The Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta is the signature event of the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition and Franklin Mountains State Park. Last year nearly 800 people attended and with the 15th Annual Fiesta just two months way, we could break the 1000 mark. (See poster below) Behind the scenes, volunteers and park staff are making arrangements forContinueContinue reading “Countdown to the Fiesta – 9.28.19”
Monthly Archives: July 2019
CDEC renewal underway
by Rick LoBello, Chair With our 15th Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta just around the corner I am happy to report that the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition is experiencing an encouraging period of renewal. Our board is meeting monthly working on new smart goals and more people are signing up as members. Membership is now FREEContinueContinue reading “CDEC renewal underway”
Local leaders must act
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 toContinueContinue reading “Local leaders must act”
Only in the Chihuahuan Desert?
Chisos Katydid, Big Bend National Park. Photo copyright Rick LoBello We are working with educators at the El Paso Zoo on interactive educational materials about the Chihuahuan Desert. So far we have come up with the following list of animals and plants that we believe live naturally only in the Chihuahuan Desert eco-region.ContinueContinue reading “Only in the Chihuahuan Desert?”
Teaching Citizen Science in the Chihuahuan Desert
Every July, amateur and professional naturalists descend on the Chiricahua Desert Museum located on the border of New Mexico and Arizona. Their purpose: to observe and document as many living species in the area as possible over a 24-hour period. The annual Charlie W. Painter BioBlitz is an important tool to engage the public inContinueContinue reading “Teaching Citizen Science in the Chihuahuan Desert”
The elusive alligator lizard
Texas alligator lizard climbing an alligator juniper in Big Bend National Park. Photo By Rick LoBello by Rick LoBello Not everyone living in the northern Chihuahuan Desert is familiar with one of the coolest and least known lizards in our eco-region, the Texas alligator lizard. More people in West Texas have seen alligator junipers thanContinueContinue reading “The elusive alligator lizard”