Who We Are
In 1997, the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl received federal protection under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). This spurred over 40 conservation and neighborhood groups to come together to form the Coalition, in February of 1998, with the main goal of bringing sound science and planning into the equation as the county was moving towards planning the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP). The Coalition has since become a leader in the planning process of Pima County's (SDCP) and other conservation issues in Pima County, such as the Town of Marana's and the City of Tucson's Habitat Conservation Plans.The Coalition is currently comprised of 39 member groups. Those groups represent nearly 30,000 members. The Coalition staff is small and works on a grass roots level with a little more than 1,200 direct supporters. Our new community outreach program is up and running and we are striving to 2,000 new supporters before the SDCP is adopted.
The Coalition has a seven-member volunteer Executive Committee, elected by the member groups, that provides direction and makes decisions on policy and budgeting. The Coalition is a non-profit (501(c)3) organization fiscally sponsored by the Tucson Audubon Society; the Coalition is able to operate through donations from individuals and support from a variety of foundations. Coalition staff consist of a full-time Executive Director, a part-time Outreach Coordinator and a contracted fundrsaiser. In addition, several member organizations have staff members who dedicate their time to Coalition work, and many individuals from the community at-large donate their time and energy to make the numerous and ambitious projects of the Coalition possible.
The Coalition's work is rooted in the overwhelming community support of efforts to preserve our Sonoran Desert's natural resources and protect our quality of life.
The Coalition's wide array of outreach, education, advocacy, grassroots activism, and conservation planning activities are focused on achieving consensus between all stakeholder groups that will encourage the Pima County Board of Supervisors to act on overwhelming community support for a Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan with strong conservation and protection objectives to ensure that our Sonoran Desert remains whole and viable for current and many future generations to enjoy. Together we have a chance to leave a natural legacy for generations to come.
The Coalition has enjoyed many successes throughout its existence. More information on these achievements can be found on the Achievements page.
Page last modified: February 16, 2006 at 03:34 PM