Science Professionals and Researchers Cite Values of Preserving Wilderness in Southern Arizona

Call on Congressional Delegation to Lead (Read the letter here)

More than 80 professors and graduate students in fields such as wildlife and fisheries, natural resources management, and environmental science--have signed a letter to Arizona's Congressional delegation calling for federal legislation to designate the Tumacacori Highlands as a Wilderness Area.

The letter, sent last week, states: "we wish to add our voices and our names to that broad and committed coalition [supporting Wilderness]. We urge you to actively supportWilderness designation for Tumacacori Highlands and to work to pass the necessary legislation in this Congress."

Noting that the Tumacacori Highlands are one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States and provides exceptional and intact habitat for 74 species listed for their rarity by federal and state governments, the scientists cite the threat of rapidly increasing urbanization of southern Arizona and call for leadership from Arizona's Senators and Congressmen.

"Human pressures on ecosystems have been easier to ignore in the past because the West was once full of open spaces, but as human population increases so does the need for and the threat to ecological services," says Sara Jensen, a natural resource scientist and one of the letter's advocates.

"Wilderness is a great tool to preserve intact habitat and natural areas in southern Arizona. These scientists know that and understand the importance of that," says Mike Quigley, of the local conservation organization Sky Island Alliance. "Wilderness makes good ecological sense."

Wilderness also makes good recreation and business sense, says Quigley. "If one is looking for a long quiet hike, or an authentic backcountry hunting experience, Wilderness provides that. Mt. Wrightson, the top of the Rincons, Pusch Ridge, the Superstitions outside Phoenix, Aravaipa Canyon--all top-notch backcountry experiences, and all Wilderness areas."

And the business sense part? "People are moving to places with wild, open spaces--and jobs are following people in the American West. Recent economics research shows preserving wildlands can be a key part of a solid economic development strategy," says Rebecca Carter, PhD, of the Sonoran Institute's Socioeconomics Program. "Other places can't create mountains and wildlands like we have here--that's a competitive quality-of-life advantage we're blessed to have. We should care for that."

The southern Arizona scientists recognize the importance of recreation and economics too- -and the need for preservation and balance. "Population growth in southern Arizona continues to create a demand for low-impact recreation opportunities on public lands, and the need for permanently-protected wild areas. Recreation contributes significantly to local and state economies," the letter states, urging our Representatives and Senators to commit to "preserving the resources that support those activities by working for Wilderness designation."

But it can be more personal than economics, data and statistics. "Many of us do field research," says Jensen, "we're lucky to be out there, to see what we have in Arizona-- how important it is scientifically, and how beautiful it is just to be in. We want to share that and preserve it."