Applied science to sustain the Southwest

The Nature Conservancy's Arizona Conservation Science Program collaborates with public & private agencies and institutions on ecological monitoring, research, conservation planning, and adaptive management to advance conservation throughout Arizona and the Southwest.

Ecoregional Assessments

We have identified lands & waters critical to the conservation of biodiversity across western North America. These assessments help prioritize conservation efforts and evaluate activities that affect conservation values. Learn more

Arizona Rivers & Water

We have studied and mapped perennial waters, native fish distributions, and threatened & endangered riparian species throughout Arizona. Learn more

Arizona Grasslands

Our reports and maps describe the distribution and condition of grasslands throughout Arizona and describe land management practices to maintain or restore healthy grasslands. Learn more

Southwest Forest Assessment

We have developed information on the status of National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico and tools to evaluate restoration strategies. Learn more

Las Ciénegas Adaptive Management

We are coupling a strong monitoring and data analysis program with BLM’s decision-making processes to ensure managers have current and reliable information to inform management actions. Learn more

Arizona’s Natural Infrastructure

Arizona’s natural infrastructure includes lands & waters that preserve the state’s natural heritage and open space. We developed a natural infrastructure dataset by integrating 12 studies on wildlife habitat and open space. Learn more

Get to know us

Dan Majka

Dan comes to TNC from Northern Arizona University, where he worked with Dr. Paul Beier developing CorridorDesigner, a set of GIS tools for designing and evaluating wildlife corridors. Dan also worked… read more

Downloads

We have reorganized our reports and data sets to make it easier to find the information you need. Browse our downloads.

Featured download

Sustainable Water Management in the Southwestern United States: Reality or Rhetoric?

Published in PLoS ONE, this study used four scenarios to explore the potential effects of alternative growth and water management strategies on river flows. Under the base population projection, we found that rivers in seven of the 18 study watersheds could be dewatered due to municipal demand. Our approach provides a low-cost method to identify where alternative water and growth management strategies may have the most impact, and demonstrates that such strategies can maintain a continued water supply for both people and the environment.

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Collaborators

To conduct effective conservation science, we can't go at it alone. Download data and reports created with our collaborators: