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Ironwood Forest

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Join our partners at Mountain Mamas, Sierra Club, Join our partners at Mountain Mamas, Sierra Club, and others in kicking off Latino Conservation Week at Ironwood Forest National Monument this Saturday, September 12th!  We'll gather to talk about the meaning of this week for our Latinx communities, conservation issues that impact our public lands (including the Monument), and enjoy a short walk led by Friends of Ironwood Forest staff. A press conference will start at 8 am, followed by the walk.  Register here: https://bit.ly/AZLCWkickoff New to Latino Conservation Week? Latino Conservation Week was created to support the Latino community getting into the outdoors and participating in activities to protect our natural resources. From hiking and camping to community roundtables and film screenings, these activities promote conservation efforts in their community, and provide an opportunity for Latinos to show their support for permanently protecting our land, water, and air.
On Saturday, September 26th at dawn, we’ll venture On Saturday, September 26th at dawn, we’ll venture into Ironwood Forest National Monument to celebrate some of the unique features for which the Monument was named. This hike will emphasize the ecology of the Sonoran Desert Upland habitat with emphasis on desert responses to monsoon rains.  Hike suitable for ages 10 and up, minors must be accompanied by an adult; limited to 20. Group will meet at the Marana Airport at 6:45 am, carpool to the hike site, and return by 1 pm. Bring water, snacks, hat, and hiking shoes.  Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/ironwoodnpldhike  Questions: info@ironwoodforest.org
Upcoming Public Hearing For Sunridge Power With t Upcoming Public Hearing For Sunridge Power With the La Osa data center project behind us (for now) we’ve received a few questions about the pending Sunridge Power development near Ironwood Forest National Monument. This is a large-scale natural gas project that is scheduled for a public hearing in Tucson next week (9/8).  Please consider attending this hearing in-person or virtually to make your voice heard. You can also find more details at the link below from our partners at the Sierra Club. https://tinyurl.com/sunridgepowerifnm
The La Osa data center project has been stopped – The La Osa data center project has been stopped - for now. Taylor Griffith with KJZZ reported yesterday that the Pinal County Board of Supervisors "voted 4-1 to reject La Osa’s rezoning request and plans for development." This is a significant moment for Ironwood Forest National Monument - which La Osa would have closely bordered. Our organization is extremely grateful for everyone that spoke up and shared their concerns about the project. Read more in KJZZ's article and watch this space for further updates. https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2026-08-26/pinal-county-rejects-massive-la-osa-data-center-residents-want-more-rules-for-future-projects
We're pleased to share that the Fall 2026 edition We're pleased to share that the Fall 2026 edition of our biannual newsletter, Ironwood Essence, is now available on our website! Featured content includes an article about a recently discovered IBP site, updates on threats including the La Osa project, an overview of Monument hikes, and more details about our recent transition between Managing Directors.  https://ironwoodforest.org/news/newsletters/
Friends of Ironwood Forest has been tracking the p Friends of Ironwood Forest has been tracking the proposed La Osa data center project for some time now. A final public hearing for rezoning will be held at the Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, August 26th. A revised site plan with more buildings is expected to be revealed then.  We have also learned that the developer intends to pave Sasco Road and construct a bridge over the Santa Cruz River channel as part of La Osa. This will facilitate visitation to an area of the Monument that was previously difficult to reach. We urge anyone concerned about the La Osa project to take action at this time. Voices of opposition from Pinal County (e.g. residents of Red Rock and the surrounding communities) are especially critical for the Board of Supervisors to hear.  Pinal County residents can write to their district supervisor after obtaining their contact information online, and/or consider attending the August 26th meeting to address the board directly during the “Call to Public” portion of the meeting. Follow the link to our website or DM us for more details! https://tinyurl.com/fiflaosa
