The Sky Islands are rich in biodiversity and native species.

The Sky Islands are a mountain “island” region in southeastern Arizona and northeastern Sonora where the Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, and the Sierra Madre Occidental converge. This region contains more than 60 isolated mountain ranges that function as habitat islands in a sea of desert and grasslands. Some high peaks even have similar climate conditions as central Canada!

Cuenca Los Ojos (CLO) is centrally located in the Sky Islands. Many rare species and at least 13 endangered or threatened species inhabit CLO, including ocelot, jaguar, black bear, and Mexican grey wolf.

CLO is home to over 250 species of birds, 90 species of reptiles and amphibians, 8 native species of fish, and one of the highest concentrations of bee species anywhere in the world.

Sky Island Key Highlights:

• One-quarter of all species native to Mexico occur in the Madrean pine-oak woodlands.

• The Arizona portion of the Sky Islands is home to:

  • One-third of all snake species in the U.S.

  • 100 mammal species

  • More than 150,000 invertebrate species (a dozen of which are federally listed as endangered species)

  • Approximately 3,600 species of plants