The roughly 200,000-square-mile Chihuahuan Desert - larger than the state of California - stretches across six Mexican states and parts of Texas and New Mexico. It is the largest desert in North America and is located between two of Mexico’s largest mountain ranges called the eastern and western Sierra Madres.

Like most deserts, the Chihuahuan’s weather is harsh, blistering daytime temperatures and below-freezing temperatures at night. Despite these extremes, the desert teems with an extraordinary amount of life. Mountain lions, Mexican wolves, Mexican prairie dogs, the largest remaining black-tailed prairie dog colony, kit fox, mule deer, Coahuilan box turtle, 120 species of mammals and 300 species of birds are all found here.

The desert also has an amazing array of plant life with more than 400 species of cactus. The landscape is composed of desert pools and oases harboring a number of fish and aquatic organisms. Some of these, like cichlids and pupfish, are found in these pools and nowhere else on Earth.  

A fragile desert

The merest actions on this landscape can disturb its precarious balance harming its life-giving qualities. Ranching is a way of life here and what little surface water exists is often diverted toward agriculture irrigation or feeding cattle. Overgrazing, overharvesting of native species like mesquite, gypsum mining and widespread development are disturbing nature's delicate balance.

Preserving this balance

To protect the Chihuahuan Desert, the Conservancy is working with local ranchers and national governments, as well as local partner Pronatura Noreste at three major sites:

Cuatro Cienegas Valley - wetland systems in the middle of a desert

Glistening desert pools in white gypsum sand compose the 200,000-acre Cuatro Cienegas valley.  Ranching and agricultural practices are threatening the valley's delicate water system. The Conservancy is executing a plan to permanently protect the area working with partner Pronatura Noreste and local landowners. The Conservancy recently created an 11,144-acre private reserve in El Venado and is also acquiring water rights and working with local landowners to implement better irrigation systems in the area.

Janos Valley grasslands

The Janos Valley grasslands just south of the Arizona-New Mexico border are home to the world’s largest colony of black-tailed prairie dogs. The Conservancy worked with Pronatura Noreste to purchase and protect the 49,000-acre Rancho El Uno, a critical habitat for the prairie dog. It is also working with locals and partners to prevent the ravages of uncontrolled fire in Rancho los Fresnos. 

La Soledad/Saltillo grasslands

The Conservancy is protecting critical migratory bird and Mexican prairie dog habitat in this region south of Saltillo, Mexico along with local partners. Strategies include the establishment of state protected areas, land acquisition, community outreach, education and establishment of conservation easements.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): The arid grasslands of Pozas Azules, a Pronatura Noreste Reserve located in the Cuatro Cienegas valley ©  Mark Godfrey/TNC; Prairie dog © Rurik List.