Human Impacts on Sonoran Desert Ecosystem

         The establishment of humans in and around the Sonoran desert has persisted since pre-Colonial times with Native American settlements; however with European arrivals it has only expanded and populations have increased around these regions. Currently there are major American and Mexican cities and towns in the Sonoran Desert. Water depletion like dams and groundwater pumping helped the land be plowed in areas like mesquite forests west of Hermosillo and ironwood plains around Caborca (Sheridan) Heromossilo and Caborca are located in the Mexican State of Sonora. Large urban cities in the Untied States like Tucson and Arizona have been able to grow because of technological advances that have allowed more water to be dispersed. However, water is limited and cities in the Sonoran Desert can only grow so much but this fact has not stopped growing development. The expansion of cities leads to more building infrastructure. Large agriculture must continue as well to sustain the population of people. Therefore, human development alters the Sonoran natural environments by reducing the natural space, pollution, introducing invasive species, fires, and ultimately interrupting the ecosystems when wildlife declines (Sheridan). For example a study conducted in Maricopa County and the city of Phoenix around urbanized areas showed that there were more exotic plant species around urban homes (Table 1 down below). They also found a correlation to declining avian communities due to urbanization and the planting of exotic plants. The birds natural environments are reduced and changed so wildlife such as avian communities are affected.  

  

        The impact of people on the Sonoran Desert has been bad but overall the desert is still thriving in more isolated regions, so in those places it is okay. People benefit from the desert by having extra space to expand like building suburban homes, there also resorts near the Sonoran Desert for people to escape for recreational activities. Tourism such as visiting the Sonoran Desert and enjoying the beauty of the natural landscapes and wildlife attract people to the unique desert ecosystem. That is why preservation for the Sonoran Desert exists in the United States; the Sonoran Desert is a National Monument under the Bureau of Land Management. There is also The Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan  created in response to the endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy owl in the late 1990's. The Conservation Plan's goals are to protect biological diversity, maintain open spaces by using science and government planning. The oldest form of conservation is the Sonora Desert is Tucson Mountain Park established in 1929 used for recreational purposes. Wildlife Conservation also exists in the Unites States under the Fish and Wildlife Services with  international programs like Wildlife Without Borders-México Program. Both the Unites States and Mexico work together to try to count, protect, and bring back species on the verge of extinction. There are about 40 endangered species in the Sonora Desert. There is also exists the popular Arizona-Desert Museum and zoo in Tucson, Arizona that promotes education, conservation, and research to protect the ecosystem of the desert. Such conservation measures are conserving certain areas especially in Pima County for future generations to be able to enjoy. The protected areas like in Pima County are good because it is organized; however places unprotected are more vulnerable to human impacts.

http://carmelacanzonieri.com/library/6123/Green-urbanization%20impact%20birds.pdf