Texas and Mexico Partner to Fight Salt Cedar
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An ecological concern along the Rio Grande doesn’t stop midway across the river. It may impact both sides of the border equally. Enter Salt Cedar, an invasive exotic tree that overwhelms native plant species on both sides of the river; and both countries want it gone.
18—This is obviously a bi-national effort, with the conservation organizations in Mexico, as well as the Department of the Interior, TPWD, Sul Ross State University, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Rio Grande Institute. In addition to being bi-national there are many partners involved.
Mark Lockwood, natural resources coordinator for state parks in far West Texas, says the biggest challenge is pulling together the manpower needed to accomplish their objectives. Mexico has a head start dealing with the issue, and has trained personnel to assist as needed.
20—These projects have been going on in Mexico for the last couple of years in the protected areas. So these people are also trained in the types of actions that are needed in the control of these plants. Some it involves herbicide use and some of it just is simply removing the trees. So they are quite familiar with the types of strategies we’re going to be using in these projects.
In addition the plan involves re-vegetating the area with native species such as cottonwoods and desert willows.
Tomorrow—salt cedar eradication in the Panhandle.
That’s our show… made possible by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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