Activists in Arizona are protesting the construction of President Trump’s border wall, which would require cutting down an ancient Fremont cottonwood tree estimated to be 200 to 250 years old. On Wednesday, a demonstrator was arrested for trespassing during the protest.

Russ McSpadden, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated, “Destroying these ancient cottonwoods is a death sentence for an entire ecosystem.” He emphasized that these trees have survived centuries and support diverse wildlife through floods and droughts, but face destruction due to the border wall project.

Located in the San Rafael Valley, one of North America’s most biologically rich landscapes, the cottonwood’s deep roots tap underground water tables, consuming up to 200 gallons of water daily. This water use attracts various species including jaguars, ocelots, black bears, pronghorn, and hundreds of bird species. Jaguars, noted as “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List, are rarely seen in Arizona and Mexico.

McSpadden urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to conduct comprehensive biological and cultural resource surveys to identify sensitive resources and prevent further destruction. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, McSpadden wrote, “The ancient cottonwoods of Lochiel cannot be replaced once they are destroyed.”