Welcome
Fall is coming to Tucson, and, as always, the slower pace of the summer months is giving way to the pleasant bustle that comes with the cooler weather and returning city residents. The sudden increase in our daily pace perhaps reminds us of the challenges that face us as southern Arizona continues to grow. The choices we make now and the plans we implement will be of vital importance in the years and decades to come. As much as this is getting to be a perhaps disturbingly common theme in much talk in the media and at our dinner tables, it behoves us to listen with care and think of what we can contribute toward good sound solutions. With this in mind we will be updating you shortly about our protection efforts on over 4,700 acres of working ranch and farmland in southern Arizona.

The Trust is currently involved in the following projects. As always, we welcome your support:

• Launching The Family Ranchland Protection Fund, a fund that leverages the skills and experience of a diverse team of qualified professionals to assist landowners who wish to protect their farms and ranches
• Working on the Pinal Open Space and Trails Master Plan, and participating in the Pinal Partnership
• Landowner outreach and land protection in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties
• Supporting conservation policy to protect the West Branch of the Santa Cruz River

Please visit our newly designed web site for updates, including information on priority conservation efforts throughout southern Arizona, and permanent land protection achieved with Pima County's 2004 Open Space Bond funds. Again, the Trust's progress has been invigorating, and with partners like you, we can and will continue this work. Stay tuned.

Your partner in conservation,

Diana Freshwater
Executive Director