Upcoming Events
In this Issue: Post-wildfire research , virtual Speaker Series, July EcoQuest: Sonoran Survivors
Post-Fire Assessments with Maricopa County Parks

Many wildfires have recently affected the region, with the largest having burned more than 190,000 acres. After each fire is contained, the work of studying its effects and restoring the landscape begins. Six of Maricopa County’s 12 regional parks have been impacted by wildfires this season. Of those, the following parks experienced burned acreage:

  • White Tank Mountain Regional Park – approximately 126 acres
  • Cave Creek Regional Park – approximately 555 acres
  • McDowell Mountain Regional Park – roughly 25 acres

The CAZCA team and Desert Botanical experts have assisted Maricopa County Parks staff in the field, performing post-fire assessments at Cave Creek Regional Park. This research will help the teams gain a better understanding as to how mature and sub-adult trees, shrubs and the various cacti species are impacted by the wildfires. Soon the team will also plant native seeds within the burned areas.

Some good news: While conducting the field work, the team began to notice signs of regrowth as jojobas, fairy dusters, and palo verde trees have begun re-sprouting in the impacted area!
July 21: Virtual Speaker Series

Join us and LoriAnne Barnett, Director of the Arizona Association of Environmental Education to learn about environmental education (EE), how the work we do as conservation professionals intersects with educators and the role of equity, diversity and environmental justice. If you communicate about the environment, sustainability, natural resources, you are an environmental educator!
EcoQuest: Sonoran Survivors

Help us understand wildfires and its impacts in the Sonoran Desert by mapping plants that can help facilitate recovery of the desert landscape.

The July EcoQuest is dedicated to learning to recognize Sonoran Desert plants that can survive or repopulate after a fire in order to increase our understanding and appreciation of the Sonoran Desert habitat.
Help Us Map Stinknet

Many factors contribute to our changing landscapes like wildfires, climate change and human impact. Invasive plants like stinknet, buffelgrass and red brome also lead to a loss of biodiversity and greater wildlife risk.

Help find stinknet with iNaturalist to best protect the invaluable plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. Become a Defender , and join the project!
Inclusion in the Outdoors

Everyone deserves the benefits of nature and time spent outdoors. We recognize individuals experience nature differently and it's this diversity of relationships with nature and the love of it, that connects us people.

At our last Sonoran Insiders event we focused and spent time with two amazing environmental educators, Diona Williams founder of Out Back Learning LLC and Sylvia Collazo, PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University to hear their stories.

It was a fantastic discussion about what it means to be a BIPOC in the outdoors and how meaningful nature can be to everyone.
Help Us Update our Partner List
CAZCA is ​updating its active partner list. Any collaborating organization, institution and individual can join ​or reaffirm their active partnership ​by simply filling out the form.

​Once the registration is complete, you or your organization will appear on   our Partners page . Join this amazing community and galvanize conservation action in Central Arizona!
Partner Events
July 17: AAEE Virtual Summer Mixer

As the state prepares for the start of a new school year, join the Arizona Association for Environmental Education for an engaging discussion about the future of environmental education (EE) and the role educators can play in creating a new and better "normal" in Arizona.

Meet other professionals from around the state and share your ideas!
DIG Online: Landscape Design 101

This class with Landscape Architect & Master Gardener Dustin Simmons will show you that landscape design is not that intimidating once you approach it one bite at time! Designed to empower you with the fundamentals of landscape design and lead you through the steps you need to take your backyard space to the next level. Register and transform your backyard!

As we work to adjust to our new normal, many partners are working hard to provide opportunities to learn, share and connect. Is there an event you would like help to promote or recruit for? CAZCA can help. These events are important, and we want to be a resource to all our partners.

Fill out a quick Google form with event details and we will share on our website and on social!
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