Trump's wall and how it affects the environment
Many americans are upset with President Trump’s plan to build a wall between the United States and Mexico to keep immigrants out for obvious reasons, but most people don’t realize the impact on the environment this will have. A Customs and Border Protection policy says the agency “will integrate environmental stewardship and sustainability practices into operations and activities.” But in reality, according to an article by Stanford University, “The potential for ecosystem damage was highlighted more than a decade ago, when the U.S. Congress passed the Real ID Act. The 2005 law gives the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to waive any laws – including the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act – that slow the wall’s construction” More than 2,900 scientists agree that this plan will “threaten some of the continent’s most biologically diverse regions” by blocking free movement of many species and contributing to flooding.” as said by John Schwartz from the Independent. The Independent says that 62 endangered species will be affected by this and there is virtually nothing we can do. An already sticky situation becomes even more complicated than it needs to be.
So, how is a wall threatening these species? Why should we care? Well, Schwartz says in the Independent, “Animals need to be able to move around, to find food and mates, among other things. An outbreak of fire or disease, or the pressures of climate change, can force them to seek new homes. And the pockets of the landscape that suit them can be widely dispersed.” This wall would make it almost impossible for four-legged creatures, like the Mexican Grey Wolf, to find the necessities to live. We can’t even help these poor creatures either because “Construction would disrupt several pieces of land that have been designated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, as well as other treasures like the National Butterfly Centre, a private nature preserve along the Rio Grande in Mission, Texas. Construction into the 100-acre sanctuary could begin as soon as next month, splitting off some 70 acres from the American side of the site.” says Schwartz. While Congress is protecting one environmental refuge (the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge for migratory birds), biodiversity will be lost and many species will go unprotected. Why should the average person care about what happens to a few thousand animals? Well as said in the article from Stanford University, “The esthetic value of these magnificent animals, and their cultural meaning to nature lovers, hunters and Native American groups, is attested to by great efforts already made to avoid their extinction. 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.” these animals are part of the planet and even if you don’t care about the environment, you still live on the planet and this is the only one we got so we should all be trying to preserve these beautiful creatures before it is too late.
So, how is a wall threatening these species? Why should we care? Well, Schwartz says in the Independent, “Animals need to be able to move around, to find food and mates, among other things. An outbreak of fire or disease, or the pressures of climate change, can force them to seek new homes. And the pockets of the landscape that suit them can be widely dispersed.” This wall would make it almost impossible for four-legged creatures, like the Mexican Grey Wolf, to find the necessities to live. We can’t even help these poor creatures either because “Construction would disrupt several pieces of land that have been designated part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, as well as other treasures like the National Butterfly Centre, a private nature preserve along the Rio Grande in Mission, Texas. Construction into the 100-acre sanctuary could begin as soon as next month, splitting off some 70 acres from the American side of the site.” says Schwartz. While Congress is protecting one environmental refuge (the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge for migratory birds), biodiversity will be lost and many species will go unprotected. Why should the average person care about what happens to a few thousand animals? Well as said in the article from Stanford University, “The esthetic value of these magnificent animals, and their cultural meaning to nature lovers, hunters and Native American groups, is attested to by great efforts already made to avoid their extinction. 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.” these animals are part of the planet and even if you don’t care about the environment, you still live on the planet and this is the only one we got so we should all be trying to preserve these beautiful creatures before it is too late.
sources
“How Would a Border Wall Affect Wildlife?” Stanford Earth, earth.stanford.edu/news/how-would-border-wall-affect-wildlife#gs.RVK3qgc1.
The Independent. (2019). Why Trump’s wall could be devastating for wildlife on the Mexico border. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-border-wall-environment-wildlife-impact-mexico-texas-a8745871.html [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].
The Independent. (2019). Why Trump’s wall could be devastating for wildlife on the Mexico border. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-border-wall-environment-wildlife-impact-mexico-texas-a8745871.html [Accessed 31 Jan. 2019].