YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS Sky Island Alliance's Second Annual People and Places Awards Banquet and Auction at the Stilwell House on the evening of Friday May 16, 2008. RSVP to Moniqua Lane at (520) 624-7080x17 or moniqua@skyislandalliance.org.

Festivities include a tequila tasting, live and silent auctions, awards and more!

Great Groups!

International Dark Sky Association

Tucson Wildlife Center

Southern Arizona Hiking Club

Click here to read the
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection's newsletter.

Wildlife Linkages Program: Annual Fort Huachuca Mount Lion Track Count

Fri-Sat-Sun, May 30-31 and June 1, 2008

The Fort Huachuca Track Count is a tradition that dates back to the late eighties; in fact, it is the longest running volunteer tracking program in the country. Gathering data on the presence/absence of mountain lions within the Huachuca Mountains of southeast Arizona is an important step to understanding and conserving our great natural heritage within the Sky Island region. Based out of Split Rock Canyon on the Fort Huachuca Military Reservation, volunteers have an opportunity to visit a landscape that has been protected since the late 1800s. Not only will volunteers document tracks and sign of mountain lion, they will also have the chance to see bear tracks, trogons, turkeys, and other special wildlife of the Sky Island region.

Tracking begins at daybreak on Saturday and Sunday, so be prepared for early mornings. We usually return to camp late morning. Great side trips will also be available. Sky Island Alliance provides tracking materials (track guides, rulers, GPS units, digital cameras). We'll be staying on the Fort Huachuca Military Reservation. The campsite is in Split Rock Canyon . There are port-a-potties and a lodge with no utilities or facilities. The lodge is for presentations only, so you'll want to bring a tent or camper and sleeping bag. You should also bring food, plenty of WATER, and any other amenities you might want for the weekend (camp chairs, cameras and notebooks recommended). Because of extreme fire danger, campfires are prohibited and cooking is allowed only in front of lodge. Please use only Coleman or other pressurized liquid or gas stoves. Folks arrive at various times Friday late afternoon and evening, though you can opt to arrive Saturday for tracking on Sunday.

IMPORTANT: To enter Fort Huachuca you'll need: TWO forms of identification - one of which must have your photo on it (e.g.. a drivers license). In addition, all vehicles entering the Fort must have proof of insurance and registration. FOREIGN VISITORS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AUTHORIZED PERSONAL - please contact Janice Przybyl to make arrangements.

If you'd like to attend, you must RSVP with an email and phone number. To RSVP, for questions, and for directions contact Janice Przybyl at janice@skyislandalliance.org or (520) 624-7080 x15.

And the winner is ... We're pleased to announce the winners of this year's Sky Island Alliance People and Places Awards (SIA's very own Oscars, after our beloved ocelot, not the Academy Awards), and we hope you'll join us at the banquet to honor their efforts in preserving and protecting our mountain islands and desert seas. If you can't make it to the banquet, consider making a donation to Sky Island Alliance in their honor. Without further ado ...

Dave Parsons, The Rewilding Institute. Mike Seidman Memorial Award, given to an individual in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions to land and wildlife conservation and who strives to connect the realms of science, grassroots organizing and on-the-ground success.

As former head of the Mexican wolf recovery program for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 1990-1999, Dave led the USFWS's effort to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf to portions of its former range in Arizona and New Mexico. Since then, as a private citizen and through the Rewilding Institute Dave works to promote conservation of large carnivores, ecological restoration, protection and conservation of biodiversity, and wildlands conservation at regional and continental scales. Currently Dave is providing the science and expertise as conservation groups monitor the Mexican Wolf Recovery program and work hard to promote changes in program management and policy to ensure that lobo will once again run free. Dave Parsons is a fitting recipient of this award because in those early years of Mexican Wolf recovery Mike Seidman worked alongside Dave. And in spite of all the set backs and disappointments, Dave is still working very hard toward that vision of wild wolves he shared with Mike.

Ray Carroll, Pima County Board of Supervisors. Public Service Award, given to an elected or appointed official who shows outstanding leadership in natural resource policy implementation throughout the Sky Island region.

