and its southern neighbour are separated by over 1,000 km of fences of various sorts, running along one-third of the length of the border.
Water patterns are also affected by the infrastructure, causing floods in towns and the loss of lives. Avila says the water flow has also impacted the livelihood of residents.
"There were huge economic losses and that was just because water was blocked."
It's not easy for Avila to do his research as an American born in Mexico because he says it's hard to get past the border patrols but tells Tremonti he just focuses on the work.
"Regardless of my nationality, I speak and I try to give a voice for plants and animals in the desert."
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this web post.