by Rick LoBello, iloveparks.com/peaceparks
This area is just four hours east of El Paso and the creation of the international park would greatly enhance ecotourism in the West Texas.
(El Paso, Texas, April 19, 2009 Update) Earlier this month I learned that a new effort is underway in Mexico that could re-open US/Mexico talks on the long proposed international park in the Big Bend National Park region of West Texas. Two sources in Acuna, Coahuila and Monterrey, Nuevo Leon confirm that the Governor of Coahuila was working on a presentation for President Obama and President Calderon proposing that Mexico and the US once again seriously consider the creation of what once was reported on in El Paso as the "Giant Park Proposal" (see 1936 article below).
It is unclear at this time if the park proposal was discussed. An article posted on yesterday's El Universal.com indicates that the two presidents did discuss numerous projects on the border that could help with Mexico's economy opening that the possibility the park was discussed as a ecotourism initiative.
The originally proposed international park needs to be completed and I hope that President Obama and President Calderon will find time to discuss the proposal.
An international park combining Big Bend National Park with protected areas across the border in Coahuila and Chihuahua will:
(1) help to call international attention to the transboundary protected areas and the need to promote the long term protection of the region's fascinating flora and fauna including a number of rare and endangered species,
(2) become a permanent monument and symbol of peace between the US and Mexico, one that President Roosevelt said would celebrate the friendship between the two countries and be a meeting ground where the people of both countries and citizens from all parts of the world could come together to learn about each other’s culture while coming to better understand the natural world that they all share.
(3) help to call the region's attention to the needs of people living in rural areas without adequate running water, electricity, sanitation and educational opportunities. The people living in the area cannot be expected to support the long term protection of the region if their needs are not also taken care of.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Harry Truman were strong advocates of the US/Mexico international park and Roosevelt proclaimed six months before his death that “"I do not believe that this undertaking in the Big Bend will be complete until the entire park area in this region on both sides of the Rio Grande forms one great international park."
I want to see Big Bend made complete because I love the park where I lived and worked for nearly 17 years. I hope you will join me and others in helping to make this dream for both countries and the world finally come true.
rickllobello@cs.com
Read the Story from the El Paso Herald Post in 1936
El Paso Herald Post, November 6, 1936
Will Discuss Big Bend Park
Arno M. Cammerer, director of the National Park Service, will be in El Paso, Sunday, to discuss with Mexican officials boundaries of a proposed International Park, the American half which would be in Brewster County.
PROPOSED PARK GIANT PROJECT
Officials Will Arrive Here Sunday for Parley On Recreation Site
The proposed Big Bend International Park will be one of the biggest developments ever undertaken by the National Park Service, according to Assistant Director Conrad L. Wirth, who is enroute here with other Washington officials of the National Park Service to attend a two-day conference opening Sunday with representatives of the Mexican government. 'Boundaries of the park will be discussed.
In my opinion," said Mr. Wirth, "the Big Bend International Park will be one of the greatest recreational and educational ventures ever undertaken by the National Park Service. The benefits to the people of Mexico and the United States will be almost unlimited."
Director Arno B. Cammerer and Assistant Directors Wirth and G. A. Moskey will arrive here Sunday morning with Herbert Maier of Oklahoma City, regional officer of the National Park Service, in charge of cooperative development of state parks in Texas. and other Southwestern States.
They will be met here by representatives of the U. S. Biological Survey and the International Boundary Commission, to confer with Daniel F. Galicia and other from the. Department of Forestry; Fish and Game of Mexico.
Tentative boundaries have been agreed upon at previous joint meetings of the two commissions.
The sessions here are expected to result in final determination for presentation to the respective governments. It is probable these boundaries will include about 788,000 acres for the Big Bend National Park of Texas—all in Brewster County- and approximately 400,000 acres for the Mexican National Park in the States of Chihuahua and Coahuila.
The two-parks would be linked by a bridge across the Rio Grande at Boquillas.
2 comments:
We need to contact our representatives in Congress about this. How does Governor Perry feel about this project. Is he talking to the Governor of Coahuila?
Keep up the good work in keeping this dream alive. I hope that both countries can get together soon and make this happen for this and future generations.
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