We live in the Chihuahuan Desert

Big Bend National Park preserves and protects the largest area of Chihuahuan Desert in North America.

by Rick LoBello

Not everyone you talk to knows that here in El Paso we live in the Chihuahuan Desert. If you have looked over the graphics when you visited the Chihuahuan Desert exhibit at the Zoo, you already know that, but most people you talk to know very little about this ecoregion where we live.

The Coahuilan box turtle is special because it is the only fully aquatic box turtle species, spending about 90% of its time in water, and is endemic to the highly sensitive and restricted wetland area of the Cuatro Ciengas Basin of Coahuila, Mexico.  As a vulnerable and endangered species, it is critically threatened by habitat loss from agriculture and climate change, as well as the illegal pet trade.

Why is it important that we know and understand this amazing part of the world?

Back in the days when Steve Marshall was the Zoo Director and the senior team met to work on the 2012 Master Plan; I proposed that we feature the desert region in our big backyard as part of our plans for new exhibits. The well-known Sonoran Desert in Arizona had its own Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, why not a Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit in El Paso? Many people we talked to said that there is nothing out there so why care about it. We disagreed and felt that one of the reasons why so much of the desert was being developed had much to do with the very fact that so many felt that it had little value. The Chihuahuan Desert is the biggest desert region in North America covering over 250,000 square miles across Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. It is characterized by high altitudes, cool winters, and hot summers, supporting a diverse array of plant and animal life, including over 400 species of cactus.   It’s survival is our survival. A healthy intact ecoregion helps to protect our natural environment important to clean air, the water cycle, recreational opportunities and many ecological services. In living up to our mission we believe that its important for people to know and understand the landscape where they live especially in light of the fact that so much of world is being adversely impacted by expanding development. After years of planning our new Chihuahuan Desert exhibit opened in 2019.

In continuing our education and conservation efforts this past weekend the Zoo hosted the 21st Annual Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta. The fiesta helps our community better understand and celebrate our desert and this year over 20 education partners joined us to help our community honor and protect this treasured landscape.

The Zoo is working to increase its conservation impact and not only offers educational programs and events but also curriculum-based programs for school groups. One of our most popular programs is entitled Animals of the Chihuahuan Desert. School groups can sign up for this program at the Zoo or offsite. One of our most important events is the Chihuahuan Desert Conference, first organized by the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition in 2010. The Zoo played a big role in supporting El Paso’s first Chihuahuan Desert Conference and over the past few years sponsored and hosted Chihuahuan Desert Conferences in 2019 and 2023. The next one is scheduled November 4-6, 2026, and again will be hosted here at the Zoo. The conference brings together researchers and conservation advocates from across the Chihuahuan Desert to help facilitate collaboration in the region and learn of new programs that have been completed or are underway.

To learn more about and get involved with others who are helping to educate our community and help protect this amazing Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, connect with and support our education partner the Chihuahuan Desert Education Coalition.