Sky Island Alliance

2009 Annual Report

Sky Island Alliance

2 www.skyislandalliance.org

� �

Thank you to all our members, volunteers and supporters for a year full of active participation

in conservation, restoration and advocacy.

Our shared vision of a healthy and resilient Sky Island region could not be held back by economic downturns —

it only made our efforts stronger, smarter. In fact, the volunteer effort in 2009 had a value of over $260,000, a full

quarter of our income! The amount of research, restoration and advocacy accomplished in the Sky Islands this year

was impressive as a result. Reflecting on my first year as Executive Director, it is clear that SIA’s amazing staff,

dedicated volunteers, and supportive friends like you, make it all happen. I could not have asked for more of a

welcome to this extraordinary community

Additionally, with the support of the Veolia Environment Foundation we added an exciting new project detailed on

page 5, hired renowned botanist Tom Van Devender, Ph.D., and logistical whiz Marc Trinks, and set out to inventory

the biodiversity of the Sonoran Sky Islands.

2009 was another great year for the Sky Islands and laid the groundwork for the next decade — thank you!

www.skyislandalliance.org 3

Protectp. 6

Protectp. 7

Protectp. 7

Protect p. 7Connect p. 10

Connectp. 9

Connectp. 10

Connectp. 11

Restorep. 13

Restorep. 13

Restorep. 14

Restorep. 14

Restorep. 15

Protectp. 5

PO Box 41165, Tucson AZ 85717520.624.7080

www.skyislandalliance.org

Board of Directors President Dale TurnerVice President Steve MarlattSecretary Nancy ZierenbergTreasurer Carol Cullen

Ana Cordova, Kevin Dahl,

Patricia Frederick, Brooke Gebow,

Sadie Hadley, Paul Hirt, Oscar

Moctezuma, Rod Mondt, Adrian

Quijada-Mascareñas, Chris Roll,

Peter Warshall

Staff Melanie Emerson

Executive Director

Acasia BerryAssociate Director

David HodgesPolicy Director

Janice PrzybylWildlife Linkages Program

Jessica LambertonWilderness Outreach Associate

Julie St. JohnNewsletter Editor & Designer

Louise MisztalConservation Associate

Marc TrinksMABA Project Coordinator

Mike QuigleyWilderness Campaign

Coordinator

Sarah WilliamsVolunteer Coordinator &

Outreach Associate

Sergio AvilaNorthern Mexico Conservation

Program

Sky JacobsMembership & Administrative

Associate

Tom Van DevenderMABA Project Manager

Trevor HareLandscape Restoration Program


We are dedicated to the protection

and restoration of the rich natural

heritage of native species and

habitats in the sky islands.

This region is globally important because of its

rich biodiversity of species and habitats. Here

roam well over half the bird species of North

America as well as over 3,000 species of

plants, and about 100 species of amphibians,

reptiles, and mammals, including such

magnificent predators as the Mexican wolf and

the jaguar.

By prioritizing and protecting public and private

lands which provide the best quality habitat in

the region, we ensure the long- term protection

of “core areas” for native species. Wilderness,

Wildlife Refuges, National Conservation Areas,

private preserves and other protective

designations, not only provide long-term

protection of the land and its inhabitants, but

also connect local people with their wild lands

and improve the quality of life in the region.

� �

With practically every step we are discovering spectacularlandscapes and biodiversity to protect in the Sonoran SkyIslands. courtesy Chris Marzonie

Introducing MABA Project Manager, Tom Van DevenderHis long-term interest in the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert Region is more than evident— Tom (right) has published well over 100 research papers and collected over 20,000 specimens,most of which reside in the University of Arizona and Universidad de Sonora herbariums.

Veolia Environment Foundation partners with Sky Island Alliance to support MABAIn Spring 2009, SIA was privileged to enter into a new three-year partnership with Paris-basedVeolia Environment Foundation (VEF), one of the leading private-sectorfoundations in France. VEF supports non-profit, community-orientedprojects in France and around the world, with special focus on biodiversity.


A visionary initiative — scientific expeditions into the Sonoran Sky Islands Because we believe that “you cannot adequately protect that which you do not understand,” MABA isa unique project that is furthering conservation efforts through the gathering of scientific data aboutthe flora and fauna of the sky islands. We engage an international cadre of scientists, landowners,government organizations, students and volunteers, and lead them deep into the sierras of the skyislands to inventory the area’s incredible biological wealth and its rich cultural and natural history.

In 2009, MABA scientists contributed more than 2,700 hours of their time MABA relies heavily on volunteers in making its scientific expeditions successful. With specialties ina wide array of scientific disciplines such as botany, ornithology, entomology, mammalogy, geology,and herpetology, these volunteers assist MABA staff in carrying out field biology studies and forgingsynergetic partnerships which benefit the livelihood of landowners while serving to protectconservation efforts regionwide.

Rancher and landowner outreach is a major component of MABAWe believe that working with landowners such as Josiah and Valer Austin of the Cuenca Los OjosFoundation and Carlos Robles of Rancho El Aribabi to document and protect these beautiful southernsky islands benefits the landscape, while also highlighting the excellent conservation work theselandowners are accomplishing every day.

In 2009 Sky Island Alliance launched the Madrean ArchipelagoBiodiversity Assessment (MABA) — a scientific initiative toprotect the wildlife and wildlands of the Sky Island Region

Bug lights bring in myriadsof insects… and scientists!courtesy Chip Hedgcock

Hundreds of new speciesare documented with everyMABA expedition.courtesy Melanie Emerson


Ecologically damaging roads identified When the Coronado National Forest began evaluating itssystem of roads, Sky Island Alliancemapped and recommended anecologically-sensitive system based onfield data and sensitive species andhabitat locations. Our recommendationswould reduce road densities by nearly50%, protecting biological diversity, andpromoting quiet.

GIS transforms biological andfield data into dynamic visualsand analytic dataNo moss grew on our GIS equipment in2009! Visual projects included outreachmaps for public lands advocacy campaigns

and field maps for wildlife tracking and MABA expeditions.GIS also enabled us to analyze the value of potentialwilderness areas — for the protecting sensitive species andhabitat diversity — in the National Wilderness Preservation

System, and prioritize roads for fieldassessments based on ecologicalimpacts.

Sky Island Regional MapproducedAfter many requests and muchanticipation, Sky Island Alliance producedthe Sky Islands Regional Map. This eye-catching and informative map featuresmountain ranges, rivers and otherregional points of interest and isbordered by photographs of stunningviews, and colorful plants and animals ofthe region.

Sky Island Alliance’s Geographic Information System (GIS)expertise creates compelling conservation tools

Sarah Williams assesses the health of a riparian corridor courtesy Trevor Hare


SIA identifies priority areas suitable forWilderness on National Forest landsSky Island Alliance combined on-the-ground knowledge withbiological data to analyze nearly 200,000 acres of theCoronado National Forest to make the case for protectingoutstanding wilderness characteristics found here. Wesubmitted detailed maps and reports of six priority areas tothe Forest Service for their consideration in identification ofpotential wilderness.

Presenting successes at the 9th WorldWilderness Congress in Mérida, YucatanSIA staff presented our successes with riparian restorationand experience with private reserve designation in Mexico to1,800 delegates from over 50 countries. Teaming with Cuenca

Los Ojos Foundation, Naturalia, A.C., Northern Jaguar Project,Wildlands Network and private landowners, our plenarypresentation highlighted the amazing conservationcollaboration afoot in the southwest crescent to protectregional and international wildlife connectivity.

Building steady support forTumacacori HighlandsWilderness designation In 2009, 45 years after the signing ofthe Wilderness Act, momentum forTumacacori Highlands Wilderness designation was building —we conducted nearly 45 presentations, community outreachactivities and hikes in Green Valley, Tubac, Tucson and theHighlands itself, resulting in over 100 new letters of supportfrom businesses, residents, faith and community groups.

We are building the case — and momentum — for the protection of wildlands and wildlife

A Conservation Dream… in the makingCarlos Robles Elías, owner of Rancho El Aribabi located in a Sonoran sky island 30 milessouth of the international border, has spent many years crafting a “conservation dream.”His 10,000-acre property presents a high degree of biodiversity, containing more than 35protected species of plants and animals.

En forma verdaderamente ejemplar, Carlos Robles Elías ha establecido una visión de manejopor encima de la tradición ganadera, aplicando nuevas ideas y creatividad en accionestangibles para impulsar actividades más acordes con el desarrollo sustentable y laprotección y conservación de los recursos naturales en el rancho.

Esto acentúa el mérito por parte de la familia Robles al realizar un esfuerzo más allá de larelativa comodidad económica que pudiera implicar el pastoreo del ganado cerca del agua,para modificar y redirigir sus actividades hacia acciones congruentes con la conservaciónde los recursos naturales y promover el desarrollo sustentable para beneficio del ambientey eventualmente para la administración misma del rancho.

right: Carlos Robles — dreamer and conservation hero of the Sonoran Sky Islands. courtesy Christa Weise


Open, permeable, healthy wildlife

corridors are essential in linking

isolated mountain ranges and

establishing habitat connectivity.

