Huachuca Riparian Inventory
The Landscape Restoration Program is dedicated to restoration of native species, healthy and diverse ecosystems, and natural evolutionary processes in the Sky Island region. We work in cooperation with government agencies and landowners to decrease habitat fragmentation and restore watersheds. We also work to promote the return of natural fire regimes to restore healthy ecosystems, promote policy and action aimed at reducing the introduction and spread of non-native species, engage in on-the-ground restoration activities in important habitats, and promote reintroduction of extirpated (locally extinct) wildlife and plants.
In turn we hope our activities will increase public understanding and appreciation of the Sky Island region and develop a land ethic and sense of place among the region's residents to support our broader vision for conservation, enhance education and public outreach activities, including greater collaboration with environmental educators and universities, and increase the size and diversity of our volunteer base.
Riparian Restoration
The Riparian Restoration Program was initiated in 2004 to address the urgent conservation need to protect and restore the Sky Island's dwindling riparian resources. The listing of the Chiricahua leopard frog as a threatened species opened the opportunity to engender cooperative approaches to conservation of this embattled amphibian.
The goals of the program are to effectively use our expertise, cooperator networks and volunteers to promote, plan and implement restoration activities on private and public lands. Specifically we bring technical know-how and a dedicated volunteer workforce to the collection of essential baseline information and planning comprehensive restoration, while bringing diverse interests together to protect native species and ecosystems.
The program is working in three main areas:
> The Huachuca Mountains, Canelo Hills and San Rafael Valley -Working on a watershed based ecosystem management planning process in cooperation with the Forest Service. Pilot projects are planned for 2007 to protect a montane stream, spring and ciénega complex from erosion, and the control of non-native bullfrogs to enhance habitat for the Chiricahua leopard frog, the Mexican garter snake, an endangered salamander, an endangered plant and many other native critters.
> The Peloncillo Mountains -Working with private landowners, the Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife and New Mexico Game and Fish to protect an extant population of the Chiricahua leopard frog and to restore natural hydrology to two ciénegas and a very rare desert grassland creek.
> Araviapa Canyon -Working with the Arizona Native Plant Society, the BLM and the Nature Conservancy to eradicate exotic species in Araviapa Canyon.
For more information please contact Trevor Hare at 520 624-7080 x14 or email trevor@skyislandalliance.org
Closure of the Fresno Gap in Las Cienegas
Upland Restoration
The Upland Restoration Program was initiated in 1999 to address the urgent conservation issue of increasing off-road vehicle use and abuse, and the creation of illegal user-created roads in the Sky Islands.
The goals of the program are to effectively use our expertise, cooperator networks and volunteers to promote, plan and implement restoration activities on private and public lands. Specifically we bring technical know-how and a dedicated volunteer workforce to the closure of unnecessary and damaging roads and the restoration of the roadbed and natural drainage patterns. This protects native species and ecosystems by decreasing fragmentation, erosion, harassment and destruction.
The program is working in one main area across two different land management agencies:
> The Santa Rita Mountains and Las Cienegas National Conservation Area -Working with the BLM, Forest Service, stakeholders and landowners we are decreasing road densities, protecting upland and riparian habitat, and repairing damage caused by ORVs and wildland roads.
For more information please contact Trevor Hare at 520 624-7080 x 14 or email trevor@skyislandalliance.org
> See more photos from the field!
The Landscape Restoration Program is supported by the generosity of our members and volunteers, and through these fine organizations and entities:
