In this episode of the mixed-media storytelling project Atascosa Borderlands, Mandy Culbertson examines the North American Model of Conservation and its impact on wildlife management in Arizona and beyond. She explains how hunting licenses and excise taxes, while historically key to funding state wildlife agencies, now create perverse incentives that prioritize game species over holistic ecosystem health. The conversation delves into the public trust doctrine as a transformative framework, and gives a fresh perspective on wildlife funding and conservation priorities. Mandy also explores the challenges facing modern conservation, from climate change to habitat loss, and the need to rethink outdated models to ensure the survival of species like the Coues deer in the Sonoran Borderlands.
