Border Wall Impacts on Wildlife, Wilderness, and Communities: A View from Both Sides

“Border Wall Impacts on Wildlife, Wilderness, and Communities: A View from Both Sides”
Myles Traphagen, Wildlands Network and Mirna Manteca, Profauna

Bilingual presentation

For millennia, the borderlands have been a crossroads for animals migrating across North America. A border wall will directly affect wildlife and because environmental impact studies are not required, the effects remain to be seen. The border wall has driven a wedge between borderlands communities, causing many to ignore the facts of this infrastructure and choose sides on a political issue, which has fractured long-standing partnerships.

Myles Traphagen coordinates the Borderlands Program for Wildlands Network, with a focus on channeling collaborative efforts to maintain and restore habitat for species like jaguar, black bear and Sonoran pronghorn. He also oversees strategic partnerships, communications and projects to advance large-landscape conservation goals in Mexico and the United States, including organizing opposition to the border wall. He holds a Master of Science from the University of Arizona.

Mirna Manteca works as conservation biologist with the Mexican NGO Protección de la Fauna Mexicana (Profauna). Her work focuses on wildlife monitoring, restoration, community engagement, and fostering best management practices with local cattle ranchers and private landowners in Northern Sonora, Mexico. Mirna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a focus on terrestrial resource management from the University of Sonora.

Can’t make it to Hallam Lake on Thursday? You can also catch this presentation on Wednesday at 6PM at the Carbondale Middle School. 

What is Naturalist Nights?

Each winter, together with Wilderness Workshop and Roaring Fork Audubon, ACES invites regional experts to explore and share topics of the natural world through slideshows and discussion.

From January to March, this popular series takes place in Aspen at Hallam Lake every Thursday evening at 6PM, and every Wednesday at 6PM in Carbondale at the Third Street Center, providing an educational activity for visitors and locals alike. Tea, donated by Two Leaves Tea Company, and cookies donated by Paradise Bakery, Village Smithy, or Bonfire Coffee are offered.