Conservation-&Amp;-Preserves

Richard Schultz points to land-clearing work across the border from Rancho de la Osa Guest Ranch, which he co-owns. Original article by Joe Ferguson, Arizona Daily Star Sasabe residents in the Altar Valley are nervously watching as construction crews bulldoze land just across the Mexican border. They believe, or more accurately fear, the corridor the size of a football field being carved into the Mexican desert is evidence that approval of a proposed 59-mile Kinder-Morgan pipeline through their area is little more than a formality. With a decision from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the actual route of the pipeline not expected until next year, Altar Valley residents are left to wonder how the 36-inch natural-gas-pipeline extension expected to cut through a path through their ranches and sensitive wildlife corridors will affect their lives. ...

Site of Rosemont copper mine (Photo credit: Arizona Mining Reform Coalition) Original article by Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star Close to 300,000 trees, mostly junipers and oaks, would likely be cleared on public land in the Santa Rita Mountains if the proposed Rosemont Mine is built. Clearing those trees will be controversial, but at this moment, it’s not known what will happen to them afterward. The U.S. Forest Service will charge Rosemont Copper for any cut trees removed from the site, and those proceeds will go to the federal Treasury. The trees, which are common, aren’t legally protected. ...

The proposed mine site in the Santa Rita Mountains is part of an important wildlife corridor that connects southern Arizona’s sky island mountain ranges — isolated mountains that rise up from surrounding lowlands — that are home to unique plant and animal species." caption=" Photo by Nate Merill The proposed mine site in the Santa Rita Mountains is part of an important wildlife corridor that connects southern Arizona’s sky island mountain ranges — isolated mountains that rise up from surrounding lowlands — that are home to unique plant and animal species." >}} ...

Credit: Photo by Tom Vezo/Save the Scenic Santa Ritas via Earth Island Journal Original article by Rosemont Mine Truth The Coronado National Forest’s proposed final environmental impact study for the Rosemont copper mine is drawing sharp criticism from Pima County’s top administrator. and two U.S. Congressmen from southern Arizona. Pima County is demanding that a new study be prepared in written comments submitted in response to the CNF’s proposed Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the massive copper mine. ...

Last opportunities of 2013 to help recover an endangered species Original article by Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA August 16, 2013 SELIGMAN, Ariz. - The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s black-footed ferret recovery effort will be conducting the final two spotlighting efforts of 2013 and is looking for dedicated volunteers to assist. The black-footed ferret, twice thought extinct, was reintroduced into Arizona’s Aubrey Valley in 1996. Each year Game and Fish conducts spotlighting efforts, which is the method used to document the population of this elusive, nocturnal, and endangered carnivore. ...