By Natasha Norman and Janae’ Reneaud Field
As we draw closer to the two-year anniversary of the Castner Range National Monument (CRNM) designation in El Paso, Texas, we find ourselves reflecting on what this achievement means for the nation and to those of us who call the borderland home.
The protection of over 6,600 acres of desert landscape represents a significant victory for conservation, but it also carries deeper meaning for El Paso residents.
This is seen in the decades of blooming Mexican gold poppies. The flowers blanket the eastern slopes of the Franklin Mountains annually, creating a popular scenic view and have become part of our community’s heritage.
CRNM highlights our ability as a nation and community to preserve both natural wonders and cultural histories spanning centuries of Indigenous, Mexican and American existence. It acknowledges that our desert ecosystem — with its resilient plant life — is worthy of national recognition and protection for future generations.
For many El Paso residents, the monument tells a story of connection — to the land, history and to each other.
In the committed collaboration with Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the El Paso Community Foundation, the Frontera Land Alliance, Moses Borjas, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, El Paso/Hispanic Access Foundation, and many other regional and national partners, we witnessed how we all work together for future generations.
The national monument also has a significant impact on environmental education, flood control and community pride while also providing a direct connection to the Chihuahuan Desert.
In short, CRNM represents far more than the permanent protection and preservation of its unique biological and scientific values. It embodies the authentic cultural and historical foundations that define our Borderlands and surrounding regions.
To learn more about CRNM, visit the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, where visitors can walk the short CRNM trail and pick up information and educational materials on El Paso’s national monument.
Information: El Paso Museum of Archeology
Natasha Norman is communications manager at Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project. Janae’ Reneaud Field is executive director of The Frontera Land Alliance.
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