Natural Resources Program
Natural Resource staff are committed to protecting, conserving, and enhancing the natural heritage and biological diversity of Maricopa County’s regional parks. These natural areas support wildlife, preserve desert ecosystems, and provide meaningful outdoor experiences for current and future generations.
Healthy natural areas contribute to the quality of life for park visitors and surrounding communities.
Our Approach
- To effectively manage high-quality natural areas, we focus on:
- Understanding the biodiversity within the park system and surrounding wildlands
- Studying how ecosystems function and maintain balance
- Monitoring how plant and animal communities change over time
- Protecting ecosystem integrity and preventing resource degradation
- Maintaining healthy desert ecosystems is a priority across the regional park system.
What We Do
Natural Resource management activities include:
- Monitoring plant and animal species and documenting biodiversity
- Restoring degraded or disturbed habitats
- Removing invasive species and planting native vegetation
- Reducing fire fuel loads in Saguaro and Palo Verde habitats to help prevent wildfire spread
- Conducting and evaluating research to better understand ecosystem dynamics
- Collaborating with regional partners on shared conservation goals
- Encouraging public involvement in natural resource stewardship
To learn more about these efforts, please visit the Natural Resources pages.