Ironwood Forest National Monument
The Ironwood Forest National Monument (IFNM) was established in June 2000 by the federal government. The monument found just 25 miles northwest of Tucson protects over 128,000 acres of a prime example of Sonoran Desert. Within the IFNM over 470 species and subspecies of plants thrive. The monument is also home to up to 177 vertebrates and 821 invertebrates, which include the last remaining heard of Big Horn Sheep in eastern Pima County.
The monument is also home to an old growth forest of it's name sake the Ironwood Tree. The ironwood is one of the longest lived and largest plants found in the Sonoran Desert. It takes around 800 years for a tree to mature and they can live up to 1,500 years. The ironwood tree is found only in the Sonoran Desert in dry areas below 2,500 feet. The ironwood tree is an integral part of the biodiversity of the ecosystem. It is utilized by over 150 bird species, 62 reptile and amphibian species, 64 mammals, and shelters more 230 plant species under it's canopy.
This monument has been dedicated as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System with the goal "…to sustain the health of the public lands for present and future generations. The Conservation System is a 26 million acre collection of national monuments, wilderness areas, scenic rivers, trails, and historic sites managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Find out more about how to enjoy and protect these rugged crown jewels of the American West at the the Conservation System Alliance site: www.conservationsystem.org
The Coalition and the Sierra Club are also organizing a Friends group for the monument. Click here to learn more about the Friends of the Ironwood Forest National Monument.
Page last modified: February 12, 2010 at 05:38 PM