Help create wildlife habitat by planting in an area of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge that was recently scarred by fire. Come for a day or camp out and join in for multiple days!

Note: Sky Island Alliance is helping to raise awareness among our volunteers for this project at BANWR. This is not a Sky Island Alliance event. Please reach out to Morgan Walter for more information or to register: [email protected] or call 443-293-2992.

The Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) project is a collaboration between US Fish and Wildlife and Altar Valley Conservation Alliance. We are working in an area that experienced a human caused wildfire about 3 years ago. The fire damaged about 4,000 acres, 2,000 of which was on Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, leaving behind a large burn scar. The primary goal of our restoration effort is the re-establishment of native plants to provide proper habitat for masked bobwhite quail, as well as increased watershed function and ecological resilience. We are working with 13 plant species that are native to the Sonoran Desert and will provide proper cover and food resources for the MBQ as well as a diversity of wildlife including deer, pronghorn, and migratory birds. The BAR project is multifaceted and requires not only the installation of native plants, but also seeding, management of mesquite trees, and erosion mitigation. The BAR team will be planting 6500 plants between April and May and again between October and November for a total of (+/-) 13,000 plants.

May plant installment, May 3rd – May 6th:

Volunteers can sign up for one day or multiple.

Our daily planting schedule is 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Being that the project site is in a remote area of the refuge, we prefer to have everyone work the full day but can be flexible if necessary. With COVID restrictions we understand that carpooling might not be the best option, however if it can be arranged that is also best. 4×4 is recommended. We have been very successful in planting 600 plants plus installing irrigation drip tubes per day. Our goal is to plant 600 plants on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, with the remaining 200 planted on the 6th. While this is a volunteer project, everyone is welcome to camp onsite at the refuge. If you decide to camp, please bring all necessary food and gear to be self-sufficient. Please keep in mind that these camp sites are remote and will require 4×4 and some travel time.

Please bring lots of water, a large lunch with plenty of snacks, and full sun protection (long pants and long sleeves plus a hat and sunscreen is recommended, shorts and short sleeves are not). Work gloves and a garden trowel are helpful but not required. COVID regulations will be observed, as such a mask is required.

Directions from Tucson to Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge:

Address:

37257 S. Sasabe Rd, Sasabe AZ 85633

Directions:

Travel time to the refuge from the south side of Tucson is about 1-1.5 hrs. From Tucson, take highway 86 west to Three Points. At that junction, turn south on Highway 286. Go ~40 miles south. Pass the paved entrance road at mile marker ~7 and continue to the dirt entrance road at mile marker 6.5. It’ll be on the left. Continue down the dirt road. You’ll approach 2 large buildings on the right with tall pine trees between them, park between the pines. We’ll be waiting outside.

For more information or to register: contact [email protected] or call 443-293-2992.