Following are excerpts from literature published by the CEMEX Corporation entitled “EL CARMEN – BIG BEND Conservation Corridor Initiative” promoting a grand vision for this area that the Texas Bighorn Society has become heavily involved with. Bighorns will be a flagship species for this effort, and TBS will be a significant stakeholder in bringing this dream to fruition. Our thanks to Patricio Robles Gil author, and the CEMEX Corporation for allowing us to reprint these articles.

Photo Courtesy of Patricio Robles Gil

A VISION

     The conservation of wild open spaces has evolved into one of the greatest challenges facing mankind in the new century.

     With our renewed understanding of the values of nature, this endeavor represents an increasingly important opportunity to show what the human race can accomplish if we all work together.  We must think big if we want to leave a worthwhile legacy for future generations.  We have learned from our mistakes that, in conservation, size is of paramount importance.  We need to maintain large protected areas, interconnected by means of undisturbed biological corridors.  Only on these terms can biodiversity be preserved and true wilderness secured in the long run.

     The El Carmen-Big Bend region is without doubt a global conservation priority, a perfect example of this vision.  Thanks to the long-term future commitment of different groups in Mexico and the United States, we can ensure that this experience will be a source of inspiration for future generations in the centuries to come.

     This initiative marks the birth of a type of bi-national cooperation where individuals, ranchers, government agencies, conservation groups and even private corporations have joined forces as never before for the protection of an international transboundary mega-corridor.

TRANSBOUNDARY MEGACORRIDOR

    Seventy years have passed since the earliest efforts were made to conserve this vast, diverse region between Mexico and the United States.  In 1935, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to acquire land for a national park in the region, and the state of Texas deeded the Texas Canyons State Park to the federal government.  In 1944, Big Bend National Park became a reality under the management of the National Park Service.  The dream of creating an international conservation network has persisted since those early years: a network that will protect the extraordinary biological and scenic riches of both countries.

     In 1948, the state of Texas began the land acquisition for Black Gap Wildlife Management Area; in 1988 it acquired the land for Big Bend Ranch State Park.  These sites are located along the border on either side of Big Bend National Park and are managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).  In Mexico, the response was slower in coming; as late as the 1990s, two enormous reserves were designated Flora and Fauna Protection Areas: Maderas del Carmen in Coahuila, and Canon de Santa Elena in Chihuahua, both of which lie along the banks of the Rio Grande which, in turn, runs parallel to the natural protected areas in the United States.

     At the same time, the U.S. Congress gave a 196-mile stretch of the Rio Grande the denomination of Wild and Scenic River.

     We should also mention the important contribution made by ranchers, local conservation groups like Agrupacion Sierra Madre, Unidos para la Conservacion and corporations whose commitment has helped, principally in Mexico, to bring about the rebirth of the original idea of making the dream of protecting this bi-national region a fortunate reality.

     There is no doubt that the current climate is very encouraging, although it lacks a regional vision and a joint plan of action for the different actors who share the same interest in and concern about the future of the region’s wilderness.

     Additionally, it should be recognized that the region’s long, eventful history has left a certain amount of ill feeling on either side of the border: wars, loss of territory, drug trafficking, illegal migration and increased border security in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks all constitute ticklish challenges to be faced.  For this reason, the recent advances on conservation issues represent a wonderful opportunity not only to deal with the ever-present threat of land fragmentation, but also to unite the different actors and models to be followed and provide them a with common vision.

     The cards are once again on the table.  This is the right moment to set up alliances and channels of cooperation that define the path to follow.  Conservation must not be limited by a country’s political borders since ecosystems extend far beyond.  This document, therefore, seeks to bring the different actors in both countries together in one single group capable of setting up negotiations with the united aim of implementing the initiatives required to guarantee the future of biodiversity conservation in this mega-biological corridor.

EL CARMEN:

A NEW MODEL OF COMMITMENT

     The highest peak in the region rises to 2720 meters.  This escarpment crowns the Sierra del Carmen, a 40-mile long sky island high above the Great Chihuahuan Desert at the heart of a bi-national mega-corridor that must be considered a regional conservation priority.

     Long ago there were no boundaries, roads or fences.  Land fragmentation has since divided El Carmen into many large and small parcels.  In many cases, the property lines marked on old maps are only approximated boundaries.  It took numerous meetings with local ranchers and communities for CONANP to determine ownership within Madras del Carmen and to create the final boundaries of the protected area.  Furthermore, extensive ownership fragmentation made implementing conservation programs difficult and sometimes impossible, which is why the recent participation and commitment of the private sector is creating a new model to guarantee long-term protection for some of Mexico’s protected areas.

     CEMEX, a global cement corporation now involved in El Carmen, is an excellent example of how a private company, NGOs and government can bring about important accomplishments by working together on rewilding and ensuring the future of this extraordinary mountain range and it biodiverse ecosystem.

