Saguaro Monitoring Citizen Science Project

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Saguaro cacti are a keystone species of the Sonoran Desert, and inhabitants of the desert ecosystem rely on it for food and shelter. When keystone species disappear from an area, the entire ecosystem changes.

Saguaros in the Sonoran desert are facing a multitude of threats including wildfire, human encroachment, extreme heat and drought. While several saguaro restoration projects are currently in progress, the lack of detailed health data hinders efforts to effectively prioritize restoration areas. Better monitoring data on planted saguaros could enhance strategies for future plantings.

To assist in these efforts, Friends of the Tonto is developing a saguaro monitoring project which YOU can help with. Taking a citizen science approach, we will be training people how to document saguaro health using an ESRI Fields Map app so that the condition of saguaros across the Tonto National Forest can be recorded. Once trained, you can head out anywhere in the Tonto National Forest and report on the cacti you see.