LoBello Lectures Scheduled for Celebration of Our Mountains in November

Zoo Education Curator to present three "Celebration of Our Mountains" Presentations in November

Rick LoBello will speak on his vision to bring back the Mexican wolf to Texas, ongoing efforts to create a US Mexico International Park in the Big Bend area of Texas, and Conservation Challenges in El Paso.

Conservation Challenges in El PasoFriday, November 1, 7:00–8:30 p.m. 

Environmental concerns in El Paso include clean air and water, recycling, energy conservation, the protection of habitat for wildlife in the Franklin Mountains State Park and surrounding areas, and the availability of natural areas where kids growing up can readily connect with nature. Many of our environmental concerns are actively addressed by local government agencies and non-profit organizations, but not always at the level of effectiveness that many people would like to see. What can ordinary citizens do to make sure that all the community’s environmental concerns and issues are adequately addressed? During this 90-minute program, El Paso conservation educator and community organizer, Rick LoBello, will share his vision on how we can improve our community’s environmental outlook.  At the Westside Regional Command Center Community Room, 4801 Osborne Drive, El Paso.  RSVP and Contact: lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov or 915-521-1881.

Refreshments sponsored by the Bagel Shop and Starbucks.

The Howl of the Mexican WolfBringing back nature’s grand opera back to Texas – the howl of the Mexican wolf: An impossible dream?Friday, November 8, 7:00–8:30 p.m.

During the early 1990s, there was a movement in Texas led by the Mexican Wolf Coalition of Texas to bring back the Mexican wolf to portions of its former range in the Southwest and Mexico, including the Big Bend National Park area of Texas. What happened to the movement? Critically endangered Mexican wolves are on a slow road to recovery in Arizona and New Mexico. Will they ever return to Texas? Could wolves survive in the Franklin and Organ Mountains of El Paso and Las Cruces? During this 90-minute program, Rick LoBello, El Paso conservation educator and community organizer, will review the history of the Mexican wolf in Texas, what the Mexican Wolf Coalition of Texas accomplished during the 1990s and how a new grassroots effort to return the wolf to the wilds of Texas could return to the public’s radar screen in Texas.   At the Westside Regional Command Center Community Room, 4801 Osborne Drive, El Paso.  RSVP and Contact: lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov or 915-521-1881.

Refreshments sponsored by Albertson's 

Big Bend-Rio Bravo International ParkFriday, November 15, 7:00–8:30 p.m.

A giant US Mexico international park in the Big Bend would help both countries better address key issues such as protection of water and air quality, control of invasive species, and management of wildland fire.

The park would become a permanent monument and symbol of peace between the U.S. and Mexico, one that will celebrate the friendship between the two countries and be a meeting ground where the people of both countries and citizens from all parts of the world could come together to learn about each other's culture while coming to better understand the natural world that they all share.

Join others in the United States and Mexico in helping to create one of the largest and most significant protected wilderness areas in North America — the long proposed Big Bend-Rio Bravo International Park. Rick LoBello will review the history of the international park and suggest many different ways people can get involved in a new grass roots effort to establish the park in the Big Bend region of Texas and northern Mexico.  At the Westside Regional Command Center Community Room, 4801 Osborne Drive, El Paso.  RSVP and Contact: lobellorl@elpasotexas.gov or 915-521-1881. 

Refreshments sponsored by Holiday Inn at Sunland Park


All three programs will be presented at the Westside Regional Command Center Community Room, 4801 Osborne Drive, El Paso, Texas (Map) from 7:00am to 8:30am.   For more information write lobellorl@lelpasotexas.gov or call 915-521-1881. 

Events are part of the 2013 Celebration of Our Mountains.