Cross-Border Conservation in North America

The event discusses the critical need for collaborative, cross-border environmental conservation, particularly in North America. Authors Ken Salazar and Leslie Harroun argue that nature's boundaries do not align with political ones, making shared stewardship essential for protecting ecosystems like the United States — Colorado, United States — Sonoran Desert, and Sky island (disambiguation). They criticize recent federal decisions by the United States for weakening environmental protections, dismissing science, and straining relationships with neighboring countries and Indigenous nations. The article advocates for shifting from conflict-driven models to collaborative approaches, citing successful projects in the Rio Grande-Rio_Bravo river basin as examples of effective cross-border partnerships that benefit ecosystems and local economies. The overarching message is that survival in shared landscapes depends on cooperation and respecting the land.