Central Arizona Conservation Alliance

The Sonoran Desert is home to some of the most unique and iconic (💅) plants. Planting native in your yard will not only give you something beautiful to look at but, it will also help protect the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

Check out our Urban Desert Landscape guide at bit.ly/desertscape to find a list of native plants to fit your landscaping needs!

Join us from the comfort of your air conditioning this summer for the second annual CAZCA Summer Education Series! Beat the heat and learn something new from our expert partners 😎 (did we mention its free? 🤑)

Find more information and register by visiting cazca.org/events

We ❤️ the Sonoran Desert ... however you want to say that is your business

The CAZCA Summer Education Series are back! Learn about the future of Arizona's water Wednesday June 10th from 5:00-6:30 with Director of ASU's Kyl Center and AZ water policy and conservation expert Sarah Porter!

With a background in environmental leadership, Sarah advocates for innovative solutions to ensure long-term water sustainability 🌊🌵

Register at https://cazca.org/events/az-water-policy-webinar/

The City of Scottsdale is hiring a Preserve Manager! Play a defining role in stewarding one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated urban preserves- lead the daily operations of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Pinnacle Peak Park, ensuring that world-class trails, facilities, natural resources, wildlife habitats, and visitor experiences continue to thrive 🌵

Apply using the

Application closes 5/13

Day 4 of the City Nature Challenge 🌳🌆

Today’s challenge: explore an urban park.
With so many parks across the Greater Phoenix Area, you don’t have to go far to find nature. From neighborhood green spaces to larger city parks, these spots are full of surprising biodiversity.

🦋 Look for pollinators, birds, and plants thriving in urban spaces
🌿 Check under trees, near water features, and along paths
📸 Snap your observations and upload them to iNaturalist

Nature is closer than you think—what will you find in your local park?

Let’s keep the observations coming—every one counts! 🌵

Day 3 of the City Nature Challenge ⛰️🌿

Today’s challenge: head for the hills!
From neighborhood trails to iconic desert peaks, the Greater Phoenix Area’s mountains are full of unique plants and wildlife just waiting to be discovered.

🌵 Look for desert plants adapted to rocky terrain
🦎 Spot lizards, birds, and other wildlife along the trail
📸 Capture your observations and upload them to iNaturalist

Take your observations to the next elevation—you never know what you’ll find.

Let’s keep it going—every observation counts! 🌵

Day 2 of the City Nature Challenge 🌊🌿

Today’s challenge: **follow the water.**

Even in the desert, our riparian areas are full of life—lakes, ponds, and even our man-made canals are some of the best places to spot biodiversity in the Greater Phoenix Area.
🐦 Look for birds, insects, and plants that thrive near water
🐸 Keep an eye (and ear!) out for wildlife you might not see elsewhere—maybe even spot a macroinvertebrate!
📸 Snap your observations and upload them to iNaturalist

You might be surprised by just how much life you find where water flows.

Let’s keep the momentum going—every observation counts! 🌵

It’s go time, Greater Phoenix Area! 🌵📸

The City Nature Challenge starts NOW—and every observation counts. Whether you’re out on the trail, in your neighborhood, or even your backyard, you’re helping document the incredible biodiversity of our region.

Need a place to start?
🕷️ Take on the Species Challenge: upload an arthropod (insects, spiders, and more!) to iNaturalist
🎯 Try our CNC Bingo and see how many you can spot—saguaro, roadrunner, something fragrant, and more!
Go at your own pace, explore what’s around you, and most importantly—have fun with it.

📱Don’t forget to upload your observations to iNaturalist so they count!

Let’s show what the Greater Phoenix Area can do 🌿