These “linkages” allow animals to disperse and

migrate, either temporarily or spatially, in order

to find new territories, feeding areas or mates.

In the face of climate change, connecting

corridors is key for the survival of populations.

Sky Island Alliance’s approach to restoring

whole, healthy landscapes includes protecting

the corridors that connect those areas.

� �

left to right:

Sun rising over the Sierra la Madera. courtesy Chip Hedgcock

Lampropeltis pyromelana ssp. pyromelana (Arizona MountainKingsnake). courtesy S.L. Minter

Proposed Wildlife Crossing structures in Pima County. courtesy Coalitionfor Sonoran Desert Protection


Local landowners become citizen scientists,using remote cameras to capture wildlifepresence and movementIt’s a win-win-win situation — photographs demonstratinghigh species diversity or the continuous presence of a

protected species areinstrumental in facilitating thepermanent protection of anarea. As a research component,cameras offer readily availableinformation on species that liveon a property, promptingdiscussions on impacts andmethods of land management— livestock grazing, predator

control, and hunting of prey populations. In terms ofoutreach, remote cameras allow us a low-cost, continued“presence” on private properties, making it possible toregularly return, maintain contact with landowners, andadvance discussions towards protective designations.Additionally, we gain on-the-ground advocacy byempowering landowners to own and share the results aswell as their historical knowledge of the landscape.

La Muerte del Jaguar Macho B: He will not have died in vain Macho B was the name used by scientists to identify a wildmale jaguar first photographed in southern Arizona’s skyislands in 1996. He symbolized the rich biodiversity andglorious beauty of our region.

The loss of Macho B is a tragedy that must not be repeated.Sky Island Alliance called on state and federal agencies,other environmental conservation groups, scientists andcitizens to work together to preserve jaguars in the United

States, avoiding a repeat of the tragedy that befell Macho B.Specifically: Prompt creation of an effective Jaguar RecoveryPlan and a Recovery Team, and accelerated preservation ofjaguar habitat on private and public lands and its connectivityacross the international border.

Wildlife Crossing Structures approved inDecember 2009In partnership with the Coalition for Sonoran DesertProtection our $8.2 million funding proposal was approvedfor three crossing structures across State Route 77 (OracleRoad) in the Tortolita Mountains to Santa Catalina Mountainslinkage. Construction begins in 2012 on one overpass andtwo underpasses designed to facilitate wildlife movementacross an expanded State Route 77.

When people are connected to place, amazing things can happen


“YES! Bring back the cats!”The Bring Back the Cats! Campaign was a concentrated effort to raiseawareness and funds for our continuing goal to protect and reestablish wildfeline populations in the region. Encouraged by the $10,000 contribution andinspiration of two anonymous donors, we set out to raise $30,000 by the end of2009. On the stroke of 2010 we concluded with a resounding, “YES! Bring backthe cats!” — 112 members and supporters contributed to this campaign.

Sky Island Alliance teams up with world-renownedphotographers to document/exhibit borderland impacts In December 2009, approximately 4,000 Arizonans attended the InternationalLeague of Conservation Photographers photo exhibits in Tempe, Tucson, andBisbee, which documented the wildlife, ecology, and effects of the border wallon the southwest’s imperiled landscapes. At once stunning for its spectacularlandscape and wildlife images — including those of SIA supporter and PulitzerPrize-winning photographer, Jack Dykinga — as for its somber evidence ofenvironmental devastation, the exhibit provided a tool for SIA and its partnersto raise critical community awareness of the mounting ecological impacts of theunbridled border infrastructure and enforcement activity, to advocate forurgently needed mitigation, and to influence decision-makers’ understanding ofthe impediments to wildlife, water and ecological system functioning.

Above, from top: Images from the RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition… Against the Wall by Krista Schlyer, a portraitof the border wall ©Jack Dykinga, the International League of Conservation Photographers team courtesy Ian Shive.

An ocelot moves on fresh snow. courtesy Sky Island Alliance / El Aribabi.

Our tracking data plays an essential role in protecting wildlifemovement corridorsWith a record high of ninety active wildlife tracking volunteers, Sky Island Alliance walkedapproximately 270 miles and monitored seventeen transects in five identified wildlife corridors:the Tortolita, Tumacacori-Santa Rita, Peloncillos, Las Ciénegas and the Ciénega Creek watershed.Tracking data are analyzed for wildlife movement patterns which allow us to inform land useplanning and advocate for corridor protection.

