CAZCA RE REGIONAL OPEN SPACE CONSERV STRATEGIES.PPTX

developing regional strategies for
Natural Natural Capital Capital
Conservation Conservation
People People
-and- -and-
Nature Nature Resource Resource
Restoration Restoration
OPEN SPACE

What will Maricopa County look like
25 years from now?

1975

2010

2040

What do Arizonans value as our
state’s “greatest asset”?
OPEN SPACE

The Vision of the CAZCA
A sustainable preserve system that supports
healthy ecosystems and
provides beautiful, safe open spaces
for healthy communities

CAZCA is developing
regional strategies for
open space conservation
Natural Natural Conservation Conservation Capital Capital
& &
People People Nature Nature
Restoration Restoration Resource Resource

Problem One
Land use change
• Fragmentation Fragmentation
• Loss Loss of of connectivity connectivity
• Changes Changes in in hydrologic hydrologic functioning functioning
• Degraded Degraded soils soils
• Increased Increased air air and and water water pollution pollution
• Reduced Reduced ecosystem ecosystem services services
• Decreased Decreased economic economic opportunity opportunity
Continuation Continuation of of this this trend trend will will reduce reduce native native
biodiversity, biodiversity, change change the the ecological ecological functioning functioning
of of the the landscape, landscape, hinder hinder delivery delivery of of
environmental environmental services services like like water water filtration filtration and and
heat heat mitigation, mitigation, and and destroy destroy the the values values that that
make make our our region region unique. unique.

Goal One
A robust network of habitat blocks and
connections to sustain native plant
and animal communities, provide
opportunity for human recreation,
support clean air and water resources,
and improve resilience to drought,
extreme heat, and flooding.

Natural Infrastructure Vision

Problem Two
Degradation
Diminished habitat quality and the
aesthetic by staffing and funding
challenges and urban impacts such as:
• off-trail recreational use
• past and current grazing
• air pollution
• invasive species incursions
Furthermore, intact habitats are not
monitored for change.

Goal Two
Open spaces are managed and restored to
conserve native biodiversity while enhancing
positive user experiences and socio-economic
benefits connected with the Sonoran Desert.



Problem Three
Connection with nature
People are spending less and less time in nature. Time in nature
increases creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity while reducing stress
and disease risk. People who are not connected to nature are less likely
to preserve it.

Goal Three
A public that is connected with the Sonoran Desert and
supports its conservation.


TAKE A PEAK
mymountainparks.org
FEED YOUR SOLE
mymountainparks.org

Problem Four
Patchwork policy and planning, often disconnected
from data and not reflective of constituent polling.

Goal Four
Regional infrastructure to develop
and implement collaborative and sustainable
open space management
and conservation strategies.

How can MCBOS help?
• Continued support and leadership from
MCPRD
• Support from planning
• Recommendation from County to MAG for
engagement and support
• Assistance to implement identified
strategies

Mark your calendars!
Next All-Partners Meeting
November 15th, 2016