Proposed US-Mexico Border Wall Could Destroy Wildlife, Scientists Warn
The border area between the U.S. and Mexico is home to some of North America’s greatest biodiversity and rich terrain which includes forests, grasslands and salt marshes. The land is home to more than 1,500 native animal and plant species according to a paper which was published in BioScience on July 24.
The paper which was written by Paul Ehrlich and Rodolfo Dirzo warned that some of the species would potentially become extinct in the U.S. if President Trump builds his proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Nearly 3,000 scientists signed on to back the paper which encourages scientists from all around the world to lend their support towards solutions that protect habitats and ecological resources at risk from barrier construction.
The authors highlight that the potential hazards of the proposed wall were first highlighted in 2005 when the U.S Congress passed the Real ID Act. The Real ID Act gave the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to bypass any laws including the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act that would slow the construction of the border wall.
Man-made structures such as walls destroy the living spaces of animals and plants and can also cause the soil surrounding to become infertile for long periods which disrupts ecosystems. Walls prevent animals from finding food, water, mates and disrupt annual and seasonal migration patterns. Construction can also erode soil and disrupt natural water flows.
“Any substantial construction ordinarily forces populations to extinction directly by outright destruction of their habitat or by reducing population size or restricting access to critical areas required seasonally. Every time you see a strip mall, airport or housing development being constructed, you can be sure biodiversity is suffering. Many hundreds of miles of border wall and the accompanying construction and maintenance infrastructure would be a crime against biodiversity,” study author Paul Ehrlich said to the Stanford Report.
The paper proposed a multitude of solutions including designing barriers for maximum wildlife permeability and restoring wildlife habitats that have been damaged by barrier construction. The paper also recommended the DHS be required to identify habitats and animals at risk from barrier construction.
During recent years, many Americans and people from the Western World at large have proposed that their countries build border walls amidst growing concerns over the problems which arise in countries as a result of higher rates of immigration.
Ehrlich and Dirzo’s paper adds a new tangent to the border wall debate as it adds to the conversation how barriers can affect animals and the environment as well as humans.
“Aside from effects on water flows and other natural services, the wall could rob us of iconic creatures such as the endangered Peninsular Bighorn sheep and the Sonoran pronghorn antelope,” Ehrlich warned. “There’s also an economic loss to consider—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching contributed nearly $26 billion to border state economies in 2011.”
Lawmakers, Environmentalists Spar Over Proposal to “Modernize” Endangered Species Act
Totally agree and will not stop the traffic that currently exists, but will regulate it towards what… https://t.co/yWXe7FpHSw
ANYONE CARE? THE GOP==TRUMP DOES NOT–HE NEEDS TO GET STOPPED. BUILD THE WALL AROUND HIS GOLF COURSES?
As long as the big hog is ok,he don’t care if all the wild life goes extinct
Too bad we don’t believe it
Build a wall around him and his trashy family!!
We all know the repugnants don’t care!!!!
No, that is not Trump’s wall being built. It repairs being made to older structures.
F*** TRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The wall, like the TARRIFFS was NOT thought out, but who said TRUMP OR PENCE have any brains!?!
Just build that wall as the others said, around rump and his evil , criminal family!!! No BORDER WALL AND NO PARADE FOR A RUSSOAN TRAITOR!!
l
….and captain marmalade doesn’t give a shit.
They don’t care??
They don’t care !!! It’s all about greed!
Dumbest idea ever!
As if they can’t tunnel under ! And or get over it . Biggest waste of money and diplomatic relationship with our southern neighbors !
Bull Patties!!
Of they like southern neighbor just move on down
DON’T BUILD THE WALL AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF HUMAN LIVES.
Seriously? Is it 2018 or 1518 “Me build big wall”. With all of our technology, we can’t come up with anything better than a wall, really? Is drump that stupid or is he so smart that he knew that his sheep wouldn’t under anything more sophisticated than big wall?
Dump trump18!
Of course, it would! Not rocket science….
Illegal wildlife
Republicans don’t Care about Wildlife or People!
Bullshit
Left off speed up climate change and murder whales
F**k the wildlife
It could destroy illegals from coming to the USA .
Plus, we need more Mexicans in America to vote democrat, but that has nothing to do with it…
Then that’s a price we’ll have to pay.
Dump trump18!
You dum fool! Ain’t no vote till 2020. By then there won’t be any Democrats left. Haha.
It destroyed hump. Watch
Trump does not care!
?wall and ? traitor trump
TRump doesn’t care about anything but himself.
Shouldn’t that money go to vets
One more liberal excuse to do nothing
Im sure it’ll be blown up as fast as they build it
RIDICULOUS.
.not reslly
Carol Funk not really
Quit screwing up God’s world. If that stupid wall goes up, it will be taken down when we have a decent, intelligent president. Waste of money.
Well then get Mexico to stop letting illegal entry happen
How you moron?
Let the scientist figure it out
Bullshit
Donald trump doesn’t give a shit about the wildlife !!!
Trump doesn’t care
Bull
Let’s be clear…that is not Trump’s wall being built…
Common sense would tell you that if they can build an electronic wall around Area 51. Nobody gets within a mile of there without getting caught.
Bs
Which is worse illegals destroying America or a wall
The wall by far!
the swamp pig 45 is the worst thing that can and has happened to this country and the world without any doubt. its simple fact open your eyes andears
Carroll Lunde I hope they let you out soon.
BS
Obviously no one in authority cares.
More bullshit Mexico can have its wildlife and we can have ours
Lying liars lying, wa, wa, wa, go home, build the damn wall, bus the animals if they are so precious!! Let the bleeding hearts do the bussing!! The media controls the people, don’t let the media control you!!!
Illegals are NOT destroying America any more than the kakatocrats running Washington now….
I bet it won’t even keep out zombies.
Well, guess we’ll have to shoot all of them when come over.
So republicans I just want you to know how two faced you all are. Your hero President Reagan tore down the Berlin wall, He said mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall. The wall was there to keep people in and to keep people out. So now you have your hero Trump who says Build That Wall to keep people in and to keep people out so who is the hero which one it was right which one is wrong??
VOTE BLUE SAVE OUR COUNTRY!!!
https://www.facebook.com/100009568116651/posts/2107174379611479/
Andthe Mexican cartel can destroy HUMAN LIFE!!!!!!BUILD THE WALL AND MAKE IT HIGH!!!!
all the more reason 45 would build the wall. it it is evil 45 is for it
?
Well Yrump is all for destroying wild life..
Fake news remember everything is a hoax
Trump does not give a rats ass about animals. Every one could dup
Every species could disappear and he would not bat an eye.
Fucking idiots!
Wild life like MS13 – drug smugglers and illegals kicked out several times for committing crime here. That’s okay, we won’t miss these wild lives.
Make a choice. Destroy Wildlife or the American people! I choose wildlife!
Yeah, just like the Alaska pipe line!
Right chicken little liars???
What unlike the massive wind farms don’t do.