April 2021
What a beautiful and successful month to celebrate Earth Day in El Paso, Texas!
Photo by Richard Love
Knapp Land and Lost Dog Conservation Easements were presented to El Paso City Council on April 27, 2021. It has been a long journey for EPWU, the City, and especially Frontera to work through the many terms that will forever oversee these lands for preservation. But we would not be at this point if it were not for all of you sharing our desire for these lands to be preserved. The complete materials regarding these easements can be found on the City of El Paso website. The public hearing will be on May 11, 2021, the day when City Council will vote on the two conservation easement proposals. To learn more about how a conservation easement works check out Frontera’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WsyhBHtNXU
We’re excited to welcome the newest member of our Board of Directors, Mónica García. The Castner Range National Monument bill was introduced on April 22, 2021, Earth Day, by El Paso’s Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16). You can view it here: legislation (HR 2752). In short, the bill is asking that the current administration make Fort Bliss’s Castner Range a National Monument. By doing so, it ensures that the land will be kept as is—existing open space that encapsulates our region’s history and preserves our diversity of wildlife and plants.
Resler Canyon
Here is a great story about Resler Canyon could not wait to share it with you! Rediscover your connections to nature at the Canyon by viewing (wpcomstaging.com). If you missed the release of the Resler Canyon video, you can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjgNYgikGMA
Frontera is pleased to announce grant awards that will help ensure that we keep working not only for land preservation in our community and our region but also on behalf of our growing educational program which includes bilingual walks and talks, as well as guided hikes. A HUGE thank you to El Paso Electric Company, Conservation Lands Foundation, The Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, The Hunt Family Foundation, and the Wilma Moleen Foundation.
In April we co-hosted a highly requested Lichen Hike with a fungal ecologist and Ph.D. student Cat Cort with 500 Women Scientists and Hueco Tanks. The hike took place at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site. We learned all about lichen properties and biocrust in our desert. Hueco Tanks is splattered with lichen. Due to the high interest, we will be scheduling another lichen hike in the future.
photo by Richard Love
The very first Virtual Environmental Summit was held in April. We are happy to be a part of this summit. Frontera hosted the first workshop by providing a guided hike at Resler Canyon. Thanks to Green Hope Project, filled up fast. During the hike, we even spotted a Western Kingbird! Our other workshops will take place in May. Please register here: Green Hope Project Registration
On Earth Day, April 22nd, we encouraged the community to participate in making Castner Range a national monument. A Castner Range National Monument recognizes a 21st Century conservation effort centered around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and protects frontline communities and other marginalized populations who disproportionately bear the brunt of climate impacts.
Please visit the Castner Ranger National Monument Website to sign the letter of support.
On the 23rd, WestStar Bank made donations to Frontera during “Jeans Day.” Thanks to all the employees who participated that made this a success!
At the end of the month, the El Paso City Nature Challenge 2021 began. The challenge takes place from April 30th to May 3rd. It is a bioblitz-style competition where cities are in a friendly contest with each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can observe and record the most species, and who can engage the most people.
To view natural areas and events near you visit: Insights El Paso Website