Investment in collaborative work yields unexpected dividendsTogether with Witness for Wildlife, a citizen naturalist program of the Freedom to Roam Coalition,we created field guides, led community hikes, and deployed six wildlife cameras in a pilot study— leading to the discovery of an Arizona ocelot.

The 20th and final Fort Huachuca Track Count In June 2009, 34 participants documented the presence ofmountain lions and black bears in six out of eight canyons inthe Huachuca Mountain canyons of southeast Arizona.

At our 3rd Annual Mountain Islands Desert SeasAwards Banquet in 2009, we honored the peoplewho are making a difference… who inspire us:

Agency Leadership Award: Tom Skinner, Coronado National ForestGiven to an agency or agency personnel who exhibit a high level ofdedication toward project implementation which restores and protectsnative biological diversity.

Business Conservation Award: Brooklyn Pizza CompanyGiven to a business whose practices, policies, or support significantlybenefits the wildlands of the Sky Island Region.

Landowner Stewardship Award: Seth Hadley, Diamond A RanchGiven to landowners who show exemplary dedication to restoring andprotecting the native assemblages of species and natural processesthat occur on their land.

Mike Seidman Memorial Award: Phil RosenGiven to an individual in recognition of his/her outstandingcontributions to land and wildlife conservation, and who strives toconnect the realms of science, grassroots organizing, and on-the-ground success.


When it comes to collecting connectivity data,Sky Island volunteers make it happen

Documenting bobcat tracks on adirt road. courtesy JessicaLamberton


Sky Island Alliance took great strides

in 2009, driving home the concept of

watershed health while advocating for

coordinated and robust management

of the landscape.

Across the board — in coordination with partners,

in funding applications, and in engaging volunteers

in our on-the-ground work — we worked tirelessly

to lower road densities, repair upland erosion,

restore riparian areas and aquatic ecosystems,

reintroduce rare species, and celebrate the revival

of our magnificent Sky Island landscape.

� �

left to right:

Lowland leopard frog (Rana yavapaiensis). courtesy Chip Hedgcock

Looking east from la Sierra Oposura, Sonora. courtesy Sky Jacobs


Restoring Cloverdale Ciénega: Thinking big just got bigger2009 marked Year Two of Sky Island Alliance’s largestrestoration project to date: a three-year project restoringCloverdale Creek and Ciénega. Historically channelized todivert water away from the largest desert marsh in NewMexico, it is our task to restore a healthy flow back into theciénega, coordinating with restoration experts, thelandowner and the Forest Service to create a robust designthat will be implemented in 2010.

Twenty volunteers, three organizations, and one-rock dams In the spring of 2009 SIA combined forces with the NewMexico Wilderness Alliance and the Upper Gila WatershedAlliance for the annual Tres Alianzas volunteer workweekend. We gathered in the Burro Mountains of NewMexico in an area known as the Axel Canyon Preserve toimplement proven riparian restoration techniques on anephemeral stream.

Surveying potential habitat formigratory bats in the Santa RitaMountains SIA partnered with Bat Conservation International (BCI)in 2009 to conduct external mine surveys to helpidentify potential bat habitat in the Santa Rita Mountains.Data collected by volunteers aided BCI in determiningwhich mines have potential roosts for migratory batslike the Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinustownsendii).

Sky Island Alliance partnershipsmake great things happen

from top:

The Cloverdale Ciénega.courtesy Trevor Hare

Tres Alianzas crew atwork. courtesy TrevorHare

Volunteer checking out apossible bat roostingsite. courtesy TrevorHare


No more bullfrogs at Peña Blanca: Hardwork pays off In the spring of 2009, Sky Island Alliance partneredwith the Arizona Game and Fish Department and theUniversity of Arizona on a project to control bullfrogpopulations in Peña Blanca Lake and the surroundingdrainages and stock waters of the TumacacoriHighlands. Bullfrogs are non-native predators that havesignificantly contributed to the decline of nativeleopard frog populations. Volunteers dedicated manyhours hiking to investigate area water sources andseining stock waters through mud and muck tocapture bullfrog tadpoles and juveniles before theygrew large enough to breed and spread. Follow-upmonitoring showed zero presence of bullfrogs in manystock tanks and natural waters that once harbored thenasty non-native amphibians. Especially important tothis effort were employees from the Summit Hut, alocal outdoor retail store, who provided many hoursof their time through the Summit Hut’s “100 days ofCommunity Service” initiative which allows employeesto use a paid work day to volunteer in the community.Thank you Summit Hut!

