| Arizona's
Natural Heritage |
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Arizona is a place of
ecological extremes. Landscapes include a
host of environments ranging from Alpine
tundra found on the San Francisco Peaks,
with an elevation exceeding 12,000 feet and
precipitation averaging 35 to 40 inches per
year, to Sonoran Desertscrub, where average
rainfall can be as little as 3 inches a year
and the lowest elevations are just above
sea level. Between these extremes exists
some of the most diverse habitat in North
America. These climatic conditions have given
rise to some of the most interesting and
unique species as well. One species of snail,
for example, exists in only a few square
feet of a deep canyon bottom. Other habitats,
such as desertscrub, include species like
the saguaro cactus that naturally occur in
few other places.
The same environmental conditions that produce such an interesting array
of wildlife and habitat have made Arizona very popular with humans as well.
Warm winter climates in the lower elevations of the state and cool summers
in the high country, along with myriad outdoor recreational opportunities,
have encouraged an ever increasing number of people to call Arizona home.
In response to this influx, and the associated outdoor activity, environmental
managers are studying the long-term effects of increased human demands
on our environmental resources.
In order to make sound management decisions, resource managers and administrators
must understand and appreciate the biological ecosystems being impacted.
Ecosystems are dynamic, so it is imperative that the most current information
is available for making decisions. Because humans now influence all ecosystems
in Arizona, we need to plan responsibly to lessen impacts caused by continued
development and economic growth. Arizona's Heritage Data Management System
(HDMS), which is managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, collects,
synthesizes, and catalogs information concerning the distribution and occurrence
of species and habitats in need of special attention. The HDMS is part
of a global network of more than 80 Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation
Data Centres. HDMS information is available so Arizonans can make prudent
decisions weighing future development, economic growth, and environmental
integrity. |
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