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ENVIRONMENT

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

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0 Comment

  1. MAAT July 26, 2018

    Totally agree and will not stop the traffic that currently exists, but will regulate it towards what… https://t.co/yWXe7FpHSw

    Reply
  2. Verna Schertz July 26, 2018

    ANYONE CARE? THE GOP==TRUMP DOES NOT–HE NEEDS TO GET STOPPED. BUILD THE WALL AROUND HIS GOLF COURSES?

    Reply
    1. Tina Campos July 26, 2018

      As long as the big hog is ok,he don’t care if all the wild life goes extinct

  3. Ginny Celano July 26, 2018

    Too bad we don’t believe it

    Reply
  4. Louise Dickerson July 26, 2018

    Build a wall around him and his trashy family!!

    Reply
  5. Janice Iannaccone July 26, 2018

    We all know the repugnants don’t care!!!!

    Reply
  6. Susan Dow July 26, 2018

    No, that is not Trump’s wall being built. It repairs being made to older structures.

    Reply
  7. Cheryl Casillas July 26, 2018

    F*** TRUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  8. Linda McHargue July 26, 2018

    The wall, like the TARRIFFS was NOT thought out, but who said TRUMP OR PENCE have any brains!?!

    Reply
  9. Dorothy McKown July 26, 2018

    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

    Reply
  10. Sandie McCollum July 26, 2018

    ….and captain marmalade doesn’t give a shit.

    Reply
  11. Paula Mattern July 26, 2018

    They don’t care??

    Reply
  12. They don’t care !!! It’s all about greed!

    Reply
  13. JoAnn Connor July 26, 2018

    Dumbest idea ever!

    Reply
    1. Deb Goodall Martin July 26, 2018

      As if they can’t tunnel under ! And or get over it . Biggest waste of money and diplomatic relationship with our southern neighbors !

  14. Carol John Arnold July 26, 2018

    Bull Patties!!

    Reply
  15. Marie Martin July 26, 2018

    Of they like southern neighbor just move on down

    Reply
  16. Arnold Hartman July 26, 2018

    DON’T BUILD THE WALL AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF HUMAN LIVES.

    Reply
  17. Susan Guthrie July 26, 2018

    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?

    Reply
  18. Gary Fuller July 26, 2018

    Dump trump18!

    Reply
  19. Tania Marcotty July 26, 2018

    Of course, it would! Not rocket science….

    Reply
  20. Andrew Stiegemeier July 27, 2018

    Illegal wildlife

    Reply
  21. Daniel Malloy July 27, 2018

    Republicans don’t Care about Wildlife or People!

    Reply
  22. Beverly Caselman July 27, 2018

    Bullshit

    Reply
  23. Robert Strauss July 27, 2018

    Left off speed up climate change and murder whales

    Reply
  24. Rudy Zarate Alvarado July 27, 2018

    F**k the wildlife

    Reply
  25. J.p. Ingram July 27, 2018

    It could destroy illegals from coming to the USA .

    Reply
  26. William Smith July 27, 2018

    Plus, we need more Mexicans in America to vote democrat, but that has nothing to do with it…

    Reply
  27. Tricornes❌ July 30, 2018

    Then that’s a price we’ll have to pay.

    Reply
  28. Gary Fuller July 30, 2018

    Dump trump18!

    Reply
    1. Gary J. Weber July 30, 2018

      You dum fool! Ain’t no vote till 2020. By then there won’t be any Democrats left. Haha.

  29. Fred Nightwalker July 30, 2018

    It destroyed hump. Watch

    Reply
  30. Larry L. Cunningham July 30, 2018

    Trump does not care!

    Reply
  31. ?wall and ? traitor trump

    Reply
  32. Stone Branham July 30, 2018

    TRump doesn’t care about anything but himself.

