Cultural and Natural Resource Assets

By emphasizing the importance of native plants, wildlife, diverse habitat, open spaces, clean energy and water, and fresh air, the Sonoran Institute uses healthy landscapes to achieve their long term conservation goals.

The Cultural and Natural Resource Assets section is by far the most comprehensive section of the toolkit covering Identified and Mapped Cultural and/or Natural Assets; Open Space/Agricultural Land Acquisition Programs; Cluster Development Policies, Wildlife Habitat and Corridor Protection, River and Wetlands Protection; Water Conservation Policies; Minimum Agricultural/Open Space Zoning; Right-to-Farm & Ranch Ordinances; Urban Agricultural Ordinances, Heritage Protection Plans & Historic Preservation Policies; Transfer of Development Rights Programs; Water Resource Management Plans; and Native Plant Ordinances.

 

  

  Featured Resource
  
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Sonoran Institute: Arizona State Trust Land Conservation Profiles

With funding from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and in collaboration with conservation groups, municipalities, and counties across Arizona, the Sonoran Institute has assembled state trust lands suitable for conservation into a single database. The conservation profiles included have been identified by stakeholders around the state as suitable for conservation for various reasons: preservation of wildlife corridors; archeological and historical gems; preservation of ancient cultures; and large landscape conservation to name a few.

  

 

Publications and Web Resources

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Wetlands and Watersheds

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – WaterSense Water Conservation Plan Guidelines

Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington – Cluster Development

Red Lodge Clearinghouse: Advancing citizen engagement in natural resources policy – Red Lodge Clearinghouse

Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities – ICMA/Smart Growth Network Publication

AZ Cooperative Extension - icon Conservation Subdivisions— An Alternative to Western Ranchettes (1.38 MB)