Showcasing Biodiversity and Abundance

Due to their high level of biodiversity and the threats posed by land use and climate change, the Sky Islands have been designated a global conservation priority and a global biodiversity hot spot by Conservation International and the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund. The Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership has prioritized significant components of the region, and famed biologist E.O. Wilson named the Madrean pine-oak woodlands one of the 18 most important ecosystems for global conservation. This recognition underscores the importance of protecting the Sky Island’s extraordinary plant and animal life. Yet the ecological riches of northern Mexico remain unknown to many who imagine the US-Mexico borderlands as a barren desert. Cuenca hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the region’s ecological heritage by showcasing the diversity of life that finds a home in the borderlands.

Cuenca harbors some of the greatest biodiversity in temperate North America. More than 90 mammals inhabit Cuenca, numbering more species than occur in Yellowstone National Park. Cuenca is also home to over 250 birds, approximately 10 amphibians, 40 reptiles, 10 fish, more than 900 invertebrates, and an estimated 3,000 plants. Four hundred bee species were recorded on Rancho San Bernardino alone – the highest concentration found anywhere in the world. Moreover, adjacent lands in Cochise County, Arizona, are home to 54 species of conservation concern, suggesting that even more threatened species find refuge on Cuenca.