Consistent with our mission, the Institute has worked primarily with communities adjacent to protected areas or public lands with significant natural values. We help residents identify what they value about their communities, create a shared vision for their future, and launch specific projects that help them realize their vision. Often, these activities, which range from planning initiatives to business development projects, are coordinated by local steering committees or new organizations dedicated to realizing the community's vision. We have coined the term Community Stewardship to describe our overall approach to conservation because, in our view, conservation has to include more than just saving land or protecting wildlife. Make no mistake, Community Stewardship takes time.
Every setting is unique and requires an individually tailored approach.
But at the Sonoran Institute, we are confident that community-based initiatives offer the best hope for lasting and effective solutions to the challenges facing our landscapes and communities.