Pima County publishes its first “Annual Report” on the Multi-Species Conservation Plan

March 23, 2017

At the end of February, Pima County published its first required “Annual Report” on the implementation of the Multi-Species Conservation Plan (or MSCP). The MSCP was almost 18 years in the making and provides mitigation for impacts to 44 species in Pima County, seven of which are currently listed as endangered (scientists determined that the remaining species could become endangered over the 30-year life of the plan). The Coalition was an involved partner in the MSCP every step of the way and, with your support, advocated for the strongest conservation measures possible to be included in the plan. We continue to partner with Pima County as they implement the plan – in February, we facilitated an overflight of Pima County conservation lands by Pima County staff so they could do a “saguaro count” to assess habitat conditions. The flight was provided for free by LightHawk, Inc. 

A few notable milestones outlined in the Annual Report include:

  • In October 2016, Pima County permanently protected mitigation lands owned by the County or the Regional Flood Control District with restrictive covenants. This is something the Coalition strongly advocated for and we were very pleased when it finally happened. 
  • Private lands voluntary coverage officially began on January 9, 2017.
  • The Bingham Cienega property was chosen as the first official mitigation property for impacts to habitat. 

To read the full MSCP Annual report, head here. 

And thank you again for all your support of the MSCP and the Coalition’s advocacy and involvement in this award-winning conservation plan! 

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