Burnett, J. (2019, October 13). Border Wall Rising In Arizona, Raises Concerns Among Conservationists, Native Tribes. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2019/10/13/769444262/border-wall-rising-in-arizona-raises-concerns-among-conservationists-native-trib.

 

As the building of President Trump’s border wall is underway in states such as Arizona, environmentalists are concerned about the impact the ecological impact the construction will have on “one of the most biologically and culturally rich regions of the continental United States”. Because Customs and Border Patrol and the Defense Department are in a rush to meet the goal of 450 miles of wall by the next election, conservationists are concerned they will show little regard for plant and animal life they find in their way. 

 

Beyond the intrinsic value of living things, this story upsets me because of the cultural significance the land has for many people who live in Arizona. There are culturally significant plants, springs, animals, and even archaeological sites that will be disregarded as the Trump Administration continues to waive federal environmental laws to expedite the construction.