Conservation of Shared Environments: Learning from the United States and Mexico

The United States and Mexico's shared environment extends far beyond the political line. For instance, it comprises the plant and animal species whose natural distributions extend deep into each nation along with the waters in rivers and aquifers that support ecosystem function far removed from the border. Conservation of Shared Environments presents a broad perspective on the ecological, social and political challenges of conserving biodiversity across the U.S.-Mexico border. Covering topics as diverse as wildlife and grassland preservation, water rights, ecosystem services, indigenous peoples, and the ecological consequences of border security, the contributors illustrate collaborative, transboundary efforts to overcome cross-border conservation challenges. This volume offers scientific analysis as well as insight for bridging gaps between researchers, policymakers, and the public.

About the Author :
Laura López-Hoffman is assistant professor at the School of Natural Resources and assistant research professor at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona. Previously, she was an NSF post-doctoral fellow at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México's Center for Ecosystem Studies. Her research focuses on the ecology and policy of managing transboundary systems, in particular those shared by the United States and Mexico. Emily McGovern is a researcher and editor at the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona. Her background includes work on cooperative projects between the Sonoran Institute and the National Park Service related to Sonoran Desert ecosystems and adaptive management. Her scholarly writing has addressed the politics, culture, media institutions, and water policies of the U.S.-Mexico border region, and analyzed the status and significance of global water initiatives. Robert G. Varady is deputy director of the University of Arizona's Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, where he is research professor of environmental policy. He also is adjunct professor of hydrology and water resources and of arid lands studies; and director of the French CNRS Joint International Unit (UMI) on Water, Environment and Public Policy. Varady has written on climate and water in the U.S.-Mexico border region, transboundary environmental policy, and global water initiatives. Karl W. Flessa is Professor and Head of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona. He studies the environmental consequences of water diversions on the Colorado River delta. Flessa has been president of the Paleontological Society, visiting professor at the Universidad Autónoma deBaja California and at Cornell University, and a visiting scientist at the Sonoran Institute.

Review :
"Political and natural boundaries generally do not coincide, leading to difficult policy and management dilemmas--and even conflicts--especially when international borders are involved. This pioneering book offers a comprehensive look at the challenges of conserving the interconnected ecosystems and migratory linkages shared by Mexico and the United States. The authors propose path-breaking approaches to overcome these challenges, including the use of the ecosystem service framework. The lessons that emerge from this book are applicable globally." --Harold Mooney, Professor of Environmental Biology, Stanford University, winner of the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement and co-chair of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment's assessment panel.