Sky Island Alliance volunteer

Brian AdamPatty AdamsPaul AdamsTim AllenIsabel AmorousGlorya AndersonJan AndersonHoward ArnbergHumberto ArriolaValer AustinCedric BaecherRachelle BakerTina BakerDevin Bayly

Deron BealSteve BergeyCarol BernsteinJohnathon BladeNick BleserBenjamin BlonderCheri BoucherJulie BournsDiane BoyerCurt BradleyDorita BradyBill BrananAndy BridgesWynne BrownDan Brudno

Greg BryanSusan BuchanMelissa BuchmanElizabeth

Buchroeder-WebbMike BurmanDavid BygottHoracio CabreraMichelle CaprariJefferson CarterJo Ann CaruthersKerry CaruthersCraig ChapmanMichael ChappellJessica ChavezDyna Chin

Trudy ChristopherJoe CiceroSteven ClinkscalesJeffrey CloseVan ClothierJenny ColumbusPaul CondonCathy ConnollyCharlotte CookChristopher CooleyKathy CooperRoberto CorellaHanna CoyDagmar CushingDana DavisDon DavisGail Dawkins

Misha DawnLaurence De BureVirgina DeanDavid DelgadoMarcia DevereKatrina DimitroffSandra DoumasJennifer DreyerJim DrydenDale DurhamShirley DurhamJack DykingaDave EerkesJoan EerkesKim EtheringtonGeorge FarmerJoe Fazegas

Gavin FergusonKen FieldsDeena FishbeinJesse FleisherConor FlynnJulia FonsecaWarren ForeySarah ForresterDebbie FriesenRoberto FuentesSergio Garcia and

FamilyTony GarciaTom GibbonsEd GilbertJim GoodkindAndrew Gray

Joanne GriffithsRichard GriffithsRandy GrohmanTerry GustafsonEdward HaleyJeanette HanbyJonathan HansonRoseann HansonManny HartSteve HaydenGary HaynesMike HeadrickChip HedgcockRobert HerdliskaBruce HilpertPaul HirtWill Hodges

Andrea HopperMike HuckabyPat HuxBernice IsaacsGene IsaacsSky JacobsLinda JakseGayle JandreyBrian JonesCory JonesJulie JonssonPaul JonssonJuan Pablo JorqueraJennifer KatcherArlene KellmanCybele KnowlesRonn Koeppel

Sky Island Alliance would not have as many accomplishments to brag about if it weren’t for our steadfast

Trained volunteers controlling bullfrogs at Peña Blanca Lake. courtesy Paul Condon


Bio-assessment and restoration: Sky Island Alliance’s commitment to Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area Motorized recreational impacts on the grasslands is thegreatest short-term threat to the ecological integrity of thislandscape, under the watch of the Bureau of LandManagement. Over three weekends, volunteers gathered dataon erosion and vegetation impacts from ATV use, and closedand restored an ATV playground.

Getting some great old broads out for fieldwork… and a hike or two In April 2009, SIA hosted the Great Old Broads for Wildernessfor an extended field weekend to the Chiricahua Mountains tocollect data on eroding roads, illegal ATV trails, sprawlingcampsites and other human-created impacts. Combining theregional knowledge of Sky Island Alliance staff with the datacollection expertise of the Great Old Broads, over twentyvolunteers gathered important information on the health ofour public lands.

field weekends bring the fun back into functioning landscapes

Taryn KongLance KrigbaumBill KurtzEllie KurtzAlex LaetschNick LaetschRudi LambrechtseTim LengerichMax LiMichael LivingoodRobin LlewellynKaren LoweryRemy MabilleIvonne MaldonadoFrederic MalterSteve MarlattChris Marzonie

Susan MastJacques MaugerRichard MaxwellCarolyn MaycherMalcom McGregorCecilia McNicollJenny MerrittRinda MetzBarbra MillerNorma MillerSaralaine MilletDan MillisDrew MilsomLouise MisztalRon MitchellRod MondtBeth Morgan

Mike MorganSue MorseAxhel MunozRay NagleAletris NeilsJuan OchoaJennifer OliverScott OlmsteadDiane OuradnikNohelya Pacheco

HoyosJonathan PaklaianJohn PaltingPatricia PawlickiAlexandra PermarPat PhelanCindy Pierard