    Reply
  33. Nancy Yvonne Whitley July 30, 2018

    Shouldn’t that money go to vets

    Reply
  34. Jerry Schroader July 30, 2018

    One more liberal excuse to do nothing

    Reply
  35. Newman Lee August 18, 2018

    Im sure it’ll be blown up as fast as they build it

    Reply
  36. Stephen Krieg August 18, 2018

    RIDICULOUS.

    Reply
    1. Carol Funk August 18, 2018

      .not reslly

    2. Carol Funk August 18, 2018

      Carol Funk not really

  37. Ann Corson August 18, 2018

    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.

    Reply
  38. Dan Fryling August 18, 2018

    Well then get Mexico to stop letting illegal entry happen

    Reply
    1. Todd Richey August 19, 2018

      How you moron?

  39. Katrina Tina Herbus Manko August 18, 2018

    Let the scientist figure it out

    Reply
  40. Hutchison Dillavou Arlene August 18, 2018

    Bullshit

    Reply
  41. Thelma Sandersparkinson August 18, 2018

    Donald trump doesn’t give a shit about the wildlife !!!

    Reply
  42. Cheryl Casillas August 18, 2018

    Trump doesn’t care

    Reply
  43. Allen Kumm August 18, 2018

    Bull

    Reply
  44. Susan Dow August 18, 2018

    Let’s be clear…that is not Trump’s wall being built…

    Reply
  45. Erik Dayton August 18, 2018

    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.

    Reply
  46. Barbara Ashwander August 18, 2018

    Bs

    Reply
  47. Jerry Schroader August 18, 2018

    Which is worse illegals destroying America or a wall

    Reply
    1. Todd Richey August 19, 2018

      The wall by far!

    2. Carroll Lunde August 19, 2018

      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

    3. Jerry Schroader August 19, 2018

      Carroll Lunde I hope they let you out soon.

  48. Gail Ladella August 18, 2018

    BS

    Reply
  49. Beverly Chisholm Davis August 18, 2018

    Obviously no one in authority cares.

    Reply
  50. B Glen Woosley August 18, 2018

    More bullshit Mexico can have its wildlife and we can have ours

    Reply
  51. John Littrell August 18, 2018

    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!!!

    Reply
  52. Tania Marcotty August 18, 2018

    Illegals are NOT destroying America any more than the kakatocrats running Washington now….

    Reply
  53. Myrtle King August 18, 2018

    I bet it won’t even keep out zombies.

    Reply
  54. Shirley Phillips Booth August 18, 2018

    Well, guess we’ll have to shoot all of them when come over.

    Reply
  55. Trena Chamness August 18, 2018

    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!!!

    Reply
  56. Evelyn Knudsen August 18, 2018

    Andthe Mexican cartel can destroy HUMAN LIFE!!!!!!BUILD THE WALL AND MAKE IT HIGH!!!!

    Reply
  57. Carroll Lunde August 18, 2018

    all the more reason 45 would build the wall. it it is evil 45 is for it

    Reply
    1. Dan Conrad August 18, 2018

      ?

  58. Louise Dodson August 18, 2018

    Well Yrump is all for destroying wild life..

    Reply
  59. Mary Crump August 18, 2018

    Fake news remember everything is a hoax

    Reply
  60. Judy Peterson August 19, 2018

    Trump does not give a rats ass about animals. Every one could dup

    Reply
    1. Judy Peterson August 19, 2018

      Every species could disappear and he would not bat an eye.

  61. Todd Richey August 19, 2018

    Fucking idiots!

    Reply
  62. Irma Seabury August 19, 2018

    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.

    Reply
  63. Joe Wrenn August 19, 2018

    Make a choice. Destroy Wildlife or the American people! I choose wildlife!

    Reply
  64. Brian Elder August 19, 2018

    Yeah, just like the Alaska pipe line!
    Right chicken little liars???

    Reply
  65. Martha Steeves August 19, 2018

    What unlike the massive wind farms don’t do.

    Reply

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