In a recent episode of the radio show Conexión Innovadora, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve team member Ana Xochilt-Eguiarte joined hosts Karla Meraz and Hernando Durán to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the Tijuana River watershed.
The conversation highlighted the watershed as a shared binational system, where the environment does not recognize political borders and actions on one side directly affect communities and ecosystems on the other. Ana focused on the three primary environmental challenges affecting the watershed: solid waste, sediment, and water quality. She also described how the Reserve works collaboratively with partners in Mexico to address these shared issues through science, outreach, and binational cooperation.
The discussion emphasized that protecting the Tijuana River watershed depends on strong partnerships among communities, scientists, government agencies, organizations, and residents on both sides of the border. Ana also highlighted successful collaborative initiatives, including the Marine Debris Leadership Academy and the Marine Debris Leadership Coalition, which bring together diverse stakeholders to strengthen relationships, build shared understanding, and advance long-term watershed solutions.
Listen to the full conversation to learn more about the Tijuana River watershed, the challenges it faces, and the collaborative efforts underway to protect this unique coastal ecosystem.