Carolina Piña PaezScot PipkinBarbara PoulinCynthia PrendergastSteve PrendergastTom PringlePolly ReadyCrystal ReedyKim RegoSande Rego-RossAna Lilia Reina

GuerreroKelly RobertsonGraciela RobinsonCarlos RoblesMartha RoblesHector Robles

Chris RollLisa RomanoAddy RoseFrank RoseStormy RoseSy RotterStephanie RozzoDieter SchaeferCassandra

ScheffmanKrista SchlyerJustin SchmidtKrista SchmidtMarjanne SchnarrMatt SchultzLeslie Schupp

Greg SchusterJoe SchwanzLeslie SellgrenRandy SerraglioRon ServissJon ShumakerNicole SiqueirosTom SkinnerMatt SkrochDiane SmithGreg SmithCostas SofianosChristine St. OngeBirdie StabelPatty Stern

Donna StevensClaire StielstraSheridan StoneKristina StramlerMary SweeneyDavid TenenBill ThorntonSue ThorntonScott TrageserArthur TransueJD TrebecDale TurnerAnna Van DevenderTim Van Devender

Gerardo VegaMegan Walla-

MurphyLorene WapotichStorm WatersNorm WatsonChrista WeiseJeff WhitmoreMatt WiechertCynthia WolfDaun YorkNancy ZierenbergJan Zinkl

cadre of volunteers (names in bold contributed 100 hours or more in 2009)__________________________________

From top:

Yet another successfulroad closure in LasCiénegas! courtesy RonMitchell

Two great old broadsenjoying the ChiricahuaMonument. courtesySarah Williams


This year, SIA’s staff and board

crafted a bold and ambitious

four-year strategic plan.

Through all aspects of implementing this

plan, we will strive to be innovative,

anticipate opportunities and challenges,

stay ahead of the curve, and set the

agenda. Our principal focus will continue to

be leading conservation efforts on the

ground (through active science, restoration

and improved connectivity) and through

formalized mechanisms (planning, policy

and special designations) as the most

effective organization working exclusively

for protection and restoration of this

region’s mountain islands and desert seas.

We will think forward.

We will think big.

We will act.

� �

Sunset in la Sierra Oposura, Sonora.courtesy Chip Hedgcock


Working toward resiliency in the face of climate change SIA has been functionally warding off the encroaching impacts of climatechange since its inception in 1991 — advocating for adaptive management,reducing non-climate stressors, protecting habitat cores, defragmenting thelandscape, controlling invasive species, and documenting changes on thelandscape. Over the next three years, SIA will be focused more explicitly onclimate change adaptation in this region, collaboratively developing climate-smart adaptive land management strategies and policies and ensuring theirsuccessful implementation. Concurrently, we will augment and adjust ourongoing core and corridor restoration and protection activities, increasingresistance and resilience of systems to a changing climate. This is a criticalstep forward in ensuring that we are effectively applying all the resources atour disposal to the most urgent conservation needs in the region.

Monitoring the border; reestablishing continental connectivity Baseline monitoring of environmental impacts — determining the current on-the-ground status of border infrastructure and its construction — is essentialfor informing policy and decision makers, crafting effective mitigationmeasures, and planning restoration efforts — including reasoned removal ofphysical barriers to wildlife habitat connectivity. Of special monitoringconcern are federally protected areas, threatened or endangered plant andanimal species, and watersheds on both sides of the border. Ultimately, withjoy, we will work to renew the natural processes which have been interrupted— restoring watersheds, revegetating native landscapes, and reestablishingcontinental connectivity.

Increasing designated wilderness in the Land ofLegends Sky Island Alliance has taken yet another progressive step by working tosecure protection for three significant areas in Cochise County, Arizona, asCongressionally-designated Wilderness. Our campaign is designed torecognize and highlight not only the unique natural history of the region butalso the historic and prehistoric values captured in this, the Land of Legends.

As we look to the future…

Relatively undisturbed wildlife exists at El Aribabi.courtesy Paul Hirt

Sergio Avila setting up a new remote camera. courtesyPaul Condon

Cochise County’s Land of Legends. courtesy SIA archives


$10,000 and aboveCampaign for America’s WildernessJ.M. Kaplan FundNew Mexico Environment

DepartmentNina Mason Pulliam Charitable TrustTurner FoundationVeolia Environment FoundationWilburforce FoundationWyss Foundation

$1,000 to $9,999Animas FoundationAnonymousAnonymousAnonymousDefenders of WildlifeBonnie KayClark Family FoundationLyle & Vera DethlefsenMary Diaz-PrzybylEllie & Bill KurtzPaul Hirt* & Linda Jakse**Richard & Susan KruegerMET FoundationPatagoniaBill & Alice RoeDale Turner* & Julia Fonseca

