Addressing the Impacts of Border Security Activities on Wildlife and Habitat in Southern Arizona: STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS M O C

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Addressing the Impacts of Border Security Activities On Wildlife and Habitat in Southern Arizona: STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS M O C . O T O H P E C I T

he combined impacts of unprecedented N E R P / E C I

numbers of undocumented immigrants T N E R P Y D

entering the United States from Mexico N A R ©

T E through Arizona and stepped-up border security G U F E R E F I activities are harming the wildlife, habitat and L D L I W L A health of our sensitive borderlands, one of the N O I T A N A T E nation’s most ecologically significant regions. To I R P A Z E B examine these impacts and make sound, science- A C based recommendations for addressing them, Defenders of Wildlife and the Wildlands Project assembled a diverse group of interested stakeholders for a series of two meetings, a two-day symposium in March 2005 and a day-long workshop in October 2006.

THE STAKEHOLDERS

Arizona Department of Center for Biological Organ Pipe Cactus National State University of New Environmental Quality* Diversity** Monument York** Arizona Game and Fish Conservation Biology Philadelphia Zoo The Nature Conservancy** Department Institute** San Bernardino National The Wildlands Project Arizona-Sonora Desert Coronado National Forest Wildlife Refuge** Tucson Preparatory School** Museum* Coronado National Sierra Club University of Arizona Arizona State Land Memorial Sky Island Alliance Department* U.S. Bureau of Land Defenders of Wildlife Sonoran Institute* Management Arizona State Parks Friends of the Jaguar** Sonoran Joint Venture* U.S. Customs and Border Arizona State University* National Parks and Southwest Consortium for Protection Arizona Wilderness Conservation Association** Environmental Research & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coalition* Northern Arizona Policy** Service Cabeza Prieta National University* Southwest Strategy* World Wildlife Fund* Wildlife Refuge Northern Jaguar Project* *Attended March 2005 symposium only. ** Attended October 2006 workshop only.

Recognizing that national security is the top priority, these conservationists, educators, scientists and state and federal agency representatives identified the most critical borderlands conservation issues and information gaps. They also pinpointed the most critical cross-border wildlife corridors and other areas of concern and came up with recommendations for protecting the wildlife and habitat of these sensitive areas. Their conclusions and a borderlands map showing the critical wildlife corridors and vulnerable public and tribal lands of concern to area stakeholders are presented herein.

CRITICAL CONSERVATION ISSUES ISSUES CONSERVATION CRITICAL D • Absence ofmechanisms and processes for addressing ecological • Lackofcoordination onGISand mappingefforts. • • Weak “conservation ethic” guidingBorder Patrol organization • Unmanaged development inecologicallysensitive areas along • Disproportionate focusonfencesand high-techdeterrence at • Border Patrol’s inadequatecompliancewithenvironmental laws. • Policy Challenges • Difficulties inrestoring habitatandmaintainingimprovements. • Additional pressure onthreatened andendangered speciesand • Modifications ofwildlifebehaviorinresponse todisturbances. • Wildlife anddisplacement. mortality • Airandwaterpollution. • Introduction ofexotic species. • F • Trampling ofvegetation andotherdirect damagetowildlife Environmental Concerns management anddecisionmakingintheregion. forsoundresource scientific information,whichisnecessary highlighted are theirrecommendations forfillinginthegaps stakeholders atthe2005symposiumare outlinedbelow. Also most seriousconcernsandpolicychallengesasdeterminedb imperiled wildlifeandsensitive habitat—isundersiege. The region—much ofitonpubliclandssetasidetoprotect rare and proliferated, compoundingthedamage.Asaresult, thispristine projects andoff-road vehicle andlow-flying helicopterpatrols lands. Enforcement-related lighting road-and wallconstruction, activities from urbanareas totheseremote, sensitive border- traffickingandotherillegal undocumented immigration,drug inheavilypopulatedborderefforts areas, essentiallyshifting Patrol dramaticallyincreased itsimmigrationenforcement United States. Beginning intheearly1990s,U.S.Border concerns. tions andthegeneralpublic. Poor coordination amongagencies,nongovernmental organiza- and structure. the border. the border attheexpenseofinteriorenforcement. rity from allenvironmental laws. Real IDAct exemption ofHomeland oftheDepartment Secu- species ofspecialconcern. and habitat. ragmentation ofhabitatandwildlifecorridors. a t e he Arizona border, fosteringarichdiversity ofplants sert, mountainandsubtropical habitatconvergesert, along nd animals,manyofthemfoundnowhere elseinthe y 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. R • Scantresearch andmonitoring onbothsidesoftheborder. • ecommendations forF bor I nadequate binational cooperation, partly becauseofnew nadequate binationalcooperation,partly security technology tomonitorwildlifeaswell aspeople. Explore forusinginfrared opportunities camerasand other tion options. D across sensitive areas. Monitor effectiveness ofoperationsatdeterringillegaltraffic wildlife. structure withmigratory D on ecologicalresources. M tions onwildlifeandhabitat. Collect dataonimpactsofillegaltrafficandsecurityopera- monitoring safer. Improve interiorenforcement tomakeecologicalstudyand research. Develop listsofpotentialfundingsources forborderlands S Collect dataonwildlifecorridors. der cr tudy undocumentedmigration patternsandtr ev etermine compatibilityofsecurityoperationsandinfra- onitor r elop GISmappingofbor ossing r oads, fencesandotherinfrastr equir ements. illing Information Gaps der r egion topr uctur ovide mitiga- e forimpacts ends.

