Consortium Contact
SCERP Directorate

5500 Campanile Drive, AL 377
San Diego   CA
92182-6039
619-594-5423
scerp@projects.sdsu.edu

Border Institute IX
September 24-26, 2007

[ Papers :: Agenda (download) :: Border Institute Summary ]

What: Border Institute IX (BI-IX) “Security, Development, and the Environment in the Binational U.S.-Mexican Border Region”, presented by the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de México (SEMARNAT), the Border Trade Alliance, and the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

When: September 24-26, 2007

Where: -The Hotel Encanto at Las Cruces, New Mexico is the meeting venue. Spouses and/or partners are welcome. Although participants will be busy with the work of the Institute, there will be evening social functions to which guests are invited. The Hotel Encanto at Las Cruces also has many excellent activities and facilities.

Why: The immediate objective of BI-IX is to answer the following questions:

·        How can security concerns at the border be harmonized with the transborder region’s need for environmental quality and sustainable development?

·        How can SCERP study, understand, and disseminate information about the binational environmental, ecological, health, and other consequences (both positive and negative, but especially transboundary) of the current and planned security activities and infrastructure?

·        Furthermore, what remedial and potentially reprioritizing policies should be recommended that will respect and accommodate the security context and the environmental and developmental needs of the U.S-Mexican binational border region?

How: BI-IX will convene a diverse group of stakeholders from the border region, including: members and staff from federal, tribal, state, and local governments; border subject experts and business representatives; decision-makers, leaders, and planners from border communities; and others. Border Institute IX will be limited to 120 participants to facilitate the active participation by all those present. Simultaneous interpretation services will be provided.  A tour of the border’s security infrastructure is planned.

History: The meeting is the ninth in an ongoing popular and successful series of think tank-style policy conferences:

• BI-I identified economic and demographic trends and addressed the impacts of these trends on sustainability
• BI-II integrated natural capitalism and green accounting in determining new financing mechanisms for environmental infrastructure for the border region
• BI-III sparked an informed discussion about binational cooperation for secure and sustainable energy
• BI-IV explored the steps necessary for development of an integrated binational water planning effort
• BI-V developed binational indicators of environmental quality, human health, and program success
• BI-VI highlighted the complexity and importance of preserving ecosystem services across the border
• BI-VII identified optimal returns on investments from various air quality management strategies.
• BI-VIII identified transboundary management strategies for the border region’s watersheds.
• BI-IX was held in 2007 and addressed the interwoven concerns of security, development, and environment. .

Abstracts of papers and executive summaries from these past Institutes, as well as a list of published Institute proceedings, are available on the SCERP website, www.scerp.org.  Additionally, agendas and papers for this year’s Institute will be posted there for your edification prior to the meeting.

Additional Information: We request that all participants commit to attending the entire workshop. The outcome and success of the meetings will depend on the active participation and ideas of the attendees. To that end, several weeks before the meeting, participants will also be provided with a CD and/or website address that will offer background briefing materials. At BI-IX, not only will each panel have adequate time allotted for discussion, but the final portion of the program will divide the participants into small working groups to develop specific ideas and recommendations.

The workshop registration fee is only $200 per person and includes all the following:

• all meals,
• a reception,
• an afternoon tour of relevant border areas in Southern New Mexico, far west Texas and northern Chihuahua.

Americans don't need a passport for the Mexican portion of the tour or to return to the U.S.; however, some proof of nationality may be required. Please check with the nearest Mexican Consulate about the requisites to enter Mexico. A list of Consulates can be found clicking here.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you will attend BI-IX. Conference RSVP can be done online clicking here and questions about meeting arrangements should be addressed to Rick Van Schoik at telephone (619) 594–0856, fax (619) 594–0752, or e-mail scerp@mail.sdsu.edu.  Questions about the content of the conference program should also be addressed to Rick Van Schoik.

Some travel and lodging support is available for Institute participants who do not have institutional support. Please contact Rick Van Schoik regarding this assistance.

We look forward to seeing you in Las Cruces.

Rick Van Schoik
Managing Director, SCERP