Border-wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in Lochiel, Arizona. Estimated to have been 200 to 250 years old, the trees stood in the path of two proposed 30-foot walls through the San Rafael Valley.

One landmark cottonwood remains. 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 at the former Lochiel port of entry. She describes the loss of the cottonwoods, the wildlife that depended upon them, and the apparent absence of meaningful environmental monitoring as the trees came down. She also explains why organizers are demanding protection for the surviving tree and an end to plans for a secondary wall through the community.

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

Key Takeaways

• Contractors destroyed three of Lochiel’s four landmark cottonwoods to make way for border-wall construction.
• Activists are maintaining a tree sit in the remaining cottonwood and demanding that it be spared.
• Organizers also want the proposed secondary wall through Lochiel 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 tree removal.
• Organizers are combining direct action with art, music, ceremony and public gatherings.
• Wall construction threatens wildlife movement, 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 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.”

About Kate Scott

Kate Scott is a southern Arizona organizer and a co-founder of the Madrean Archipelago Wildlife Center. Her work includes community organizing and direct action to protect the San Rafael Valley and the wildlife, cultural resources and cross-border relationships threatened by border-wall construction.

Resources

• Rally for the Valley on Instagram
• Support the Lochiel tree sit and campaign
• The Guardian: Protesters occupy a 200-year-old border cottonwood

Episode image modified from a photograph by the Center for Biological Diversity.