On July 13, 2026, President Trump announced he red On July 13, 2026, President Trump announced he reduced the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by a combined 3 million acres, which virtually eliminates them. For Bears Ears, this action threatens not only the cultural landscape, but also one of the nation's most innovative models of collaborative management, where Tribal Nations and federal agencies work together to care for this ancestral landscape. Friends of Ironwood Forest stands in solidarity with all those affected by this news, including the Grand Staircase Escalante Intertribal Coalition, the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition, our partners on the ground in Utah, and public lands advocates across the southwest and the nation. Arizonans and Americans of all backgrounds overwhelmingly support public lands. This support has been demonstrated publicly time and time again and underscores that Utah’s national monuments are treasures that belong to all of us. As always, watch this space for further updates. Read more here: https://ironwoodforest.org/news/ Take action here: https://monumentsforall.org/monuments/ #MonumentsForAll #ConservationLandsFoundation #ActNowForPublicLands #ProtectGrandStaircase #ProtectBearsEars
FIF has stayed busy despite the summer heat! Read FIF has stayed busy despite the summer heat! Read July news from around the Monument here: https://ironwoodforest.org/july-2026-updates-la-osa-project-spring-appeal-new-staff/ We’ve been keeping tabs on a number of development projects around IFNM with our partners at the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, including the La Osa project. Watch this space for future updates. (Photo credit: Frank Staub Photography)
Grazing updates at IFNM! New livestock grazing re Grazing updates at IFNM! New livestock grazing regulations are being proposed by the U.S. Department of the Interior that would directly affect Ironwood Forest National Monument and the more than 155 million acres of western public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This proposal would reduce public participation in grazing decisions, weaken accountability when grazing harms public lands, and prioritize livestock production over other public land values such as wildlife habitat, clean water, recreation, and ecosystem health. Additionally, BLM’s Tucson Field Office has just released an evaluation that concluded 9 of 12 grazing allotments in Ironwood Forest National Monument failed one or more of the three required standards for healthy, functioning lands. If you want to know more about what these changes could mean for public lands, read more on the FIF website: https://ironwoodforest.org/june-2026-alert-grazing.../ Additionally, Western Watersheds Project and WildEarth Guardians are hosting a free webinar: Grazing Without Guardrails: What the BLM's New Rule Means for Public Land Tuesday, June 23, 2026 5:00 PM Mountain/7:00 PM Eastern Register here: https://tinyurl.com/grazingregs (Photo credit: Western Watersheds Project)
Happy 25th Ironwood Forest National Monument!! Ov Happy 25th Ironwood Forest National Monument!! Over 100 supporters gathered at Ironwood Forest National Monument this weekend to celebrate its 25th anniversary and stand up for its protection! With the stunning Waterman Mountains as our backdrop, we heard from local leaders, scientists, and advocates about why this monument matters. Ironwood Forest is a treasure we will continue to defend. Help keep it protected by contacting your elected officials and sharing why you love this special place. Thanks to everyone that came out including our partner organizations who celebrated with us: The Wilderness Society , Sierra Club - Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter, and Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. Thanks to our other partners including Bureau of Land Management - Arizona, Discover Marana, and Conservation Lands Foundation. All photos credit: Kathleen Dreier Photography, Friends of Ironwood Forest #IronwoodForest #MonumentsForAll #handsoff #NotForSale
RALLY FOR IRONWOOD FOREST! Join us for a Day of Ac RALLY FOR IRONWOOD FOREST! Join us for a Day of Action for Public Lands Saturday, June 7 | ⏰ 8–9 AM Waterman Peak Trail Parking Area, Ironwood Forest National Monument June 7 is just two days before the 25th Anniversary of IFNM and a day before the Anniversary of the Antiquities Act — and we’re showing up to protect what matters. The Trump administration is considering shrinking 6 national monuments – including Ironwood Forest. This rally will send a clear message: We care for our public lands 🪧 Bring a sign ☕ Grab some coffee 🎤 Stand together and be heard Suggested signs: Public Lands in Public Hands Protect Our Parks We Love Ironwood Forest 🔥 Let's make a powerful statement – and show the world Arizona stands for its public lands. We will be inviting civic leaders; federal, state, and local representatives; and the media to the event. This information will also be on our website: https://ironwoodforest.org/2025-rally-for-public-lands/ Use Google Map directions to get to the Waterman Peak Trail Parking Area: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kn9uXWi24GF4B8R1A #ProtectPublicLands #IronwoodForest #DayOfAction #HandsOffMonuments #Monumentsforall
