The UNESCO World Heritage Committee requested that the United States re-establish the ecological connectivity of the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, which according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) was damaged by the American border wall.
The Reserve is located on the border between the states of Sonora and Arizona, and adjoins 140 kilometers of a wall built during the administration of Donald Trump, former president of the United States, which, according to the organization, blocks critical wildlife migration and endangers the integrity of the area.
“The border wall has been a disaster for the Sonoran berrenda (an antelope) and other species. It also interferes with the traditional ceremonies of the Tohono O'odham people, whose use of this sacred landscape must be preserved. The United States must tear down the damaging wall, or at least, a way must be found that allows wildlife to freely cross the border,” said Alejandro Olivira, representative of the Center for Biological Diversity in a statement.
Photo of the El Pinacate Reserve. Source: UNESCO
During the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Saudi Arabia, the participating countries approved the proposal that requires the U.S. and Mexican governments to cooperate and develop a plan to evaluate and mitigate the impacts of the wall and restore connectivity, since otherwise the El Pinacate Reserve could enter the list of “World Heritage in Danger” in 2024.
Since 2017, the Center, together with other organizations, sent a request for the El Pinacate Reserve to be included in this list when the idea of placing a wall to prevent the migration of people was only a proposal by former President Trump.
The sites are included in that list because they are “threatened by serious and precise dangers... such as major public or private works projects”, according to the definition of Unesco.
In addition, the Mexican government was urged to monitor key species, draw up a plan for the recovery of the Sonoran berendo and implement conservation measures as part of the project that seeks to install a contemplated electrical transmission network in the area that forms part of the photovoltaic megaproject in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora.
Both countries must submit a report before February 1, 2024 on the state of conservation of the Reserve and the implementation of connectivity measures, which will be presented that same year at the 46th session of the committee whose date will be announced on its web portal.
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