SUPPORT OUR YEAR-END CAMPAIGN TO HELP BUILD A MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT BORDERLANDS
Did you know that due to declining rainfall and warming temperatures the Sky Islands borderlands region is in the midst of the worst drought in 1200 years?

There are many things that 2020 will be remembered for, perhaps the most significant will prove to be the growing urgency around our climate crisis. From mega-droughts to unprecedented wildfires to a hurricane season in overdrive, our climate system is becoming more extreme.

The Sky Islands are home to some of the greatest biodiversity of plants and animals in all of North America. More than 7,000 species of plants and animals including over half of the birds, bees and moths can be found here, as well as 41 endangered species of animals.
​We are addressing the climate crisis by actively sequestering carbon, mitigating for future climate change and building resilience into our human and nonhuman communities. With your support, we will continue to work diligently to secure and store soil organic matter, slow and sink water, and recharge groundwater in local watersheds.

​This year alone we have installed over 500 erosion control and water harvesting structures on public and private lands, and since 2012 we have installed thousands across the Arizona and Sonoran borderlands.
The unique native plants of our region have incredible capacities to tolerate a changing climate, but our ecosystems face a multitude of threats in addition to drought. That’s why our Native Plant Program is working to secure and bolster the inherent adaptability of the plant life in our borderlands by collecting, propagating and providing genetically diverse native plants and seeds for restoration projects that benefit wildlife and people.
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Just this year we have planted over 1000 Emory oaks in the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve. These deep-rooted key stone species are creating a network of canopy that provide crucial shade, make migration between mountain ranges easier, and provide a haven and insect source for birds to nest. These extremely drought tolerant oaks will continue to store carbon for centuries while also providing some of the most delicious acorns of all.
Because of you, we are also working to build more resilient communities throughout the region. While the pandemic has caused us to postpone our field courses and Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) this year, we adapted to virtually host four interns from Sonora, Mexico and answered the call for assistance from the Comcaac Indigenous Communities in Sonora to help them combat COVID-19. Efforts lead by BRN Senior Fellow Laurie Monti helped create and supply two COVID-19 response clinics in Comcaac villages which are now staffed by 13 community health promoters and supported by medical and public health professionals.
We are also collaborating with Baboquivari High School and the Tohono O'odham Community College to bring a second year of Ṣu:dagī ‘O Wud Doakag (Water is Life), a paid after school internship designed to engage O'odham youth in cultural rainwater harvesting education and activities.

In 2021, we plan to do more of this critical work, but our capacity to build resilient borderlands depends on your generous support. Each rock, seed, plant and person, including you, makes a lasting impact on fighting climate change, strengthening ecosystems, and building vibrant borderland communities.

In 2020, with support from many sources and a good deal of creativity, we have kept our staff employed and working in the field, although we anticipate 2021 will be even more challenging. Your investment in our work is essential now more than ever. You can make your tax deductible donation by check using the included return envelope, or make a one-time or recurring monthly gift online.

Thank you so much and know that your contribution will have a direct impact on the health and well-being of the land and all who call it home in our very special and spectacular borderlands.


Sincerely,
Kurt Vaughn, PhD, Executive Director
Lynn Davison, Board President