$500 to $999Rich & Nancy BohmanNancy BowerShawn BurkeCarol Cullen* & Bruce PhenegerKevin Dahl* & Bam MillerDavid & Joan EbertBrooke Gebow*/**Diana Hadley & Peter Warshall*Sadie Hadley* & Sage GoodwinLil & David HunsakerPam Hyde-Nakai & Carlos NakaiPat JessupCarol Keck** & David RupleyEd & Madeleine MooreLouise Misztal* & Randy SerraglioElizabeth Murfee & Dino DeConciniLaurinda OswaldJuan Rascón RubioChris Roll*

Summit HutMichael & Cyndi TuellNick Van KleeckRobert Witzeman

$250 to $499Briggs & Pat AckertThomas BeckerCurt Bradley & Jennifer KatcherDorita BradySusan BuchanAnne Carl & Al AndersonDavid Coblentz**Don Davis & Diana WheelerLaurence de Bure & Sy RotterFrank & Kate DraperHoward & Patricia* FrederickJeri EdwardsAudrey & Arthur EmersonDianne Engleke**Peter Ffolliott**Food Conspiracy Co-opGlenn Furnier & Aida Castillo-FloresFritz & Gayle JandreyMari Jensen & Karl FlessaSteve Marlatt*Cecilia McNicollChristina & Douglas McVieBarbara & Floyd MillerJustin NastChuck & Pat PettisMichael QuinlanPhil & Julia RosenKathie & Alan SchroederCecil & Carol SchwalbeTom SlawsonDavid & Nely StrattonBob TafanelliRon Thompson & Gordon Whiting,

Primero Conservation Outfitters,LLC

Leon Tsai & Diana Chapin-TsaiTony Vaccaro, Brooklyn Pizza

CompanyTim & Anna Van DevenderSandi WagelieElaine WalshJim Watson & Anne BerryNorm & Linda WatsonNancy Zierenberg* & Rod Mondt*

Our deep appreciation to our 2009supporters. Your faith has made our workpossible; your generosity exemplifies yourcommitment to protecting and restoring ourSky Islands. Thank you one and all.

� �


$2,000 and aboveEmilio Kifuri, Canyon TravelJuan Rascón Rubio, Sierra

Network SolutionsReed & Pat Mencke

$500 to $999Janet Hare, The Lodge at

Ventana CanyonGary WilliamsZeedyk Ecological

Consulting, LLC

Up to $499Art for ConservationASU College of Liberal ArtsASU Institute for HumanitiesASU Northern American

Center for Transborderstudies

ASU School of GeographicalSciences & Urban Planning

ASU School of Historical,Philosophical & ReligiousStudies

Bisbee Coffee Co. Border Action NetworkBorderlands Trading Co.Summer CelesteCentral School ProjectChina Mist Tea

Lorna Condon Cuenca Los Ojos FoundationCarol Cullen Engrained CaféKelli Gaither-Banchoff, Tucson

Touch TherapiesSadie Hadley & Sage GoodwinChip HedgcockPaul Hirt and Linda JakseThe Historic YWCATamara Jones, Bookman’s

Recycled EntertainmentLatin America NetworkScott Mencke, The HutMigrant Resource Center &

ShelterCarlos Nakai Northern Jaguar ProjectBruce Pheneger ArchitectSierra ClubJulie St. John Mark Thomson, Plaza LiquorsDavid TiersTrinity Presbyterian ChurchDale TurnerUniversity of Arizona Latin

American Studies Dept. University of Arizona Poetry

CenterTom Van DevenderCynthia Wolf, Wild by Nature

$100 to $249John AlcockTimothy AllenSandra Almasy, Creative

CostumesJames Ambrose**Louise & Andy

Anderson**Sandy AndersonAnonymousSergio Avila* & Jenny

NeeleyDiana Barnes-Freshwater

& David FreshwaterJack BartleyPatti Baynham**Alice Bennett**Acasia Berry*/**David BertelsenJean-Paul Bierny & Chris

TanzDave BilgrayAlan & Krista BinnieSteve Boberg & Lynn

MowerySophia BowartMaritza Broce**Jeanne & Robert BroomeLori Bryant**Elizabeth BuchroederStephen BuckJean CalhounSteve Carson, Rangeland

HandsJefferson & Constance

CarterAndrea ChappellLaura ClevelandMich Coker**A.T. & Cinda ColeCharles Cole & Carol

