McDowell Sonoran Conservancy
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| Motto | “People Preserving Nature” |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, Arizona |
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Region served
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McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona 30,000+ acres |
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Executive Director
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Mike Nolan |
| Chair, Tom Headley | |
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Volunteers
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500 |
| Website | http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org |
McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy (The Conservancy) is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 conservation organization. Its published mission is to “champion the sustainability of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (The Preserve) for the benefit of this and future generations. As stewards, we connect the community to the Preserve through education, research, advocacy, partnerships and safe, respectful access.” The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve in the U.S. (List of urban parks by size), located within the city limits of Scottsdale, Arizona. It encompasses more than 30,000-acre (12,000 ha) of upper Sonoran Desert, including large portions of the McDowell Mountains.
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Scottsdale, provides for stewardship of the land within the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. A small paid staff works with volunteers, known as stewards, from the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy to assist the city staff. These services and activities include a volunteer stewardship program (see below), scientific and historical research, advocacy, and other activities that promote the use, protection, and enhancement of the Preserve.
In 1990, with the combined population of the nearby communities of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Rio Verde and Carefree approaching 150,000, housing and commercial developments were beginning to encroach upon the McDowell Mountains. Local citizens who for years enjoyed unobstructed mountain views and unfettered recreation within the mountain range increasingly came to the realization that the mountains were unprotected.
On November 17, 1990, thirteen concerned preservationists and outdoor enthusiasts met at Scottsdale’s Mustang Library to discuss preservation of the McDowell Mountains and adjacent Sonoran Desert lands. On January 21, 1991, the group incorporated as the McDowell Sonoran Land Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the McDowell Mountain area. Signers of the incorporation documents were Jane Rau and Karen Bertiger. The McDowell Sonoran Land Conservancy initially did business using the name McDowell Sonoran Land Trust (MSLT). In August 2005, it adopted a new dba name: McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
The MSLT board quickly realized that a reliance on private donations would not provide effective funding for the purchase and preservation of sufficiently large parcels of land. The board decided to turn to the citizens of Scottsdale for support. In 1992, they approached the Scottsdale city council with a request to develop a preservation plan for the McDowell Mountains and surrounding Sonoran Desert lands. The council created a task force to study preservation the following year. During this same period, MSLT directors began leading informal educational hikes into the future Preserve and writing numerous articles for local periodicals in order to build support among influential citizens.
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Wikipedia