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Writer's pictureTortolita Alliance

Tucson Urban Wildlife Conservation Program

Updated: Aug 25



Tortolita Alliance (TA) was invited and attended the first meeting of the Tucson Wildlife Partnership on 8/21/22 in Tucson. This meeting was facilitated by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and attended by representatives from Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources, University of Arizona, San Xavier District-Tohono O'odham Nation, 30 local environmental groups and several interested citizens.


There are major efforts underway to establish an Urban Conservation Program for the Tucson region. Please reference the chart above which depicts the programs and how they are interrelated.


 

Improves lives by expanding access to green space, education and outdoor recreation for Americans living in and around cities. Program members work to clear social and historical barriers and foster new connections that advance conservation and strengthen communities. It includes two parallel programs-Urban Wildlife Refuge and City/Region Partnerships which are described below.


Established to serve a statutory purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and water. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this statutory purpose.


[3] Landscape Conservation Plan (LCP)

A Coalition of local environmental groups and agencies is moving to make the Santa Cruz River a National Urban Wildlife Refuge. The first step in this process is to prepare the LCP. The Coalition has completed this step and submitted the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge Landscape Conservation Plan (LCP) to FWS, which is available for download at the link below.




FWS will utilize the LCP to create the LPP which uses the land protection planning process to consider habitat protection measures needed to meet Refuge System goals. The land protection procedures also help to ensure that the strategic growth of the Refuge System is based on explicit priorities, rigorous biological planning, and landscape planning and design that support achieving measurable objectives that we develop in coordination with Federal and State agencies, Tribes, the Native Hawaiian Community, local agencies, territories, partners and other stakeholders. Note the land area is specifically identified and owned or managed by FWS.  


[5] Partnership-Cities/Region


Partnership-City/Region is a parallel feature to the Urban Wildlife Refuge program and there are two programs that can be established together or separately:


Partnerships work to improve water and air quality, advance urban wildlife habitat conservation, and provide positive outdoor experiences for community. Partnerships are not dependent on FWS owning or managing land and can be standalone collaborations or synergistic with a refuge designation.


A program that supports partners in conserving birds and their habitats and providing opportunities for community engagement in bird-related recreation, education, and conservation activities in urban and suburban areas. The Tucson Audubon Society will be nominating Tucson/Region for Bird Treaty Status.


 

Establishment of an Urban Wildlife Refuge, Partnership and Urban Bird Treaty affords the Tucson Region more opportunity for obtaining conservation grants.

 

Next Steps:



 

It is very important that the Tucson Urban Wildlife Conservation Program extend beyond the City of Tucson boundaries and include the Tortolita Preserve and surrounding lands that comprise the entire Tortolita Fan as it is one of the primary Santa Cruz River sub-watersheds.


TA requested the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) be enlisted as a Partner in these efforts as they own 9.2 million acres of land in Arizona and 43% of the Town of Marana.


TA will keep our members informed throughout the process. Note that interested citizens are more than welcome to attend these sessions.


 


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