Project Title: Border Woodland Recovery Project

SCERP Project Number: NR98-1

Principal Investigator: Richard Gordon

Task Manager's affiliation: Arizona State University

Goal: This project is intended to demonstrate the potential for environmental remediation and significant local economic benefits through reforestation and revegetation of abandoned farm lands rendered unusable by salt buildup from highly saline irrigation water from the lower Colorado River. The project site is in the Mexican State of Baja California Norte. The project will demonstrate revegetation using useful, salt-tolerant plants to restore habitat and provide food and fodder. These plants may also remove salt from the soil and help foster a nursery industry to supply desert and salt-tolerant plants in short supply in Mexico. By developing sustainable reforestation, the project has the long-term potential to develop local hardwood, ecotourism, and hunting industries. The research team will work with the Department of Forestry of the State of Baja California Norte (Baja-N) to promote:

* Long-term, environmentally sustainable reforestation of land now unusable due to salinization caused by salt build-up in the soil from saline Colorado river irrigation water.

* Economically sustainable restoration of historic mesquite stands and associated understory to reestablish wildlife habitat for wildlife, ecotourism, and hunting, create a new sustainable wood products industry, and create tree and other plant nurseries in the area.

* Participation of local residents to encourage emulation on their properties.

To accomplish the project's goals, detailed action plans have been established with officials of the State of Baja-N, the family owners of the property, and neighboring communities. Plans call for establishing measurable goals for reforestation and habitat restoration and enlisting active participation of all interested persons. They are:

* Planting mesquite, related understory, and succulents with the ability to accumulate inorganic salts

* Measuring growth and survivorship of the plants in relation to the salinity of irrigation water and soil; and evaluate control by alternative measures to protect the plantings from resident goat and cattle herds.

* Designing and conducting training courses and workshops regarding protected area management, protected area planning, environmental education, legislation, and new conservation methods

This project addresses priority border problems, including the reversal of a long process of loss of farm income and natural habitat from salt accumulation in the soil. The project also emphasizes biodiversity and forest and soil conservation in order to foster long-term sustainable development.

Project is ongoing. Phase I was very successful and well received by large and small landowners.

Last updated 5/6/99