JAGUAR © SA TEAM/FOTO NATURA/MINDEN PICTURES

CRITICAL CORRIDORS

cientists widely recognize that preserving key linkages Recommendations for Protecting Wildlife Corridors and other connecting habitat on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico Vulnerable Lands Sborder is essential to keep species moving within their 1. Use “virtual” high-tech fencing options, such as unmanned traditional habitat and range. This is especially important for aerial surveillance vehicles, motion sensors, laser barriers and the health of the region’s populations of imperiled species such infrared cameras, whenever possible. as the jaguar, which has been absent from the United States 2. Limit the use of pedestrian fences to urban and adjacent since the 1970s. Jaguars are starting to venture back into the areas. In the Arizona borderlands, fencing should be a last United States from Mexico, but fencing and road projects resort and used only if cross-border species are accommo- proposed by the Border Patrol threaten to cut off the cross- dated with gaps controlled by virtual fencing and designed border corridors they use. To protect these and other critical using the best available science. corridors, the 2006 stakeholder workshop attendees identified 3. Use wildlife-friendly vehicle barriers in conjunction with corridors most in need of immediate attention (see map virtual fencing in areas where hard infrastructure is necessary inside). They also named “indicator” species—animals and appropriate. commonly found in these areas—that can be monitored to help assess ecosystem health and habitat integrity. These desig- 4. Consider allocating funds for habitat protection or other nations and the attendees’ recommendations for protecting recovery efforts as mitigation for unavoidable impacts in these and other vulnerable corridors from illegal traffic and ecologically sensitive areas. border security operations follow. 5. Make compliance with environmental laws a top priority for all agencies. Critical Cross-Border Wildlife Corridors and Indicator Species 6. Increase opportunities for collaboration among land • Baboquivari Mountain Complex managers, biologists, local jurisdictions, and U.S. Customs Indicator species: cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl, Chiricahua and Border Patrol at the beginning of the planning process. leopard frog, jaguar, masked bobwhite quail 7. Incorporate long-term monitoring and adaptive manage- • Pajarita Mountain/Atascosa Mountain/Sycamore Canyon ment at all levels to monitor the effectiveness of mitigation Complex efforts and to inform future planning efforts. Indicator species: Chiricahua leopard frog, elegant trogon, 8. Develop a comprehensive internal environmental program jaguar, Sonoran chub for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol similar to the one the • Huachuca/Patagonia Mountain-San Pedro/Santa Cruz River U.S. military uses to address environmental issues. Complex 9. Improve environmental education for U.S. Customs and Indicator species: black bear, jaguar, loach minnow, vermillion Border Patrol agents. flycatcher 10. Increase funding for borderland management agencies. • Peloncillo Mountain Complex Indicator species: American bison, jaguar, black bear, 11. Clearly designate legal roads to minimize use of illegal travel Mexican wolf routes. 12. In the western Arizona deserts, continue to press for alterna- Other Corridors of Concern tives to the reinforced double-layer pedestrian fencing • Mountain ranges: Ajo Mountains, Chiricahua/Pedregosa mandated in the Secure Fence Act by participating in the Mountain complex development, implementation and monitoring of vehicle barrier plans in the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Organ Pipe • Waterways: Colorado River, San Bernardino River, Rio Cactus National Monument, Cabeza Prieta National Magdalena, Quitobaquito Springs, San Pedro River, Santa Wildlife Refuge, Tohono O’odham Nation lands, Buenos Cruz River Aires National Wildlife Refuge and other vulnerable areas. • Grasslands: San Rafael Valley, Altar Valley, Sulphur Springs 13. Along waterways, maintain stream flows and vegetation by Valley, San Bernardino Valley keeping the impacted border corridor as narrow as possible, and limiting off-road vehicle use and the enforcement foot- print to the immediate border area as much as possible.

