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Posted: 10/28/21

TAMIU TCBEED Participates in Binational Event Exploring Conservation, Hunting Impact on Planet

 

Dr. Daniel Covarrubias
Dr. Daniel Covarrubias  

Texas A&M International University’s Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development (TAMIU TCBEED) recently participated in a binational event exploring the impacts of conservation and hunting on the planet and the economy.

Dr. Daniel Covarrubias, TCBEED director, represented TAMIU and the TCBEED as a co-moderator at EarthX's "Half-Earth Day" U.S.-México Hunting and Conservation Forum, held recently in Dallas.

EarthX is an international, nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to educating and inspiring people and organizations to act towards a more sustainable future worldwide. Its mission is to inspire and energize the global community in ways that help create a sustainable world for all living things as well as a better, cleaner, healthier world for future generations.

"The event served as an opportunity to debate and highlight the positive impacts that conservation and hunting have on the sustainability of the planet and the economic drivers they represent," Dr. Covarrubias said, "During the event, a U.S.-México Binational Wildlife Conservation Proclamation Agreement was signed by delegates from both the U.S. and México for the greater good of the planet."

More than 200 attendees from Texas, the United States, and México participated in the international forum. They exchanged thoughts and ideas on hunting, conservation, hunter education, private land ownership, and the economic and social impacts that these have on communities.

"During these intense two days of activities, we all learned the importance that private landowners and hunters represent for extending wildlife populations and habitats, as well as the pivotal role that conservation and hunting have on the binational economies of the United States and México," stated Covarrubias.

Covarrubias was invited to participate by Trammel Crow, EarthX founder, and Marcela Ronquillo, director of Earth Latin America. Along with his co-moderator, Ross Melinchuk, EarthX's director of conservation, other panel and debate session participants included  David Bernhardt, the 53rd Secretary of the Department of the Interior; Mario Albert Canales Najjar, president, Mexican Hunting Federation (FEMECA), and Dr. Karen Waldrop, chief conservation officer for Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

Others included Trinidad Benavides García, president of the National Association of Diversified Wildlife Breeders; Mark Rey, executive in residence for the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability at Michigan State University; Justin Dreibelbis, chief executive officer for the Texas Wildlife Association; Eduardo Carrera González, chief executive officer for Ducks Unlimited de México, A. C., and John Silovsky, Wildlife Division director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Covarrubias stated that having been invited to co-moderate at the forum affirms TAMIU's and TCBEED's continued importance in the binational community.

"I want to thank Trammel Crow, Marcela Ronquillo, and all of the EarthX team for inviting us to participate in these important events. TAMIU and the Texas Center have much to offer to the binational communities, and they will always have a partner in research and support of continuous socio-economic development,” he said.

Located in TAMIU's Anthony J. and Georgia A. Pellegrino Hall, the TCBEED provides leadership and support to South Texas border communities in their economic development efforts, including activities in the areas of business development, education, healthcare, public administration, and the environment.

For more information, please contact Covarrubias at 956.326.2620, email dcova@tamiu.edu or visit http://texascenter.tamiu.edu/

 

Participans in EarthX's "Half-Earth Day" U.S.-México Hunting and Conservation Forum gathered recently in Dallas.