Tucson Audubon’s Urban Sustainability Program works toward sustainable resource management in Tucson and southern Arizona. In the face of climate change, increasing population, and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and water, southern Arizona has the opportunity to be a model for conversion to reliance on renewable resources. The components of this program include sustainable urban habitat creation, tracking climate change and shifting to renewable energy and water supplies.
Climate Change and Renewable Resources
Executive Director Paul Green sits on the City of Tucson’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. The committee advises the city on the possible courses climate change may take and what the city should be doing to prepare.
Tucson Audubon also promotes renewable energy, alternative transportation and other means to reduce pollution and soften our footprint on the environment.
Urban Habitat
The urban habitat program is designed to reconcile the needs of people and wildlife through the enlightened design of urban and exurban spaces. It seeks to create habitat for birds while addressing sustainability issues such as energy and water use, carbon footprint and non-point source pollution. In addition to working with government agencies on policy issues and with private interests who express an interest in making their projects friendly to wildlife, we also have the following programs in place.
Backyards, Neighborhoods and Developments
We are working with neighborhoods to plan landscape improvements to individual yards and rights-of-way. A TogetherGreen “Innovation Grant” (www.togethergreen.org) has allowed us to work extensively with Barrio Kroeger Lane, a neighborhood near downtown Tucson, to install demonstration landscapes. These landscapes harvest rainwater to reduce street flooding and to grow dense landscapes of native plants beneficial for wildlife.
Neighborhoods and homeowners associations may request presentations from Tucson Audubon staff on bird-friendly, sustainable landscaping. Contact Kendall at 520-206-9900, 520-971-2385 (cell), or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Landscape Recognition Program
Homeowners and neighborhoods can apply to have their landscaping recognized by Tucson Audubon. If your land contains enough of the characteristics that meet our criteria for urban habitat, Tucson Audubon will recognize the land has habitat for birds and other wildilfe. There is no cost for recognition, but there is a fee for signs denoting Tucson Audubon's recognition of the property. We are working on an on-line application form.
Course on "Landscaping for Urban Wildlife and Sustainability"
Tucson Audubon offers a "Landscaping for Urban Wildlife and Sustainability" design course. This course provides training to create landscapes that not only meet traditional landscaping goals, but also provide food, shelter and nesting opportunities for birds, and that provide for the needs of other small urban wildlife.
