Marker 01

Border-wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in the tiny community of Lochiel, Arizona. The trees, estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, stood within the path of two proposed 30-foot border walls through the San Rafael Valley. One landmark cottonwood remains—and activists have occupied it in what may be the first tree sit organized against border-wall construction.

Kate Scott joins Chris Clarke from the Casita de la Esperanza, the activists’ base in the former Lochiel port of entry. She describes the destruction of the cottonwoods, the birds and other wildlife that depended upon them, and concerns that construction continued despite evidence of active nests. She also explains why activists are demanding that the remaining tree be spared and the proposed secondary wall be stopped.

The fight is about more than one tree. For Scott and her fellow organizers, the surviving cottonwood represents the ecological richness, cultural history, and cross-border relationships threatened by wall construction throughout the Arizona–Sonora borderlands.

Episode image modified from a photo by the Center for Biological Diversity

Key Takeaways
Contractors destroyed three of Lochiel’s four landmark cottonwoods to clear space for border-wall construction.
Activists are occupying the remaining tree and calling for the proposed secondary wall through Lochiel to be abandoned.
The cottonwoods provided habitat for barn owls, flickers, kingbirds, insects, and other wildlife; Scott also reports hearing a threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.
Scott says Customs and Border Protection had promised protections for active bird nests, but activists saw no meaningful environmental monitoring during the removal.
Organizers are using direct action alongside art, music, ceremony, and public gatherings to defend the San Rafael Valley.
The wall threatens not only wildlife movement but also a historic border community, neighboring ranchland in Sonora, and potentially significant archaeological resources.

Notable Quotes
“We do not want a double wall through this historic community.”
“Each one [of the cottonwoods is] unique—a universe in and of itself.”
“This is not a crossing point. This is a wildlife migratory corridor.”
“We’re not taking this anymore. We’re making our stand here.”
“Don’t obey in advance.”

Resources

Rally for the Valley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rallyforthevalley/

GiveButter Donation Link: https://givebutter.com/stop-destruction-in-lochiel-oxsxdp

Border-wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in the tiny community of Lochiel, Arizona. The trees, estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, stood within the path of two proposed 30-foot border walls through the San Rafael Valley. One landmark cottonwood remains&mdash;and activists have occupied it in what may be the first tree sit organized against border-wall construction.
Kate Scott joins Chris Clarke from the Casita de la Esperanza, the activists&rsquo; base in the former Lochiel port of entry. She describes the destruction of the cottonwoods, the birds and other wildlife that depended upon them, and concerns that construction continued despite evidence of active nests. She also explains why activists are demanding that the remaining tree be spared and the proposed secondary wall be stopped.
The fight is about more than one tree. For Scott and her fellow organizers, the surviving cottonwood represents the ecological richness, cultural history, and cross-border relationships threatened by wall construction throughout the Arizona&ndash;Sonora borderlands.
Episode image modified from a photo by the Center for Biological Diversity
Key Takeaways
<ul data-start="3780" data-end="4642">
<li data-section-id="1vg5ndm" data-start="3780" data-end="3893">Contractors destroyed three of Lochiel&rsquo;s four landmark cottonwoods to clear space for border-wall construction.</li>
<li data-section-id="hr7vys" data-start="3894" data-end="4015">Activists are occupying the remaining tree and calling for the proposed secondary wall through Lochiel to be abandoned.</li>
<li data-section-id="o8nwbf" data-start="4016" data-end="4177">The cottonwoods provided habitat for barn owls, flickers, kingbirds, insects, and other wildlife; Scott also reports hearing a threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.</li>
<li data-section-id="gdxv01" data-start="4178" data-end="4345">Scott says Customs and Border Protection had promised protections for active bird nests, but activists saw no meaningful environmental monitoring during the removal.</li>
<li data-section-id="xxlgod" data-start="4346" data-end="4469">Organizers are using direct action alongside art, music, ceremony, and public gatherings to defend the San Rafael Valley.</li>
<li data-section-id="1hja2yo" data-start="4470" data-end="4642">The wall threatens not only wildlife movement but also a historic border community, neighboring ranchland in Sonora, and potentially significant archaeological resources.</li>
</ul>
Notable Quotes
<ol data-start="4664" data-end="4971">
<li data-section-id="650umg" data-start="4664" data-end="4730">&ldquo;We do not want a double wall through this historic community.&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="1dqr8u3" data-start="4731" data-end="4804">&ldquo;Each one [of the cottonwoods is] unique&mdash;a universe in and of itself.&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="1wb2jwy" data-start="4805" data-end="4878">&ldquo;This is not a crossing point. This is a wildlife migratory corridor.&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="1k5uocp" data-start="4879" data-end="4943">&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not taking this anymore. We&rsquo;re making our stand here.&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="kec2ol" data-start="4944" data-end="4971">&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t obey in advance.&rdquo;</li>
</ol>
Resources
Rally for the Valley Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rallyforthevalley/">https://www.instagram.com/rallyforthevalley/</a>
GiveButter Donation Link: <a href="https://givebutter.com/stop-destruction-in-lochiel-oxsxdp">https://givebutter.com/stop-destruction-in-lochiel-oxsxdp</a>

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.

Vital info on protecting our irrepaceable deserts

90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

90 Miles from Needles is a podcast about the environment, landscapes, and people of the American deserts—the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin and beyond. Host Chris Clarke explores desert ecology, wildlife, public lands, history, culture, road trips, conservation and the people working to protect these landscapes.

90 Miles from Needles is a podcast about the environment, landscapes, and people of the American deserts&mdash;the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin and beyond. Host Chris Clarke explores desert ecology, wildlife, public lands, history, culture, road trips, conservation and the people working to protect these landscapes.

Border wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in Lochiel, Arizona, to clear the way for two parallel 30-foot walls through the San Rafael Valley. One tree remains—and activists have established what may be the first tree sit opposing border wall construction.  Kate Scott, co-founder of the Madrean Archipelago Wildlife Center, joins Chris Clarke from the protest camp at Lochiel. She describes the ecological and cultural importance of the cottonwoods, concerns about nesting migratory birds and archaeological resources, and the campaign to protect the surviving tree and prevent construction of the second wall.  Keywords: 