Tapping younger generations to preserve biodiversity

The peaks of southeastern Arizona’s “Sky Islands” rise from an earthen-hued sea of flat, high deserts and grasslands. These isolated towers of green emanate a decidedly otherworldly vibe.

A hot spot of biodiversity, the Madrean Sky Islands straddle Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico. An estimated 4,000 plant species can be found here, along with 600 species of bees and nearly 500 species of vertebrates, including the only jaguars in the United States.

Landscape-scale aridification represents an existential threat to the wildlife, people and communities of this region. Recent increases in the number and depth of wells, coupled with other factors, have sent groundwater levels plummeting. Today, only 4 percent of the historic rivers and streams still flow in Arizona. When rivers and streams disappear, so do the meandering corridors of vegetation that animals need to move through desert habitats.

Watch: Youth stewardship programs provide a meaningful way to conserve landscapes, improve community wellbeing and unlock career opportunities.

“It’s difficult to overstate the importance of riparian habitats, which produce 100 times more biomass than the surrounding desert,” said Caleb Weaver, youth education program manager with the Borderlands Restoration Network. “The rich habitat of mesquite, oak, ash, cottonwood, sycamore, and other plant life results in food, nesting sites, and shelter for both native and migrating wildlife.”

In 2022, NFWF awarded a grant of more than $188,000 to the nonprofit to hire and train young crew members to construct rock-and-wood structures in these remote streambeds. The project will restore 2 miles of riparian forest habitat in multiple headwaters drainages while enhancing groundwater recharge.

“Over time, we’ve learned that the key to fostering a community-wide ethic of environmental appreciation is to educate and empower the youth of that community,” Weaver said. “Our organization has been working with youth in the Arizona townships of Douglas and Patagonia for many years, where both youth and adults are now taking a leading role in local conservation efforts.”