Binational Symposium Press Release
JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, Wednesday, June 14, 2000 - An international coalition of conservation organizations today called on Mexican and U.S. federal and state officials to take strong action to conserve the wildlife and habitats of the Rio Grande (called Rio Bravo in Mexico). Officials from both countries were gathered in Juarez for a meeting to discuss the depleted flows and poor water quality of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo in the reach from Fort Quitman to Amistad and impacts on biological diversity in the region.
"The richness and diversity of wildlife and plants in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo basin is likely unmatched by any desert river system in the world," said Ty Fain, president of the Rio Grande Institute. "But today the life of the great river is literally seeping away due to misuse and poor management of its precious water"
Over-allocation, massive and inefficient diversions of water for irrigation, municipal use and flood control, destruction of the natural channel, dredging, clearing of native vegetation, pollution - all have contributed to the severe degradation of Rio Grande/Rio Bravo habitats. "This isn't just a wildlife issue," said Jennifer Atchley of World Wildlife Fund's Chihuahuan Desert Program. "The nine million people living in the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo basin have just as great a stake in a healthy river system."
The groups urged leaders from both countries to take the following steps to begin the process of restoring the ecological health of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo:
Ensure that at least 10% of the total yearly run-off of the river and its tributaries be reserved for instream flows by the year 2010 to support streamside (riparian) habitats and aquatic species.
Devise a binational strategy for riparian habitat protection, acquisition, and restoration.
Establish a transparent and flexible process for better binational cooperation, agency interaction, and public participation in Rio Grande/Rio Bravo water supply and use issues.
Collaborate with local governments, lending institutions, and development agencies to identify and implement projects to improve agricultural and municipal water systems.
"The ecological health of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo is critically injured and in imminent danger of collapse," said Karen Chapman, assistant director of the Texas Center for Policy Studies. "With these recommendations, we're asking governments in the U.S. and Mexico to get it into the emergency room and start life-saving procedures."
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