What will El Paso do when there is no more land to develop?
by Rick LoBello
All over El Paso and the surrounding area developers are on the move building new roads, shopping centers and housing areas. These projects are making life a little easier for those of us who drive back and forth to work and the jobs that are connected to them, all obviously very important to our community’s quality of life.
The other day I received an email asking me about what is being done to save the land in El Paso west of War Highway by the Newman power plant. “If its to be turned into subdivisions are there any plans to save some of the cactus or other things?”
Since I am involved with more than one environmental group in El Paso I reached out to a number of people who I thought might be able to help. One person who responded was Judy Ackerman. I have know Judy ever since I moved to El Paso. Judy is a conservation warrior extraordinaire. Before I post her answer I have a question that I would like to pose, one that I have asked again and again at conservation meetings. Unfortunately it is a question that few people want to hear.
What will El Paso do when there is no more land to develop?
Most people holding the keys to our future don’t want to deal with this question and the few people who go to the polls to elect them don’t really understand how bad things are getting. Several months ago National Geographic published an alarming article entitled
“Half of all land must be kept in a natural state to protect Earth.” The easy to read report states that human civilization over the next ten years must double the size of protected zones to prevent dangerous warming and unravelling of ecosystems.
If world leaders, and that includes LEADERS IN El PASO, don’t increase their commitments to conserve land and water quickly, we won’t be able to preserve a stable climate and high quality of life. As a conservation educator and scientist working to stay informed and working on the front lines of many environmental efforts, I am convinced that this science about our future is relevant to our community and the future of humanity. If you agree then ask your own questions, stay informed and ACT. Act now, Act tomorrow, Act every day of your life. Our future, our children’s future, and the future of our civilization depends on everyone of us.
Judy’s answer
Several people are very concerned that city owned land west of Martin Luther King (War Highway) might be developed – especially since that land includes recently dedicated trailheads Lazy Cow and Round House!
I am currently unable to take the lead on this issue, but include on the “To” line several others who care about this issue, in the hope that someone will contact you with suggestions how to keep an eye on City Staff actions in TIRZ 13.
You might also contact members of the Open Space Advisory Board: http://legacy.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/detail.asp?id=96.
On Cactus rescue, the leaders are Peter Beste and the El Paso Cactus and Rock Club, https://www.facebook.com/epcrc/. Current president is Paul Hyder.
Rick LoBello 