Ray Carroll has been a long-time supporter of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and the work of the Empire-Fagen coalition, among other environmental conservation groups. He is a member of Republicans for Environmental Protection and delivered a speech at their first Republican Environmental Leadership Conference in 2007. Most recently, he has been an exceptionally strong and vocal leader opposing the planned Rosemont Mine. Supervisor Carroll was one of the first elected officials in southern Arizona to oppose Rosemont Mine--before many people thought it was a winnable fight. In fact, his strong and continued leadership (three times he sought a resolution from the Board of Supervisors, three times he was out-voted 4-1 before prevailing) directly led to the passage of Pima County Resolution NO. 2007-15 which opposed Rosemont Mine and went further, urging the Arizona Congressional delegation to "initiate permanent withdrawal from mining and mineral exploration all federal lands within the Santa Rita Mountains area of the Coronado National Forest."

Summit Hut, Locally-owned outdoor gear and clothing retailer. Business Conservation Award, given to a business whose practices, policies, or support significantly benefits the wildlands of the Sky Islands.

Locally owned and operated for over 30 years, Summit Hut is not only dedicated to outfitting the outdoor enthusiast from head to toe, but has supported and promoted conservation and appreciation of SE Arizona wild places. From hosting in house presentations on jaguar conservation (including presentations by Sky Island Alliance) to choosing local organizations (including Sky Island Alliance) to be recipients of proceeds from sales of clothing items or other promotions, Summit Hut is a true community leader for conservation.

Carlos Robles & Martha Felix de Robles, Rancho El Aribabi. Landowner Stewardship Award, given to landowners who shows exemplary dedication to restoring and protecting the native assemblages of species and natural processes that occur on their land.

Who better to give a land stewardship award to then a rancher who can be quoted as saying "I want to restore the natural processes to the land." The Robleses understand the impact from human activity on the land, and they are making choices that support conservation of the native flora and fauna. The Robleses have a long-term vision for their ranch: a sanctuary, a model for conservation, a pilot study area to help protect wildlife and their habitats, that can be replicated and in other ranches as alternative economic activities to cattle grazing.

Sherry Barrett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Agency Leadership Award, given to an agency or agency personnel who exhibit a high level of dedication toward project implementation which restores and protects native biological diversity.

Sherry is a native Arizonan who started her professional career studying the impact of the Central Arizona Project canal on the desert tortoise. She went to work for the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990, and became head of the Tucson ecological services office in 1999. Sherry has staffed the office with 12 approachable team players who, in order to protect endangered and threatened species, migratory birds and fish and wildlife habitat in southern Arizona, work effectively with everyone: land management agencies, the military, the public, academics, ranchers, conservationists groups, and business interests. The office's dedication to Sonoran Desert biodiversity is evidenced in Sherry's contributions to the Pima County Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP). With Sherry's help, the SDCP became a vehicle for broad protection of biodiversity rather than a species-by-species patchwork driven by strictly interpreted legal requirements. Sherry's leadership has had a lasting effect on our Sky Island landscape.

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Back in black: black-tailed prairie dog reintroduction starts this summer. Thanks to everyone who sent in comments on Arizona Game and Fish Dept's proposal to restore the Black-tailed prairie dog to southeastern Arizona. Prairie dogs are an essential component of grassland ecosystems that have long been missing from the grasslands of southeastern Arizona . But no longer! The AGFD Director decided to go ahead with the restoration project that will bring back this important Sky Island native species. The project is slated to begin in June.

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Not a member? Know someone who isn't a member, but should be? You may have guessed from our explosion of new projects, programs and hires that Sky Island Alliance has big conservation plans. In order to achieve those plans, we need big membership growth. This year, SIA is aiming to grow by 500 new members because big membership numbers translates into big conservation results. Whether we need to influence key congresspeople on Wilderness designation or particular agency staff on transportation or newspaper editorial boards weighing in on a public debate, the more members we have, the more influence we have and the more we can get done. If you're not already supporting us with your membership, please think about doing so now. Joining only takes a moment and your dues go to support programs like Wilderness and Special Designations, Wildlife Linkages, Landscape Restoration and Northern Mexico Conservation Program. Your membership also includes a subscription to Restoring Connections, Sky Island's critically-acclaimed journal. If you're not sure whether you're a current member or would like to provide a gift membership for someone who isn't a member, contact development associate Moniqua Lane, and she'll be glad to assist you. Moniqua can be reached at moniqua@skyislandalliance.org or (520) 624-7080x17.

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UPDATED Landscape Restoration Program Field Schedule for 2008

Check it out! skyislandalliance.org/calendar.htm

For more information, contact Trevor at (520) 624-7080x14 or at trevor@skyislanalliance.org.

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We want to continue to reach out to those who share an interest in protecting our beautiful landscapes. Please tell friends and co-workers they can receive our monthly eNewsletter by signing up for it here.