Activists Rally to Protect “Grandmother Cottonwood” in Lochiel, AZ
As shared in a recent newsletter, ongoing border wall construction has sparked an environmental protest in the San Rafael Valley, where activists and local residents have gathered around — and even atop — a centuries‑old cottonwood tree in an effort to prevent its removal. Three large cottonwoods have already been cut down as part of the project.
The protest began in late July in Lochiel, a small community on the U.S.–Mexico border adjacent to Sonora. Activists refer to the remaining tree as the “grandmother cottonwood,” estimating its age between 100 and 200 years. Standing just steps from the border wall, the tree has become a symbol of the region’s ecological and cultural heritage, as well as the community’s concern about the impacts of construction in this sensitive desert valley.
Click here to read the August 25 Calo’ News Arizona report and learn more about the ongoing efforts in Lochiel.
Click here for information from the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter about the Cottonwoods that were bulldozed by Department of Homeland Security’s Contractors Fisher Sand and Gravel on July 27th.
LDA salutes the efforts of everyone involved in saving this historic tree. Your actions make a meaningful difference.
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