El Paso officials support Rio Grande restoration and efforts to establish an international park in the Big Bend

by Rick LoBello, iloveparks.com

August 23, 2009.  El Paso, Texas.   In response to requests made by El Paso’s Ecotourism Committee, government officials in El Paso have called upon the federal government to take action in support of important environmental initiatives along the US Mexico border. Two resolutions approved by the El Paso County Commissioners Court on August 10 and 17 and the El Paso City Council on August 18 call upon the International Water and Boundary Commission to adopt a “no mow policy along the banks of the Rio Grande” to help provide for recovery of native cottonwood and tornillo habitat and the Department of the Interior to create an International Commission to help promote the establishment of an International Park in the Big Bend National Park area and adjacent region in Mexico.

Resolutions in support of Rio Grande habitat restoration and the establishment of a giant US-Mexico international park are important to borderland conservation efforts to conserve the Chihuahuan Desert, one of the conservation hotspots identified by major groups like the World Wildlife Fund.

El Paso has long supported conservation in the region.  In the 1970s local residents worked for the creation of Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest urban park in the nation at 24,247 acres, covering some 37 square miles, all within the city limits of El Paso.

Tourism committee calls for new Natural Habitat and Open Space Zoning Ordinance

June 20, 2008 EL PASO – El Paso County's new Ecotourism Committee, which is being spearheaded by Commissioner Escobar, is recommending that the City Council adopt a new Natural Habitat and Open Space Zoning Ordinance for land owned by the City of El Paso and any other land which chooses such designation in an effort to enhance ecotourism opportunities in El Paso. This category would apply to PSB land, open space donations, lands under permanent conservation easements, neighborhood open space like Thunder Canyon, & lands owned by conservation organizations with preservation of the natural space in perpetuity, however does not affect private land that could be developed.

Natural habitat open space is defined as wild land areas that are undeveloped and still in their natural state. Protecting more natural habitat open space in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains and surrounding area will help to protect important habitat for wildlife in the area while enhancing important ecotourism opportunities. The value of protecting natural habitat open space will also help the city create more nature focused outdoor opportunities for children growing up in El Paso, something that is largely lacking due to past emphasis on creating parks that focus on play grounds and playing fields.

All across the country a growing number of educators and psychologists have identified an early childhood and teenage development problem called Nature Deficit Disorder, a behavioral condition resulting from too much time growing up in front of computer screens and TV sets. More natural habitat open space will prevent this condition and help children growing up in the city have more opportunities to connect with nature.

The committee hopes that the new ordinance will both encourage and empower the City Council to protect more natural open space before ongoing development activities cause what remains to completely disappear. The Open Space Master Plan for El Paso recommends the creation of an Open Space Zoning Category (Page 6-2, Recommendation A-2). Cities such as Denver, CO, Boston, MA & Pasadena, CA have already adopted a similar ordinance.

The Eco-tourism committee commends the City for the tremendous progress it has made in addressing natural resources and improving upon sustainable development initiatives. Some of these initiatives include: