A partnership worth its name
The Central Arizona Land Trust recently teamed up with Camp Navajo-Arizona National Guard, the Army National Guard and Coconino County to permanently preserve an important wildlife corridor and wetland southwest of Flagstaff, Arizona.
The more the merrier? When it comes to partners in landscape conservation, that's a good guiding principle. So, the Central Arizona Land Trust recently teamed up with Camp Navajo-Arizona National Guard, the Army National Guard and Coconino County to permanently preserve an important wildlife corridor and wetland southwest of Flagstaff, Arizona.
As this quaint mountain town rapidly grew, it became increasingly clear that Camp Navajo needed a buffer zone to ensure compatible land uses around the base. Camp Navajo is Arizona's largest military installation — and it's one of the most important training facilities in the Army Reserve and National Guard network.
At the same time, Coconino County and CALT wanted to preserve lands that support the open space and community plans and policies. Eventually, funding from the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program allowed CALT to acquire a conservation easement on 240 acres of Coconino County lands, known as the Frontiere property, adjacent to the Rogers Lake County Natural Area.
"This successful conservation effort will serve a two-fold purpose: It will guarantee permanent conservation of an important wildlife corridor for elk, pronghorn antelope and other large mammals, and ensure the long-term, compatible land uses to sustain state and national security objectives at Camp Navajo," said CALT board president Rebecca Ruffner.
This strategic conservation project, adjacent to resource-rich Rogers Lake County Natural Area, supports a wetland that attracts thousands of waterfowl and mammals. Wetlands such as this one, especially in the arid southwest, are among the most bio-diverse ecosystem types that exist, supporting a diverse range of animal and plant species. And protecting this property from development benefits people by assuring opportunities for recreation and other outdoor experiences.
"We have a strong partnership with the Central Arizona Land Trust. The conservation easement on the Frontiere property continues our work in the ephemeral wetlands of Rogers Lake County Natural Area to further protect this community asset for generations to come for activities such as hiking, environmental education, biking and other outdoor opportunities," said Coconino County Supervisor Matt Ryan.
What started as a security priority for the Army culminated in a conservation success benefiting the region's ecology, wildlife and community. That's what I call a landscape conservation partnership worth its name.
Asa Bjorklund is communications specialist at Central Arizona Land Trust.