Like Ironwood Forest National Monument, the Sonora Like Ironwood Forest National Monument, the Sonoran Desert National Monument contains some amazing geologic features and protects some prime examples of Sonoran Desert habitats. If you've ever driven I-8 west towards Gila Bend, you've passed through the #sonorandesertnationalmonument. Even heading from Tucson to Phoenix, if you look west around Casa Grande, you can spot the unique and grand shape of Table Top Mountain, which is part of a wilderness area in the monument. 24 years ago today, President Bill Clinton created the monument via proclamation, which you can read here: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/SDNM_Proclaimation.pdf The 486,000 acre monument is over twice the size of #ironwoodforestnationalmonument. Have you ever visited this wonderful monument? Please tell us about it below if you have. Here's a guide to visiting from Bureau of Land Management - Arizona https://www.blm.gov/visit/sonoran-desert-national-monument Thanks to our partners at The Wilderness Society , National Trust for Historic Preservation and Sierra Club for their work to preserve the monument for future generations.
We are wrapping up our Spring 2024 fundraising cam We are wrapping up our Spring 2024 fundraising campaign. We couldn't do our work without you. If you haven't donated yet to support our all our programs from work days on the Monument to outreach at public events, our K-12 field programs and distributing maps of the Monument, please join other Friends and donate today. ironwoodforest.org/donate
Happy #EarthDay Everyone! For those of you that d Happy #EarthDay Everyone! For those of you that didn't see the announcement in the email we sent (you can sign up to get our emails here- https://ironwoodforest.org/get-involved/stay-connected/ ), the Spring 2024 edition of our biannual newsletter is now available on our website https://ironwoodforest.org/news/newsletters/
Want to volunteer in the Ironwood Forest? Our vol Want to volunteer in the Ironwood Forest? Our volunteer crew's next workday is Saturday, December 9, 2023 on the Ragged Top Trail. We will be working on trail alignment, brush removal where needed, erosion control and adding cairns to mark the route. This is also our celebration of #NationalPublicLandsDay . Our Bureau of Land Management - Arizona partner will distribute commemorative T-shirts to everyone who participates. Please see our website for more information: https://ironwoodforest.org/news/events
First Workday of the 2022/23 season! This Wednesd First Workday of the 2022/23 season! This Wednesday October 5th, board member Jim Avramis will lead volunteers to work on a couple projects in the Ironwood Forest National Monument. If you are interested in joining up and helping out, please contact Jim directly. If you don't have his contact info, you can email info@ironwoodforest.org.
Happy #EarthDay. We appreciate all of the Friends Happy #EarthDay. We appreciate all of the Friends of Ironwood Forest.
Our Spring 2022 Newsletter is now available on our Our Spring 2022 Newsletter is now available on our website. You can see the latest issue and all the back issues at https://ironwoodforest.org/news/newsletters
This is the 80 armed saguaro, also sometimes calle This is the 80 armed saguaro, also sometimes called the Shiva saguaro. It's in the Ironwood Forest National Monument. Unfortunately, its roots were likely damaged recently due to a pipeline being put in. If you want to see her in all her glory, this might be the year to do so. Check out our website for a map and instructions on how to get there!! ⠀ #saguaro #ironwoodforest #tucson #cactus #sonorandesert #conservation #giganticcactus #marana #desert #naturelovers #igers_tucson #shivasaguaro
Are you headed out for a weekend hike? Ironwood Fo Are you headed out for a weekend hike? Ironwood Forest National Monument is waiting to be explored! #hikeaz #hikeaztrails #hikersofinstagram #weekendhike #raggedtop #ironwoodforest #ironwoodforestnationalmonument

Friends of Ironwood Forest
738 N 5th Ave, Suite 114
Tucson, AZ 85705

info@ironwoodforest.org

520-314-1383

© 2026 Ironwood Forest

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  • Home
  • The Friends
    • About the Friends
      • Advocacy
      • Apply for a Grant
      • Programs and Priorities
      • Partners & Sponsors
      • Board Members
    • Community Outreach
    • Working with the BLM
    • Contact
  • The Monument
    • Visit
      • Activities and Safety
      • Map and Directions
      • Places of Interest
        • Silver Bell Cemetery
        • Titan Missile Site
        • Silverbell Group Camp Site
        • Waterman Restoration Site
        • The 80-armed saguaro
    • Learn
      • History
      • Proclamation
      • National Conservation Lands
      • Geology
      • Plant Life
      • Desert Ironwood Tree
      • Archaeology
      • Wildlife
      • Educational Resources
      • Ironwood Forest E-book
      • Stinknet is a threat
    • Threats
  • News/Events
    • News
      • Newsletters
      • Work and Event Days
      • Meet the Monument 2026
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Stay Connected
  • Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Leave a Legacy
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