COALITION FOR SONORAN DESERT PROTECTION

Operates the "Desert Fence Busters" program, which removes redundant and harmful barbed wire fences through seasonal events to improve wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, having removed nearly 100 miles of fencing in 2025 and over 65 miles previously.

Removes redundant and harmful barbed wire fencing in the Sonoran Desert through seasonal volunteer events; removed nearly 100 miles of fencing by 2025.

Removes redundant and harmful barbed wire fencing to improve wildlife movement and habitat connectivity; the program has removed nearly 100 miles of fencing since 2021 through seasonal volunteer events.

Facilitates the development of wildlife crossings (bridges and underpasses) on major roadways in Pima County to connect fragmented habitats and support safe wildlife movement.

Facilitates the construction of wildlife bridges and underpasses along major roadways in Pima County to maintain habitat connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Conducts on-the-ground habitat restoration at wildlife crossings, including invasive species removal, native plantings, clean-ups, and erosion control, particularly along Oracle Road.

Conducts on-the-ground restoration at wildlife crossing sites, including invasive species removal, native plantings, erosion control, and highway clean-ups, particularly along Oracle Road.

Conducts invasive species removal, including buffelgrass, and performs habitat restoration activities at wildlife crossings, which includes planting native habitat, highway clean-ups, and erosion control.

Conducts removal of invasive species such as buffelgrass to protect native ecosystems and restore habitat in the Sonoran Desert.

Conducts removal of invasive species such as buffelgrass to protect native habitat and biodiversity in the Sonoran Desert.

Creates accessible outdoor volunteer opportunities for various physical abilities, providing transportation and facilities, and offers fully remote volunteer opportunities, including surveying wildlife funnel fencing and assisting with fundraising mailings.

Creates accessible volunteer opportunities for people of various physical abilities, including transportation and facilities, and offers remote volunteering; also hosts in-person mailing parties for fundraising campaigns.

Creates accessible volunteer opportunities for people of various physical abilities, including transportation and facilities support, and offers fully remote roles; also hosts in-person mailing parties for fundraising campaigns.

Manages a network of wildlife cameras monitored monthly by trained volunteers ("Desert Monitors") and engages remote volunteers ("Desert Identifiers") to identify species from camera images, supporting research on wildlife movement.

Manages a network of wildlife cameras monitored monthly by trained volunteers ("Desert Monitors") and engages remote volunteers ("Desert Identifiers") to sort and identify species from camera images to inform conservation planning.

Engages in environmental advocacy to protect the biodiversity, habitat, and connectivity of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona, including strategic land-use planning, supporting the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, and advocating for State Trust Land reform.

Submits comments and recommendations to local government bodies (City of Tucson, Pinal County, Pima County) on proposed developments, ordinances, and general plans to ensure compliance with conservation plans and mitigate impacts on wildlife and habitat.

Engages in legal and public advocacy to ensure adequate environmental review for major infrastructure projects, including filing a lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration over Interstate 11 and securing a court-ordered reevaluation in 2025.

Submits public comments and recommendations on regional planning and resource management, including responses to the City of Tucson’s “Plan Tucson 2025” and support for a large water user ordinance in 2025.

Advances habitat preservation through advocacy for smart land-use planning, including support for Pima County’s Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan, engagement with developers on Conservation Lands System compliance, and advocacy for State Trust Land reform.

Works with developers and homebuilders to ensure compliance with Pima County’s Conservation Lands System and submits public comments on development proposals such as the La Osa Project and Project Blue to protect habitat and promote transparency.

Sued the Federal Highway Administration in April 2022 over inadequate environmental review for Interstate 11, resulting in a January 2025 court order requiring reevaluation and a new public comment period.

Actively opposes the construction of the Rosemont Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains due to its potential impacts on wildlife and habitat.

Advocates against the construction of the Rosemont Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains due to its potential impacts on wildlife and habitat.

Submits public comments and recommendations on development proposals and planning initiatives, including opposition to the La Osa Project, support for Tucson water use ordinances, and input on "Plan Tucson 2025" and Project Blue transparency.

Advances the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan as a foundational model for habitat conservation, including supporting Pima County’s Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan that protects 44 vulnerable, threatened, and endangered species.

Advocates for reform of State Trust Land management to conserve selected parcels for wildlife, riparian habitat, and public recreation.

Advocates for and facilitates the construction of wildlife crossings (bridges and underpasses) along Pima County’s major roadways to connect open spaces and improve wildlife movement corridors, including advocating for and achieving court orders for environmental reviews related to Interstate 11.

Advocates for the implementation of wildlife crossings in the Sonoran Desert region to improve habitat connectivity and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Operates a Community Science program that engages volunteers in studying animal movement to inform wildlife linkages and crossings, including managing "Desert Monitors" for wildlife camera checks and "Desert Identifiers" for sorting camera photos.

Operates community science initiatives including wildlife camera monitoring, roadkill surveys, and species data collection to study animal movement and inform wildlife linkage planning and crossing placement.

Contributes wildlife camera data to national research efforts such as SNAPSHOT USA, including documented observations like a Gila monster in Oro Valley in 2022.

Contributes wildlife camera data, including rare species observations like the Gila monster, to national research initiatives such as SNAPSHOT USA.

Conducts roadkill surveys by car to collect data via smartphone to identify wildlife crossing points and inform the placement of wildlife crossings and funnel fencing, and performs wildlife camera monitoring to collect data on species presence, distribution, movement, and crossing structure usage.

Operates a Community Science program using wildlife camera data to study animal movement patterns and inform the design of wildlife linkages and crossings, including in the Tucson-Tortolita Wildlife Linkage.

Conducts roadkill surveys by car using smartphone data collection to identify high-risk wildlife crossing points and inform placement of crossings and funnel fencing; new surveys launched in Spring 2025.

Provides educational resources and programming about the Sonoran Desert, including a 4th-grade curriculum ("Critter Cam for Kids"), coloring pages, and community science education.

Provides education related to the Sonoran Desert, including educational resources like coloring pages and a 4th-grade curriculum called "Critter Cam for Kids."

Provides educational resources and programming, including a 4th-grade curriculum called “Critter Cam for Kids,” coloring pages, and public education about the Sonoran Desert.

Maintains high organizational standards through a platinum transparency rating with Candid/Guidestar and a four-star Charity Navigator rating; supports staff with competitive benefits, remote work, and inclusive hiring practices.

Maintains high organizational standards through a platinum transparency rating with Candid/Guidestar and a four-star Charity Navigator rating; supports staff through competitive compensation, remote work options, comprehensive benefits, and equitable hiring practices.