In 1936, the Bighorn sheep population in Arizona had dwindled to an alarming 150 animals. The Arizona Boy Scouts started a preservation campaign that soon caught the attention of other groups including the National Wildlife Federation, the Issac Walton League and the Audubon Society. Opposition to preserving this public land was eventually overpowered by 10,000 scouts making their case at school, in their neighborhoods and at home. As a result, the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Preserve was created in 1939, protecting over 860,000 acres of mountains and deserts in the southwest corner of Pima County and adjacent Yuma County. Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reports that Bighorn sheep in Cabeza Prieta and nearby refuges have returned to their original numbers.

The morning sun hits some saguaro cactuses sooner than others in Pima County’s 20,000-acre Tucson Mountain Park.

In that tradition, the citizens of Pima County were again stirred to act by a 1986 map showing the County’s critical wildlife habitat and biological resources. That year, the voters approved an $18-million open space bond that started the acquisition of Tortolita Mountain Park, which is planned to grow into a multi-county regional park over time. In 1997, Pima county voters approved a second bond for $36 million which partly funded the purchase of the historic 4,800-acre Canoa Ranch.

In 2001, Pima County adopted its award-winning comprehensive plan, the Sororan Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP), designed to protect entire ecosystems. Preservation of the critical habitat designated in the SDCP is partly accomplished by requiring that from 60 to 95 percent of existing biological resources of a parcel be set aside. But SDCP also called for outright acquisition of critical parcels. In 2004, the voters responded by approving two more bond measures generating another $270 million for open space conservation. Today, the Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Department manages over 200,000 acres of open space with over 77,000 acres of parks and preserves including 20,000-acre Tucson Mountain Park, the largest natural area in the United States owned and managed by a local government.

Federal and state parks also contribute significantly to Pima County open space. The two halves of the Saguaro National Park flank the City of Tucson, offering 90,768 acres of desert, studded with 50-foot-high saguaro cactus. Hugging 30 miles of the U.S.- Mexico border, the National Park Service also maintains 331,272-acre Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, named for the distinctive cactus that branches at its base and flowers only at night. In addition, Arizona State Parks stopped a controversial development by establishing 5,500-acre Catalina State Park just north of Tucson.

In addition to the Cabeza-Prieta National Wildlife Refuge mentioned above, U.S. Fish & Wildlife also manages the 118,000-acre Buenos Aires NWR in southern Pima County. The semi-desert grassland of this refuge has supported the reintroduction of bobwhite quail and is also home to Pima pineapple cactus, pygmy owls, mountain lions, javelina and Sonoran pronghorn, the fastest land mammal in North America. The jointly-managed Santa Rita Experimental Range protects another 52,000 acres of desert in southern Pima County for the study of wildlife, desert restoration and sustainable grazing practices.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is a major provider of permanent open space in Pima County. The Bureau manages the 129,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument, named for the long-lived ironwood tree and home to several endangered species including the lesser long-nosed bat and the Nichols turk’s head cactus. The 32,000-acre Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area was protected in 2000 following a five-year effort spearheaded by the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership. The Bureau also manages two wilderness areas in Pima County, including one that surrounds 7,730-foot Baboquivari Peak.

Coronado National Forest consists of twelve separate “sky islands”, dispersed mountain ranges offering incredible natural diversity, from desert ecosystems at lower elevations to spectacular views and snow capped peaks at higher elevations. The 375,000 acres of National Forest land in Pima County include three wilderness areas and two research natural areas.

Despite its austere appearance, the Sonoran Desert is home to a vast array of plant and animal life. Fortunately Pima County citizens understand the fragility of these creatures and are willing to partner with public agencies and private organizations to safeguard this heritage for future generations.