Border BioBlitz

N‑Gen Adventure!

April - May 2026

Get ready to explore & record the Sonoran Desert!

In our March 5th newsletter, we introduced you to the Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers (N‑Gen). This impressive online community brings together more than 1,000 people from 41 different fields and 21 regions. Their mission is simple but powerful: remind everyone that our beautiful Sonoran Desert is shared across borders—and protecting it takes teamwork.

This spring, N‑Gen is teaming up with the San Diego Natural History Museum, Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI), and partners across the borderlands for the 2026 Border BioBlitz. Throughout April and May, communities on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border will host fun, science‑powered BioBlitz events to record as many plant and animal species as possible.

It’s a huge, collaborative effort to celebrate the incredible biodiversity of the region—and you’re invited to be part of the discovery.

To Join in all you need is:

• A smartphone.
• The free iNaturalist app (Android or iOS).
• Curiosity, enthusiasm, and a love for the desert.

Spend a day outside with fellow nature lovers, help document the species that call our desert home, and support the LDA mission to Keep Our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.

Share this with your friends & colleagues, invite them to join in!

• Join the Discovery!
• Make a new team.

The next event is this Saturday, April 4th. Can't make this one, don't worry, there are twenty-seven more events to follow ending on May 23rd.

Friends of the

Iron Wood Forest

'Meet at the Monument'

Saturday, April 4, 2026, 9am-1pm Waterman Peak Area, Marana

Free and open to the public!

Friends of Ironwood Forest invite you to their annual Meet the Monument event on April 4 — a day dedicated to celebrating and safeguarding one of Arizona’s most remarkable public landscapes.



The Ironwood Forest National Monument is a place of deep ecological, cultural, and historical significance. Yet its future is not guaranteed. In recent years, federal administrations have attempted to downsize or open public lands to resource extraction, and the Ironwood Forest has been among the places considered for reduced protections. Protecting this landscape requires awareness, advocacy, and a strong network of people who care.

Click here for more information and the QR event code.

Sunset at the

Wildlife Bridge

10th Anniversary Celebration!

Friday, April 17 • 6:00–7:30 PM

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is holding a one‑of‑a‑kind sunset celebration as part of Wild Connections Week—honoring 10 years of the Sonoran Desert’s first wildlife crossing bridge, completed in April 2016.

This is a rare opportunity to explore Southern Arizona’s only wildlife bridge and hear firsthand about its successes in reconnecting habitat and protecting wildlife.

Special Guests:

• Pima County District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott
• Town of Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield
• Additional community leaders and partners

Where

Next to the Ann Day Memorial Wildlife Bridge in the Catalina–Tortolita Mountains wildlife linkage

What to Expect

• A short uphill walk on gravely terrain to the top of the bridge
• A celebratory cake cutting and toast
• Remarks from special guests
• Light refreshments (plus cake!)

Help celebrate a decade of safe wildlife movement & community stewardship.

👉 Sign up here!

Join the

Sonoran Institute's

1st Annual

Río 5k Relay!

Saturday, April 18 • 8 AM–2 PM Juhan Park Tucson

Sonoran Institute, in collaboration with Tucson Clean and Beautiful and Dragoon Brewing Company is kicking off the very first Río 5k Relay, a fun run–meets–volunteer adventure designed to bring our Pima County communities closer to the beloved Santa Cruz River.

This isn’t your typical 5k. Teams of two or more will trek through the Santa Cruz Riverbed, working together to remove as much trash as possible within a three‑hour window. Think of it as a river‑reviving relay—on beautiful but rugged terrain—where walking is encouraged for safety and maximum enjoyment.

The “race” launches from Juhan Park and Bonita Park near St. Mary’s and the Frontage Road. Afterward, celebrate your hard work at Dragoon Brewing Company, where an awards ceremony and free shuttles connect all three locations.

It’s community, stewardship, and a whole lot of fun rolled into one unforgettable day.

Click here for event details, registration, and fees