Vulnerable Public and Tribal Lands and Critical Wildlife Corridors in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

San Mateo Canyon San Bernardino Palen/McCoy Mazatzal Wilderness National Forest Mecca Hills Wilderness Horseshoe Wilderness Wilderness Reservoir 10 Harquahala Tonto 60 Agua Tibia Santa Rosa Orocopia Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness Socorro Camp Pendleton Mountains Bartlett National Forest Cibola Wilderness Wilderness Wilderness Hummingbird Springs Reservoir 60 Marine Corps Wilderness National Forest Base Cleveland Wilderness 17 Theodore S Chocolate 95 Gila Withington 15 National a 10 Big Horn Mtns. Wilderness Roosevelt l National Wilderness 54 t Mountain Palo Verde Apache Lake Bosque del Apache Forest o Naval ARIZONA Lincoln n Mountains Lake Forest Cibola National Wildlife Refuge Gunnery Eagletail 380

5 CALIFORNIA Wilderness Kofa National Tonto 191 National Forest Bosque del Apache National Forest o Mountains

S Range Phoenix National d Yuma Wildlife Refuge 78 e Wilderness Superstition Apache Kid Wilderness a a Carrizozo Capitan Mounta Salton Sea National r Monument Miramar Naval 78 Proving Wilderness San Carlos Wilderness o Wilderness Air Station Sawtooth 86 Wildlife North l Ground Mountains o 10 Indian Reservation Refuge C Sierra Estrella Globe El Centro Algodones Indian Kofa White Mountain Wilderness Wilderness Pine Creek Coyote Naval Auxiliary Wilderness Pass Wilderness Hohokam Pima Tonto 180 Wilderness 8 Wilderness Woolsey Peak Wilderness Carrizo Mountains Air Station North Maricopa National National Forest Gila Wilderness 25 Gorge Little Picacho Wilderness White Sands 70 San Diego Otay Hauser Wilderness Mountains Wilderness Monument Missile Range Wilderness El Centro Wilderness Gila Cliff Dwellings Mountain Wilderness Jacumba 8 Yuma Proving South Maricopa Aldo Wilderness Fort Yuma Ind. Res. National Monument Tecate Wilderness Calexico Yuma Ground Mountains Wilderness Florence Leopold Muggins Mountain Casa 70 Wilderness Tijuana Tecate 2 8 Casa Grande Ruins Clifton Truth or D Mexicali Ciudad Wilderness Sonoran 8 Grande National Monument Santa Teresa Aravaipa Consequences Morelos Desert Wilderness Gila National Forest 2 Fortuna Foothills Table Top Canyon 1 National Safford San Luis 85 Monument Wilderness Wilderness 191 Silver Alamogordo 5 Yuma Marine Corps Barry M. Goldwater Eloy San Luis Air Station Coronado City Air Force Range 10 White Sands Rio Colorado Galiuro National National Lincoln Parque Nacional Coronado Gila NEW Wilderness Forest San Andres Monument National Constitucion Ironwood Forest National Forest National de 1857 Cabeza Prieta National Monument Oro 191 MEXICO National Forest Cabeza Prieta RedÞeld Canyon Forest Wilderness National Tohono O'odham Valley Pusch Ridge 70 Wildlife Marana Wilderness Peloncillo Refuge Wildlife Refuge Indian Reservation Wilderness Saguaro National Park Mountains 180 2 Flowing Wells Wilderness Ensenada Organ Pipe Cactus Saguaro Wilderness Tanque Verde Lordsburg National Monument Tucson Dos Cabezas 10 Las Cruces Saguaro National Park Mountains Deming Fort Bliss Organ Pipe 86 Reserva