Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

May 5, 2018

Sonoran Desert wildlife crossings featured in Zocalo magazine

Zocalo magazine published a fantastic article about Sonoran Desert wildlife crossings in its April issue. Titled Animal Avenues, this article features both the successful Oracle Road wildlife crossings and plans for more wildlife crossings on Tangerine Road and La Cholla Boulevard. Check out the full article, including a new aerial photo of the Oracle Road […]

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Lesser long-nosed bat removed from Endangered Species List

Last month, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that the lesser long-nosed is being removed from the endangered species list. The lesser-long nosed bat is one of Pima County’s Priority Vulnerable Species and is covered by the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. More than anything, we are glad the bats are doing well! We support […]

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May 2, 2018

Pima County Publishes 2017 Annual Report on the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan

In early March, Pima County published its 2017 Annual Report on the Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. According to Pima County, highlights of the report include:  The permit was used to cover impacts of 14 private development projects and 33 County Capital Improvement Projects.  Over 200 acres of land has been allocated as mitigation so far, […]

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April 24, 2018

Action Alert: Speak out today in support of the Endangered Species Act!

The Endangered Species Act is under assault in Congress and we need your help! A new Farm Bill package just passed out of the House Agricultural Committee and will be going to the full House for a vote soon. This bill contains a provision allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to approve pesticides without analyzing the […]

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April 18, 2018

Clean and Quiet Shuttles Come to Sabino Canyon in 2019

 The Coalition has been partnering with both Pima Association of Governments (PAG) and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for many years, both on long-range transportation planning and passage and implementation of the RTA voter-approved plan that includes $45 million for wildlife crossing infrastructure. Recently, PAG and the RTA formed a non-profit called the Regional Partnering […]

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March 30, 2018

Leading the next generation out into the field!

by Jessica Moreno It was a clear, crisp day on March 6, and the freshly brewed coffee was almost as invigorating as the arrival of several school bus-loads of fourth graders and parents from Manzanita Elementary. Over 100 curious minds boiled out into the lower parking lot of the Santa Catalina Catholic Church on Oracle […]

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Emerging issues with the Oracle Road wildlife crossings create opportunities for stronger community connections.

by Jessica Moreno Once a wildlife crossing is built, the project still isn’t done. CSDP has remained actively involved with the wildlife bridge and underpass project on Oracle Road since its completion, helping to install educational signage, planning re-vegetation and erosion control, engaging on emerging issues like motorized use and other encroachments, and, of course, monitoring […]

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CSDP Presents at The Wildlife Society Joint Annual Meeting!

by Jessica Moreno It was chilly outside in Flagstaff, AZ this February, when we presented our most recent wildlife camera results at the 2018 Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona and New Mexico Chapters of the Wildlife Society. Inside, the conference rooms were toasty warm – and when our Programs Manager Sarah Whelan took the […]

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December 12, 2017

In wonder of bighorns and tortoises

by Jessica Moreno Calypso is a healthy desert tortoise of about 25-30 years and a tortoise on a mission. He was named by a caring, bright 7-year old, whose family found him on their front doorstep no less than three times – after several kindly reminders to return to Big Wash and to stay on […]

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November 14, 2017

Our support for a ban on trophy hunting of Arizona’s wild cats

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection has formally endorsed a new ballot initiative that seeks to ban trophy hunting of wild cats in Arizona, specifically mountain lions, bobcats, jaguars, ocelots, and lynx.  In the  spirit of transparency and open discussion, the main reasons we have endorsed the Arizonans for Wildlife ballot initiative include: We strongly […]

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