     CEMEX has purchased more than 175,000 acres of land and has entered into conservation agreements with adjoining private landowners, such as Museo Maderas del Carmen and the historical Rancho Santo Domingo, for an additional 60,000 acres, resulting in less land fragmentation with a clear commitment to long-term conservation.

     The El Carmen-Big Bend Conservation Corridor Initiative was born of a unique partnership with Agrupacion Sierra Madre and CEMEX.  Today, the advisory board of El Carmen comprises leading NGOs, respected conservationist and local ranchers. 

     Great advances have been made since CEMEX became involved in the region six years ago.  Of key significance has been the development of a comprehensive baseline inventory of flora and fauna, removal of domestic livestock, including miles of barbed wire fences, bringing down from the mountain tons of waste from past mining and logging operations, and the historical significance of re-wilding the area by reintroducing certain flagship species like the desert bighorn sheep, which had been extinct in the region for over 60 years.

Photo Courtesy of Patricio Robles Gil

     The most important aspect of this Initiative is to guarantee the permanence of the Maderas del Carmen ecological corridor and its vital role of interconnecting different protected areas and mountain ranges.  CEMEX, having commercial interests in both countries and by working to have El Carmen span the international border, has become a stakeholder that can help trigger regional conservation, and its long-term commitment should serve as model for other private corporations to follow in the protection of wild places around the world.

El Carmen – Big Bend

Conservation Corridor Initiative

     Diversity is what makes life possible. A variety of conservation models is one of this bi-national corridor’s most important strengths. Committed locals, conservationist groups, private corporations and government agencies on both sides of the border are involved, affording us the renewed opportunity to dream of a protected bi-national ecoregion.

     The dream started 70 years ago, before the Big Bend National Park was made: a decision to secure land in the United States long in the coming. Now four different models – including the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River – protect over 1.3 million acres of wild lands.

     In Mexico the same process was set in motion in the 1950’s by local ranchers who still protect their land. The growing demand modern society is making on natural resources represents a new threat and obligates us to concentrate our efforts on long-term legal protection for Mexican wilderness areas.  Mexican models of protection may not seem to be the best option to the eyes of outsiders but they will provide protection from future threats and bring important resources to work in the conservation field.

     The mountain ranges are definitely still interconnected by biological corridors: a perfect example of this is the successful story of the black bear that re-colonized the Chisos Mountains and the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area by crossing over from the Mexican side of the border.

     This is good news, together with recent events in Mexico, namely the proposal to close the gap between the Canon de Santa Elena and Madreas del Carmen reserves, the Serranias del Burro ranchers’ wish to join the initiative, CEMEX’s long-term conservation commitment to protect land on both sides of the Rio Grande together with alliances between Mexican and American conservationist groups bring Mexico to the negotiating table as a partner interested in the long-term conservation of almost 2.5 million acres of wild land.

     The El Carmen-Big Bend Conservation Corridor Initiative gives Mexico a more active role and. By means of this document, all the interested groups manifest their shared intention to look for a common agenda promoting the conservation of the wilderness values and the biodiversity of this international, transboundary mega-corridor between Mexico and the United States.  We hope that this initiative will bring future benefits and become a source of pride for the people of these two great nations.

Patricio Robles Gil

TBS Role in the Initiative

Black Gap Guzzler constructed by TBS

    The Texas Bighorn Society has been working in the Big Bend Area for many years with projects ranging from the construction of water guzzlers and the study of their use to helping with the transplant of bighorns to the area and the rework of a “soft release” pen recently. In the past couple of years we have funded the purchase and subsequent donation to the state of thousands of acres of in-holdings within the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area that will help remedy and prevent the land fragmentation that is such a threat to the region. We are excited by the possibilities here, and are working hard to keep momentum behind a project that has the potential to be one on the most important conservation efforts of our times. The desert bighorn sheep has an important role to play in this effort, that being a charismatic, high profile species that can not only capture the imagination of participants, but also serve as a barometer for success. Our bighorn herds are already beginning to expand to the point where new territories are being established and former ranges being recolinized. If we move now to protect the corridors and key areas allowing for this expansion, we can watch the results of our work become visible. Bighorns belong in this country, and we would be remiss to leave future generations these mountains devoid of their presence.

     As stated in the previous article, was has been lacking here is a regional vision, one that views this country as the bighorns do, as a vast expanse of habitat to nourish their existence and waiting for their return. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists, a young radio collared ram once struck out through this country and wandered dozens of miles through these spectacular mountains over a period of nearly two years. We can only speculate what he reported to the herd upon his return, but there is much we should do to make sure his offspring can follow in his footsteps.

David Wetzel

President, Texas Bighorn Society