Julie St. John

It’s not just the plants and critters that need the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection to be the catalyst behind open space preservation, habitat conservation planning, and wildlife linkages… WE ALL DO.

It’s not just the tree huggers and the greens who need the Coalition to gather and motivate our political leaders for state trust land reform and water resources policy planning… WE ALL DO.

It’s not just the air we breathe and the water we drink (plus the myriad of biological processes we are not even aware of that we need to survive) which need the Coalition to give voice to the real consequences from the proposed Rosemont Mine and other short-sighted get-rich-quick schemes… WE ALL DO.

And it’s not just me and the rest of the choir who need to give monthly support to help the Coalition protect our homescape… WE ALL DO. The Coalition’s work is essential and effective and its staff is tirelessly (and inspiringly) can-do. The steady stream of individuals’ funding for its day-to-day work allows the Coalition the flexibility to move forward strategically when opportunities present themselves. I have seen so many changes in my almost quarter of a century here, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am to know that the Coalition is here to make sure the Sonoran Desert has a voice. You all have my eternal thanks and support for all you do.

Oona

I first learned about your organization because I wanted to donate for my birthday, so we looked for an organization that helped the desert. I decided to donate to the desert because it’s a very unique place and it’s really enjoyable. I think the Sonoran Desert is worth protecting because it is a place for people to be with nature. It is also home to many animals and the only place where saguaro cacti grow.

Chuck Graf

When my wife, Mary, and I chose to move back to Tucson last year, I soon learned about the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. There was much to like – action, not talk. They had assembled a truly impressive coalition and were clearly good at working with their coalition partners, including governmental partners. They were protecting desert wildlife corridors between the mountains and getting wildlife over/underpasses built. I now monitor two camera with my cam co-caretakers, Don Broomall and Aleksandra Apostolova, always optimistic about capturing great photos. Looking out from our camera locations, I am encouraged to see that there is still a large swath of natural Sonoran Desert extending to the Tortolitas. Yes, it is encroached on in places, particularly by the I-1o crossing, but if we resolve to, we can protect it and enhance it as a viable wildlife corridor. I picture the animals out there safely padding along on their game trails and hope that we can pass that reality to our children and grandchildren. For me, that is one great reason among many to support the Coalition.

Judith Meyer

The Coalition’s work epitomizes the best sort of advocacy: gentle persuasion, relentlessly applied, utilizing the scientific and political expertise of many segments of the community. Each time I read a letter from the Coalition on a current issue before one of the governmental bodies, I find it impressively researched and written. The Coalition’s diligent work is crucial as a balance to the ever-present pressure to develop more of our open space, rather than rebuild and improve already-developed areas. The Coalition has helped to focus the attention of local governments and other segments of the broader Tucson community on the importance of conservation.

Susan Shobe

I’ve been a long-time supporter of the Coalition because I’ve been inspired by the work they’ve accomplished in protecting our vanishing wild desert areas. They truly are a coalition – building relationships and working with others to find common ground while holding true to the mission of protecting habitats that will sustain the full range of our native species to the greatest extent possible. Their work reminds us again and again what is best about Pima County, and that the hard work and dedication to saving it really can pay off.

Kathy Renno

In the 15 years that Gerd and I have lived in Tucson, we have come to love and appreciate our beautiful desert environment. As residents of the Tanque Verde Valley areas, we consider it a privilege to see bobcats, deer, javelinas, jackrabbit and other bunnies, and even rattlesnakes and other creatures in our neighborhood. We have come to learn about the importance of wildlife linkages to maintain biodiversity and thriving populations. We started out by making a small monthly contribution by automatic withdrawal from our checking account, and we have since found that it doesn’t hurt at all to increase that contribution. Not only have we appreciated the opportunity to financially support an organization that we have grown passionate about, but we are also finding more and more ways to volunteer our time for the work of the Coalition. A big THANK YOU for all the work the Coalition is doing!

