by Rick LoBello, Board Chair and co-founder
One of the questions we often get when talking to people about joining CDEC is what’s in it for me. Let me start off in answering that question by saying that the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition (CDEC) helps people value, appreciate and connect with our desert environment here in El Paso and other places in the Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona and northern Mexico. That said if people don’t value and appreciate the natural landscape where they live then chances are good that more of the desert will disappear resulting in all kinds of impacts on our quality of life. Check out my post entitled the Extinction of Experience to learn more.
There are all kinds of environmental organizations out there you can support, but here in El Paso and the surrounding desert eco-region CDEC is the only group focused on conservation of the Chihuahuan Desert on both sides of the border with Mexico where most of the desert is located and conservation challenges are great.
To help us expand our outreach and involve more people we are talking about organizing more educational opportunities for members. Currently members can sign up at different levels that include special membership incentives including a discount on registration at our upcoming Chihuahuan Desert Conference.
I am happy to report that this year we broke all of our records for attendance at the 21st Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta at the El Paso Zoo with near 1500 people attending. We want to thank everyone who participated and encourage other communities to join us. Thanks to the City of El Paso, we now celebrate the Chihuahuan Desert every year on the 4th Saturday of September.
As the new year approaches and temperatures change now is a good time to start planning Chihuahuan Desert adventures across the region. Our new Northern Chihuahuan Desert map that we give to our new members is a great source of information on where you can go with family and friends. If you are on your own keep in mind that the desert is not a place to get lost or hurt while hiking so always let someone know where you are going and when you will return.
If you have not subscribed to this blog you can subscribe for free with your email. If you are already a subscriber, please let other know about us. We all need to come together and built relationships with each other so that we can continue to enjoy this wonderful part of our world.
Photos by Rick LoBello
Feature – Board members (left to right) Kristina Flores and Dora Hernandez