GAP Status

Primarily public lands with permanent protection from conversion of natural cover and a mandated management plan to maintain a natural state within which disturbance events are allowed or mimicked through management, but may contain uses that detract from quality of land such as visitor centers, high levels of traffic through land, heavily used trails and campgrounds. A maximum of 5 percent of the land is allowed to be managed in an unnatural state.

Primarily public lands with permanent protection from conversion of natural land cover and a mandated management plan in operation, but receives uses or management practices that degrade the quality of existing natural communities, including suppression of natural disturbances. Over 5 percent of the land is managed in an unnatural state.

Primarily public lands managed to maintain biodiversity, but not subject to permanent protection.

Primarily public lands with permanent protection from conversion of natural land coverfor the majority of the area, and subject to extensive uses of either broad, low-intensity type (logging), or localized intensive type (mining, bombing, residential). It also confers protection to federally endangered and threatened species throughout the area.

Private or public lands without existing easements or irrevocable management agreements to maintain native species and natural communities; but without existing development or land uses which limit the land value for conservation purposes, and without entitlements or existing plans for changes in land use intensity.

Private or public lands without existing easements or irrevocable management agreements to maintain native species and natural communities; with no existing development but with existing uses which limit the land value for conservation purposes.

Private or public lands without existing easements or irrevocable management agreements to maintain native species and natural communities; with no existing development, but with existing use designations for increased intensity of land uses.

Private or public lands with existing development or other uses which minimize value for conservation purposes.

Land Conservation Status	Reserve Name	Reason for Status Placement
Status 1a	Baboquivari Peak Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources.
	BOR Wildlife Mitigation Corridor	This small reserve is intended for use as a CAP canal crossing for wildlife. The corridor is managed to prohibit future developments within the reserve, other than existing or future wildlife improvements.
	Butterfly Research Natural Area	RNA’s are managed for wilderness values and uses while providing opportunities for non-disruptive research and education. Use restrictions may be imposed as necessary.
	Cienega Creek Natural Preserve (CC&Rs)	A portion of Cienega Creek NP is managed under Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions which provide permanent protection for certain resources and restrictions for activities.
	Coyote Mountain Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources.
	Rincon Mountain Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources.
	Saguaro National Park Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources.
	Santa Catalina Research Natural Area	RNA’s are managed for wilderness values and uses while providing opportunities for non-disruptive research and education. Use restrictions may be imposed as necessary.
Status 1b	Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge	BANWR does not have an official management plan. As part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the reserve management is dictated by the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act and Executive Order 12996. This area experiences heavy pressure from border crossers.
Status 1b	Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area	The refuge and the wilderness have permanent protection and a mandated management plan committed to maintain a natural state within the reserve. Both the Cabeza Prieta Refuge and Wilderness have been placed in Status 1b due to military activities that may detract from the quality of the land. The refuge is also under heavy pressure from border crossers.
	Mt. Wrightson Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources. This wilderness experiences heavy visitation.
	Organ Pipe National Monument Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources. This area experiences heavy pressure from border crossers.
	Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area	Wilderness areas are managed under the mandates provided in the Wilderness Act of 1964. The wilderness designation gives permanent, legal protection to land resources. The Pusch Ridge Wilderness is located near a metropolitan area and is heavily used by visitors.
	Saguaro National Park	Saguaro National Park is permanently protected and has a mandated management plan. Both areas outside the wilderness areas are heavily visited and have visitor centers.
	The Nature Conservancy Deeded Lands	TNC lands have permanent protection and are managed to maintain a natural state and to allow natural processes.
	West Branch Mitigation Property	The West Branch is permanently protected and has a mandated management plan. The mitigation property is managed to maintain a natural state and to allow natural processes.
Status 2	BOR Posta Quemada Mitigation	Land was purchased as mitigation for disturbance on the Ft. McDowell Indian Reservation. Land managed in perpetuity for benefit of natural resources.
	Catalina State Park	The area is permanently protected and has a management plan. The park is over 5% developed.
	Desert Research Station	The Desert Station is deed restricted.
	Las Cienegas National Monument	Establishment of the NCA provides the area with permanent legislative protection. Approved management plan.
	Mason Audubon Society	MAS is deed restricted. There is no management plan.
	Organ Pipe National Monument	OPCNM is heavily visited and Highway 85 runs through the reserve. The monument also has a visitor center, camp grounds, and development plans for new facilities.
	Tucson Mountain Park	The Tucson Mountain Park is bisected with roads and heavily used trails. Two commercial enterprises are also located in the Park.
Status 3a	Agua Caliente Regional Park	Public park with potential for reestablishment of native fish.
	Bingham Cienega Natural Preserve	This reserve does not have permanent protection.
	Canoa Ranch	This reserve does not have permanent protection or a management plan. Management goals are currently being established.
	Cienega Creek Natural Preserve	This portion of the reserve does not have permanent protection.
	Colossal Cave Mountain Park	Not subject to permanent protection or a management plan.
	Ironwood Forest National Monument	This monument is permanently protected with a management plan due out soon (summer 2004). Approved management plan expected to boost status placement.
	Tortolita Mountain Park	Not subject to permanent protection or a management plan.
	Tumamoc Hill Research Station	Not subject to a management plan.
Status 3b	Arthur Pack Regional Park	Public park with multiple uses.
	Buckelew Ranch	Not subject to permanent protection. Management practices are unknown.
	Lords Ranch	Not subject to permanent protection. Management practices are unknown.
	Southeast Regional Park	Public park with multiple uses.
	A-7 Ranch	City of Tucson operated ranch used as a grass bank.
	Goldwater Gunnery Range	Permanently protected. Subject to military activities that may detract from the quality of the land.
	Marana Mitigation Lands	Not enough information is known on these lands. Status may improve when management is known.
	Marana Conservation Easements	Not enough information is known on these lands. Status may improve when management is known.
	Santa Rita Experimental Range	The range is used for ecological and rangeland research. Its purpose is to explore ways to manage range lands for a variety of uses, and may involve the introduction of exotic species, brush control, and other uses detrimental to maintaining biodiversity.
	The Nature Conservancy Easements	Private property with conservation easements.
	Sonoita Valley Acquisition Planning District (BLM)	BLM land within the SVAPD.
	Coronado National Forest	Subject to a management plan. Allows logging, mining, other uses that might be detrimental to maintaining biodiversity.
Status 4a	State Trust Lands included within the boundaries of Las Cienegas NCA and Ironwood National Monument	Legislation creating these reserves identified State lands within the reserve boundaries as a priority for acquisition.
	Pima County and Pima County FCD parcels	These lands are not permanently protected, nor managed for biodiversity.
	Marana Proposed Conservation Easements	Proposed conservation easements. Need to be formalized to be placed in a status.
	BLM Sonoita Valley Planning District Lands	Owned by BLM, but not part of Las Cienegas. Potential exists for inclusion into the reserve system.