World Wildlife Fund

Since 1997, WWF has played a pivotal role in helping experts identify threats to biodiversity and crafting solutions to halt its loss. Our Chihuahuan Desert program has funded scientific research to better understand ecoregion conservation and inform our efforts to protect the Chihuahuan Desert. WWF's biological assessment contains a wealth of information on the characteristics of the Chihuahuan Desert and is an indispensable guide to its conservation priorities. 

A dense stand of cacti, Chihuahuan Desert
© WWF-Canon /Edward PARKER

• The Rio Grande is among the world's top ten rivers at risk. WWF's World's Top 10 Rivers at Risk report (PDF, 1.76MB), names the world's rivers that are facing widespread degradation while millions of people depend on them for survival.
• Chihuahuan Desert snapshot (PDF, 2MB)
• Ecoregion Based Conservation in the Chihuahuan Desert: A Biological Assessment 2000. (PDF, 4.7M)
• The Human Population and Biodiversity of the Chihuahua Ecoregion. 1998 (PDF, 1.6M)
• Historic Research: WWF commissioned a report describing the historic ecological features of the Rio Grande in the Chihuahuan Desert. (PDF, 4.93M)

 Species

• Genetic Variation of the Gammarus Pecos Species Complex (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in the Chihuahuan Desert Springs (PDF, 166k)
• Illegal Trade (PDF, 461k): TRAFFIC recently completed a study on the native and endemic cacti most commonly found on legal and illegal trade and markets.

Agriculture

Almost 80 percent of Rio Grande water is used for agricultural purposes. WWF is working with farmers to facilitate transfer of water to the environment and promote conservation techniques that will ultimately benefit the plants and animals that depend on this great river.

• Agriculture (PDF, 3.28M)
• Goat Grazing (PDF, 574k)
• History of Livestock Industry in the Chihuahuan Desert (PDF, 363k)
• Livestock Grazing in the Chihuahuan Desert (1998) (PDF, 210k)

Land and water use management

• Water Use and Water Management Policy in the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion (1998) (PDF, 696k)
• Improving New Mexico's Water Management (PDF, 873k)
• Land Use and Land Tenure Change in the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion (1998) (PDF, 302k)

Fresh water

• Historic Reconstruction of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Floodplain and Channel (2000) (PDF, 4.9M)
• Water for River Restoration: Potential for Collaboration between Agriculture and Environmental Water Users in the Rio Grande Project Area. (PDF, 3.3M)
• User Fee on Water: WWF is working with New Mexico State legislators and water users to conserve water by assessing a fee on water use. (PDF, 873k)

 Binational transboundary conservation

• Protecting Biodiversity in the Chihuahuan Desert Transboundary Corridor: A Strategy for Binational Collaborative Management (2002) (PDF, 986k)

 Education 

• Environmental Education Resources Guide: WWF supported the creation of the Environmental Protections Agency's guide to environmental education resources along the United States/Mexico border.

• Have You Seen It?: WWF created a full color poster (PDF, 5.3M) to help students identify some of the plants and animals that live along the Rio Grande in the Chihuahuan Desert. For a hard copy of the poster, contact our New Mexico office.

• The Fish of Cuatrocienegas: To increase awareness of wildlife in the Cuatrocienegas region of Mexico, WWF developed a Guide to the Fish of Cuatrocienegas (PDF, 2.5M) and a Cuatrocienegas Fish Coloring Book (PDF, 422k).