Our first guest speaker, Nick Maya, Program Manager at the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, will share how conservation policy and land‑use planning influence wildlife connectivity across the Sonoran Desert. He’ll dive into the proposed Interstate I‑11, its history and status, and how roadways and development affect animal movement and habitat resilience.

We hope you’ll join us for this important and energizing evening. Your presence strengthens our mission to Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving by building a more informed, connected, and resilient region for all who call the Sonoran Desert home.



Please RSVP Here

And if you can, bring a non-perishable food donation to support the good work of the Marana Food Bank and Community Resource Center.

See you there!

Tucson Wildlife Center

A Lifeline for Southern Arizona’s Wildlife

Every year, thousands of wild animals in Southern Arizona are injured, orphaned, or displaced — and Tucson Wildlife Center is there to help.

As the region’s only 24/7 wildlife rescue hospital, the Center provides emergency medical care, rehabilitation, and safe release back into the wild. All services are offered free to the public, ensuring that help is always available when wildlife is in crisis.

Founded in 1998 by Lisa Bates and Peter Lininger and established as a 501(c)(3) in 2000, Tucson Wildlife Center began as a small refuge for animals with nowhere else to go. Word spread quickly, and soon the Center became a vital resource for the community and the diverse species that call the Sonoran Desert home.

Today, the Center operates around the clock, offering a 24/7 emergency helpline, rescue and transport services, a fully equipped emergency room, and on‑call wildlife veterinarians. Specialized care is provided for javelina, raptors, coyotes, and many other native species. Education and outreach programs help the public learn how to coexist with wildlife and protect fragile habitats.

Some animals cannot be safely released. When that happens, the Center provides lifelong care — and some become ambassadors or surrogate parents, helping raise and teach younger animals. Meet residents like Nono the Barn Owl, Ruby the Bobcat, Pima and Hopi the Harris’s Hawks, and others who now play a role in wildlife education.

Tucson Wildlife Center depends on volunteers to keep their mission alive. From animal care to emergency response to community outreach, your time can make a real difference. Click here to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Do you know what a wildlife emergency is?

Click here to find out.

The Living Desert Alliance salutes the Tucson Wildlife Center

for their decades of dedication and good work helping to

Keep our Desert and Community Livable and Thriving.

Pima County’s

Native Plant Nursery

Growing a Healthier Sonoran Desert

In 2001, as part of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, Pima County launched an ambitious Native Plant Program to reduce the impacts of urban development on native plant communities. One of the program’s most successful outcomes is the Pima County Native Plant Nursery, created to supply locally adapted plants for public works projects and to support long‑term habitat restoration.

Today, the nursery is a thriving conservation hub located at the Parks and Recreation main facility. It currently grows more than 20,000 native plants, representing over 200 species, all destined for public spaces across the county. The nursery also maintains a seed library of 130 native species, ensuring a resilient supply for future restoration efforts. Its water source — a high‑nitrogen groundwater supply unsuitable for drinking — is ideal for vigorous plant propagation, making the operation both sustainable and efficient.

Multiple County departments rely on the nursery, including Transportation, Flood Control, Water Reclamation, Development Services, Conservation Lands and Resources, Parks and Recreation, and Community Development.



While the nursery does not sell plants to the public, it welcomes volunteers who want to learn desert horticulture and support hands‑on conservation. As volunteer Arizona Master Naturalist Franklin Lane shares, volunteering offers “a concentrated opportunity to learn about virtually every Arizona Uplands native plant.”

For additional information, please contact Amy Martin, Native Plant Nursery Manager, by email or at 520-724-5157.

Customize Your Conservation

Get a Free Water‑Saving Kit!

Ready to make a real difference for Arizona’s water future — and have fun doing it? This summer, you can boost your conservation game with a free, customizable Water‑Wise Kit delivered straight to your door. Thanks to a partnership between Salt River Project (SRP) and Water – Use It Wisely, these kits come packed with simple, effective tools that can help you save up to 20,000 gallons of water every year.

Each kit is hand‑packed right here in Tucson by Environmental Education Exchange and shipped statewide. It’s a small action with a big impact — and part of a much larger effort to protect Arizona’s long‑term water supply.

SRP has been committed to water stewardship for more than 120 years, and today that mission continues through its 2035 Sustainability Goals. These goals focus on conserving natural resources, reducing waste, modernizing infrastructure, and supporting community‑driven conservation.

One major goal is achieving five billion gallons of community water savings through partnerships. Every Water‑Wise Kit helps move Arizona closer to that milestone. And here’s the best part: you don’t need to be an SRP customer to participate. Anyone in Arizona can join in.

Saving water is easy, rewarding, and genuinely fun

when you can tailor your kit to your home’s needs.

Order your free kit at wuiw.com/kit and start saving today.

Kids’ Corner Part 3

More Recycling Facts That

Will Blow Your Kids’ Minds!

For several weeks we've shared recycling facts guaranteed to blow your kid’s mind. Below are five additional sustainability tips (11 – 15) centered around energy and climate.

Test your kids' knowledge by asking them these five facts during mealtime, in-between commercials while watching TV, or just before bedtime. See what they have to say, then give the correct answer. If they get it right, give them a high five and a pat on the back. They deserve it.

Energy and Climate Surprises

Fact 11: LED light bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last 25 times longer.

Fact 12: Unplugging electronics when not in use can save families up to $100 per year on electricity bills.

Fact 13: A single wind turbine can power 500 homes for an entire year.

Fact 14: Solar panels on a typical home can prevent 100,000 pounds of CO2 emissions over 20 years—equivalent to planting 2,500 trees.

Fact 15: Phantom power (electronics in standby mode) accounts for 10% of household electricity use.

Sharing these sustainability facts empowers kids to understand

and act on real-world environmental challenges. More next week!