Thread by @Douglas_Main, If Trump loses Arizona, which still appears likely, don't forget one reason [...]

If Trump loses Arizona, which still appears likely, don't forget one reason why: His border wall has torn thru wilderness areas, desecrated O'odham land, used up millions of gallons of groundwater for cement, etc—and Arizonans have noticed https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2020/11/border-wall-construction-continues-unabated/

The U.S. border wall is tearing through wilderness, right under our noses

The wall is huge, with enough newly added steel to build 10 Empire State buildings. Why is this “greatest threat to endangered species” underappreciated?

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2020/11/border-wall-construction-continues-unabated/

My border wall reporting for @natgeo has focused in large part on Arizona, because it has born the brunt of new construction. Unlike 1 year ago, most of the state now has 30-foot wall on its border. One impact will be impeded animal movement. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/10/border-wall-arizona-to-have-tiny-animal-openings/

Arizona’s border wall will include openings too small for many animals

New border wall passages the size of small doggy doors, 50 in total, are unlikely to mitigate the wall’s negative impact on wildlife, experts say.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/10/border-wall-arizona-to-have-tiny-animal-openings/

Border wall construction in AZ also threatens to dry up the most important spring in the Sonoran desert, which sits RIGHT NEXT to the the wall.

This spot is sacred to the O'odham. 8 folks standing up for the spring were arrested on Indigenous ppl's day https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/07/quitobaquito-springs-arizona-drying-up-border-wall/

Sacred Arizona spring drying up as border wall construction continues

Water flow is at an all-time low at Quitobaquito Springs, a culturally vital oasis home to two endangered species next to the U.S.-Mexico border.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/07/quitobaquito-springs-arizona-drying-up-border-wall/

And despite the coverage the wall has got, many don't realize its extent and the fact that CBP can waive ANY AND ALL laws to build it

I pointed this out in @natgeo back in March, when feds began ramping up construction in earnest, under cover of pandemic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/new-border-wall-us-mexico-imperil-jaguars-other-animals/

Border wall construction expands, despite pandemic, imperiling jaguars and other animals

With the world focused on coronavirus, the federal government paves way for 175 miles of new walls along U.S.-Mexico border, through prime wildlife corridors.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/03/new-border-wall-us-mexico-imperil-jaguars-other-animals/

I’ve been visiting the Tucson area all my life to see fam so it’s personal to me. Here I am at a section of wall near Nogales (since replaced by 30 ft fence) in ‘17. The jaguars shirt was a cheeky choice bc these animals range north from mexico... but new wall cuts them off

Anyway, the point of this thread is that the border wall is (even now) still happening, disproportionally impacting the environment, native people, and wildlife in Arizona.

Entire borders of wilderness areas like Organ Pipe Cactus NM are walled off. Arizonans are sick of it

And I've done everything I can to make what's happening in Arizona a national story, as it should be.

AZ bears the brunt of the border wall bc it's mostly public land—no private landowners (like TX) to sue.

But the wilderness has no voice... it's up to us.

Border wall woes aside, the AZ borderlands are gorgeous, little-known, dynamic. When the monsoon rains come, the desert comes to life.

I covered this for Newsweek back in '15, running arnd w/ weirdo naturalists lookin' for snakes and beetles and such https://www.newsweek.com/2015/09/18/naturalists-flock-southern-arizona-during-monsoon-369271.html

Bugs and Ammo: Southern Arizona in Monsoon Season

During the desert monsoon, rare insects, gonzo scientists, immigrants and border militia converge on the American Southwest.

https://www.newsweek.com/2015/09/18/naturalists-flock-southern-arizona-during-monsoon-369271.html

The story has one of my catchier ledes IMO: "Before the monsoon rains lured me to southern Arizona, I had never been shot at..."

Also great photos by my friend @BiodiversiLary

You can follow @Douglas_Main.

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