Posts about #keepbigbendwild

Photo ©Rebecca L. Latson

"I stand with the Keep Big Bend Wild coalition"

I stand with the Keep Big Bend Wild coalition in their mission to secure official Wilderness designation for Big Bend National Park's untouched backcountry. This fight isn't new—the National Park Service first championed it in 1974, during my tenure as Director, and reaffirmed the call in 1978. Now, it's time for Congress to act. By enshrining permanent, statutory protection, we can ensure Big Bend’s breathtaking landscapes remain shielded from policy shifts or development threats. It's heartening to see the backing of former NPS Directors, united in our commitment to safeguarding America's wilderness legacy so future generations can continue to embrace its solitude, beauty, and ecological richness."

~ Ronald H. Walker, NPS Director 1973-1975

National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler | Wilderness Lost

Across the United States, from Alaska to Puerto Rico, there are about 112 million acres of officially designated wilderness. That amounts to about 5 percent of the country’s land[…]

Big Bend Entrance Sign. NPS File photo.

National Parks Traveler | Congressional Democrats Express Opposition To Waivers Issued For Big Bend Border Wall

In a letter sent to Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin on June 16, Congressional Democrats expressed strong opposition to the agency’s recent decision to issue waivers[…]

Homeland Security Secretary Mullin is being urged to scale back construction plans that could lead to "unaccountable destruction" of Big Bend National Park/Rebecca Latson file.

National Parks Traveler | Former Big Bend National Park Officials Urge Homeland Security Secretary Not To Allow “Wholesale And Unaccountable Destruction” Of The Park

Former Big Bend National Park officials, whose first letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin asking that he not waive environmental regulations to allow construction of a border wall[…]

The Rio Grande, in the Santa Elena canyon on 11 April 2026 in Big Bend national park, Texas. Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images

The Guardian | ‘It’s massive destruction’: outcry in Texas over waivers to allow border wall in Big Bend national park

The Trump administration has waived a slew of environmental and historical preservation laws that would allow it to build a towering border wall that cuts through Big Bend national[…]

A lawsuit against DHS has been amended to challenge the waiver of dozens of environmental laws to make way for a border wall in Big Bend / Rebecca Latson.

National Parks Traveler | Groups Amend Lawsuit To Challenge Waiver Of Environmental Laws For Big Bend Border Wall

On Tuesday the Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of environmental laws to authorize construction of border barriers and roads through Big Bend, marking the first time in U.S. history that the[…]

Desert landscape. Shutterstock photo.

The Travel | U.S. Government Confirms 17 Miles Of Metal Barriers At Big Bend National Park

On Tuesday, June 9, the Trump administration confirmed it will build 17 miles of metal barriers that will pass through Texas's Big Bend National Park. The announcement came a day[…]

The National Park Service has lost all authority through federal laws and regulations to protect Big Bend National Park from construction of a border wall/Rebecca Latson file.

National Parks Traveler | The Emasculation Of The National Park Service

With the stroke of his pen, or a few taps on his keyboard, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin emasculated the National Park Service. By waiving a long list of environmental[…]

Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park

Our Public Lands and Waters | Feds Waive 31 Environmental and Resource Protection Laws to Blast Barriers and Bulldoze Roads in Big Bend National Park

After many, many months of inconsistent messaging, a complete lack of communication, and massive public confusion about Homeland Security’s plans for a border wall in Big Bend National Park[…]

Big Bend National Park entry sign

Marfa Public Radio | Former Big Bend National Park superintendents express ‘grave concerns’ about Trump administration’s border plans

Article Updated - Six former superintendents of Big Bend National Park are expressing “grave concerns” with the Trump administration’s plan for new border barriers, roads and surveillance technology in[…]

Construction crews work on a new section of the border wall between Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Jan. 20. (Anadolu/Getty Images)

Washington Post | Spike in border wall spending goes mostly to 2 firms with GOP, White House ties

The Trump administration has sharply accelerated spending on border wall construction, issuing billion-dollar contracts that are the largest in the project’s history and potentially putting the president on track[…]

Support Keep Big Bend Wild

Click this button to add your name to the growing list of individuals, businesses, and organizations supporting a wilderness designation for the undeveloped lands of Big Bend National Park.

If you would also be willing to help support Keep Big Bend Wild financially please click Donate. 

Every contribution helps defray the cost of our volunteers to produce materials and travel to meetings to build awareness and strengthen our coalition. 

Contributions supporting Keep Big Bend Wild are managed by the El Paso Community Foundation and are tax deductible as allowed by law.

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Images © Rebecca Latson.

Keep Big Bend Wild
P.O. Box 66
Big Bend National Park, TX, 79834