de la Biosfera Cactus Wilderness Coyote Saguaro Wilderness Wilderness Fort Bowie 10 McGregor PACIFIC Reserva de la Biosfera Mountains Rincon Mountain Willcox Dry National Historic Site 54 Range El Pinacate y Lukeville Alto Golfo de California y Gran Desierto de Altar Sonoyta Wilderness Wilderness Lake Bombing OCEAN Delta del Rio Colorado U Range Chiricahua National Monument N Baboquivari 286 Coronado I Peak Wilderness Green Coronado Chiricahua National 8 TE Valley NF M D Buenos Aires National National Forest Monument Wilderness S Wildlife Refuge San Pedro 191 Coronado Fort Bliss EX T 19 Mt. Wrightson 1 3 A Tumacacori National Wilderness Riparian National National Forest IC T El Paso 180 O ES Historical Park Conservation Area Leslie Canyon 62 2 Sasabe Coronado National Forest Sierra Vista NWR Ciudad Juarez Fort TEXAS Puerto Penasco Sasabe Huachuca Coronado Pajarita National Forest Wilderness Nogales Miller Peak Coronado National BAJA Wilderness Memorial Naco Douglas San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge 2 CALIFORNIA Nogales Naco 45 Agua 1 3 2 Prieta G u l 2 15 f D 4 10 o Cr Cananea Critical Cross-Border Wildlife Corridors: f i tical Caborca C 1 Baboquivari Mountain complex C ross a -Bor l der i f Wil o dlife Corridors r n 2 Pajarita Mountain/Atascosa Mountain/ i a Sycamore Canyon complex 3 Huachuca/Patagonia Mountain-San Pedro/ Santa Cruz River complex 4 Peloncillo Mountain complex SONORA Approximate Location of Existing Border Fences

Reserva Especial de la Proposed U.S.–Mexico Border Fence Biosfera Islas del Golfo de California 15 CHIHUAHUA National Park Service / Wilderness Areas

1 National Forest Service / Wilderness Areas Reserva Especial de la Biosfera Isla Tiburon Hermosillo Fish and Wildlife Service / Wilderness Areas The borderlands of Arizona are mostly federal land, and include national monu- ments, national wildlife refuges, national forests, wilderness areas and lands held in Bureau of Land Management / Wilderness Areas trust by the Department of Interior for the Tohono O’odham Nation and other Native American tribes. The arrows indicate the location of the Critical Cross- Indian Reservations Border Wildlife Corridors identified by workshop participants. Chihuahua

Department of Defense 0 50 mi 16 0 50 km

Guaymas

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jenny Neeley, Southwest Representative Defenders of Wildlife 520.623.9653 [email protected]

Kim Vacariu, Western Director Wildlands Project 505.557.0155 [email protected] " Ê/ Ê / i «>VÌÃ v }À>Ì *VÞ 7`vi >` >LÌ>Ì Ì i Àâ> À`iÀ>`Ã Wildlands Project Southwestern Office P.O. Box 16213 Portal, Arizona 85632 www.wildlandsproject.org Download Defenders’ report on the devastating impacts Defenders of Wildlife of undocumented immigration and law enforcement Southwest Office activities on fragile wildlife and habitat at 110 South Church Avenue, Suite 4292 http://www.defenders.org/border/border_report.pdf Tucson, AZ 85705

National Office 1130 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036-4604 202.682.9400 www.defenders.org

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