TownsendPaul & Lorna CondonJustin Congdon & Nancy

DicksonKathy CooperLynn Crew & Aaron MillerMelanie Culver**Ed Curley & Kathleen

FocklerDagmar Cushing & Dana

DeedsNicholas CzaplewskiBob DavisJonathan Davis & Sylvia

Marinas**Virginia Dean & Don

DemerittArthur DilleyBill Doelle & Linda Mayro

Rene & AnthonyDonaldson

Fran DostillioDoug DuncanCharles & Betty EldonMelanie Emerson*/**Pam EmersonRoy & Fran EmrickKim EtheringtonDonald FalkElizabeth FarkasGeorge Farmer & Linda

Zatopek**Deena Fishbein*Warren ForreyJoseph & Patricia FranneaCaroline Fraser & Harold

EspenPeter FriedericiCarianne Funicelli

CampbellRobert Garrett & Mary

HotvedtShannon GinnKirsten Girdner &

Bradford HazzardRodney GlassmanNeil GoodwinCherie Ann GossettPhil & Kaye GrayGreen Valley Hiking ClubBruce GungleDonna GuySuzanne HaddockGustav HallHomer Hansen,

AplomadoEnvironmental

Jonathan & RoseannHanson**

David & Billie HardyGretchen HarkinsJim & Kathy HaunPhillip Hedrick &

Catherine GormanRobert Herdliska & Fran

Altieri**Bruce HilpertJack HolderPeter HubbellBillie Hughes**Helen Ingram & David

LairdMike & Susan IngramLes JohnsonCory Lee JonesArlene KellmanJack Kiser & Denise

BounousLarry & Judith Laing**

Jessica Lamberton*Ken & Karen LambertonRudi LambrechtseBeth LangTracy LassenNicole LeBlancBeth & Ed Leuck**Jackie & Winston LewisHoward & Barbara LilleyLois LoescherLyn LovelessJeff & Becky MacEwen**Lucy & Marshall

Magruder**Jack & Katherine MariettaWilmet MarlattRob MarshallSusan MastGayle & Evelyn McClureSharon McDonough-

MeansJohn McLeanJim McPherson**Kaitlin Meadows & Albert

LannonNarca Moore-Craig &

Alan CraigSteven & Lois MorrisSue Morse, Keeping

TrackDawn MyersCarl NoggleHella Nordberg & Alicia

TonniesMary OlearyKatharine OlmsteadNancy PearceLinda PeeryMarie Claude PerigonKalman PijawkaDale PogorelskiMargaret Pope & Norman

EpsteinPeter & Marita PrandoniLuther Propst & Liz StorerRon PulliamMike Quigley*John Rawlins & Sylvia

DunnRichard & Laura Reilly**Diana Rhoades & Michael

FinkelsteinPatricia Rorabaugh &

Matthew JohnsonStephanie RozzoLaura & Paul SagermanJustin & Li Shen SchmidtStaffan Schorr & Susan

ShobeWilliam Scott

Leslie SellgrenMiriam SmeadAndrew & Harriet SmithGreg Smith & Karen

WorcesterHelen & Noel SnyderDonna Stevens & Van

ClothierRon & Renell StewartJulie St. John*/**Bron & Beth TaylorMichael TerrioWalker ThomasBill ThorntonLorraine Titus & Kim

VacariuHerb TrossmanJohn Urban & Robert

ClaassenRobert & Adelaide

ValentineBrian VandervoetJoseph VaughanElizabeth VierlingJim WaltersMarisa Wampler & Marcia

LockeCatherine Wanek & Pete

Fust**Janelle Weakly & Scotty

JohnsonMark WentleyElaine West & Kevin SharpCindy Wicker & Kent

JacobsAnthony & Suzanne

Wight**Jeff WilliamsonMary Wintermantel**Gary Wommack**Ish Wood**Anthony WrightWanda Wynne & Craig

MarkenDavid YetmanRobert ZierenbergRoss Zimmerman & Pam

Golden

* Sky Island AllianceBoard or Staff

** Monthly or QuarterlyDonors

Many, many thanks to the followingfriends for their in-kind support toSky Island Alliance in 2009:

Sky Island Alliance is

committed to spending

donor dollars wisely —

please consider becoming

a monthly or quarterly

donor and effectively

supporting our ongoing

and emerging work.

PO Box 41165, Tucson AZ 85717

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDTucson AZ

Permit #1156

Documents

Sky Island Alliance