The Board is an independent federal advisory committee that develops recommendations to the president on U.S. - Mexico border environment and infrastructure issues. The report, “Ecological Restoration in the U.S. - Mexico Border Region,” was accepted by CEQ on behalf of President Obama.

“The rapid population growth of the region and current environmental conditions in the arid borderlands means we need to build even further on the excellent binational, U.S. federal, Tribal, state and local efforts to resolve environmental degradation,” said Board Chairman Diane Austin. “A more comprehensive approach to ecological restoration throughout the border region will incorporate new, pragmatic initiatives that improve coordination among U.S. agencies and activate engagement among local, state, Tribal and national collaborators on both sides of the international border.”

The report recommends specific federal actions to develop a more comprehensive approach to ecological restoration in the border region. These include:

• Incorporating low-impact infrastructure design and supporting conservation efforts to avoid resource damage;

• Promoting existing federal ecological restoration programs and projects;

• Actively engaging local, state, Tribal and Mexican government partners; and

• Addressing irrigation, wastewater, and other flow management issues involving national and binational waters.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency manages the Board’s activities. Board members include representatives from federal government departments and agencies; state, local and tribal governments in the border region; and community development, academic, health, environmental and other non-governmental organizations.