Sarah McKenzie

The desert is full of contradictions – tough, thorny, poisonous and at the same time, fragile, delicate and sweet. I wanted to help preserve this most amazing place. I wanted to get involved with an effective group and I found one. I volunteer with interesting like-minded people, monitoring a wildlife camera, helping with mailings, and lobbying in Phoenix. Financial support is the life blood of a non-profit and is how it carries out its mission. I’ve found giving to be easy and satisfying by setting up an automatic monthly contribution through the website. Supporting the Coalition through volunteering time and money is for me a strong antidote for the powerlessness I can feel watching the disappearing wilderness.

Deirdre Rosenburg

I support the Coalition because of the hard work and approach they take in conserving and protecting the Sonoran Desert. The way they get our local community involved creates a sense of belonging; which makes such a huge positive impact on those of us calling this magnificent region home. I’ve personally been very inspired by the calls to action put out by the Coalition, as they make it straightforward for us to make a difference. Giving back to this organization feels good because I know they are working so hard for so much that matters to me: all the life of the desert!

Greg Lesoine

I live in Moab, Utah but spend a bunch of time in Tucson as well. The reason I have been donating to the CSDP all these years is pretty simple. I believe that the Sonoran Desert is extraordinary and is worth protecting. The wildlife and the plants don’t have a voice in our human world, so I feel it is up to us to be that voice. I like to think that I am voting for the environment with my dollars!

Gene Einfrank

As a young boy I spent hours exploring the desert near our home. I was fascinated by the beauty and the mystery of this unique environment; the abundant cacti, plants, wildlife and the intoxicating scent that follows a summer rain. On our visits to the Desert Museum, we often stopped at the top of Gates Pass to marvel at the pristine forest of saguaros that filled the valley below.

Decades later (I’m now 72) the region is growing by leaps and bounds and the desert is under siege. Acre by acre new development encroaches on irreplaceable habitat. Today the drive to Gates Pass is pockmarked with homes. And a proposal to construct a freeway through Avra Valley threatens the fragile integrity of an entire ecosystem. These and other critical issues are among the many why I donate to the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. CSDP is out there for all of us, challenging big interests to protect and preserve what makes Tucson and Southern Arizona a special place on earth.

Sam Wilber

I support the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection because all wildlife deserves to move throughout their home safely! I started volunteering for the Coalition when I was very new to Tucson. I didn’t know anything about the desert and didn’t know anyone who lived in it. As I started volunteering to monitor wildlife trail cameras, I made some amazing connections and began to feel like I belonged. Of the two other volunteers that I worked with most closely, one became my best friend and the other became my husband. The Coalition has made as positive an impact on my life as it has on the lives of the wildlife it works to protect. As I learned how special the Sonoran Desert is, I also learned how critical this protection is. Our magical desert is an extremely unique and diverse ecosystem that we cannot afford to damage. The wildlife that we share this home with deserve safe crossings and protected habitat, and I am so happy to support the incredible team at the Coalition in this mission. Un amigo del desierto es un amigo mío.

I remember a time when the environmental groups in our area didn’t play well with each other and were pretty much uninvolved in politics. Individual neighborhood groups tried to carry the ball alone. During the development of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, it became obvious that something like the Coalition was needed. Carolyn Campbell and others stepped up to do a lot of hard work organizing the groups to speak as one on key issues, creating a real force for good: regional transportation plans, zoning decisions, bond issues and other things that really moved the needle on land and water and species in Pima County! This behind-the-scenes political work is unglamorous, but it is part of the less visible value that the Coalition staff provide, bolstered now by the excellent wildlife science of Jessica Moreno and work of many volunteers. Long live the Coalition!

Ed Hendel – Tucson Mountains Association

As President of the Tucson Mountains Association, I am proud to represent our organization as a dedicated member of the Coalition. We deeply appreciate the Coalition’s leadership, advocacy, and community education on numerous critical conservation projects. Their legal and political efforts on issues like Interstate-11 have been invaluable, providing hope and driving progress for the environmental movement in Southern Arizona. We are honored to collaborate with the exceptional individuals and partner organizations within the Coalition to protect our precious Sonoran Desert ecosystem.