Apache Highlands Ecoregion

The Apache Highlands Ecoregion spans 7,000 feet in elevation, crossing sky islands, grasslands, and green riparian corridors. Here we find broad grassland in the San Rafael and Verde valleys, far south and north respectively. At the southern end, in the Huachucas, Chiricahuas, and other sky islands Madrean, Chiricahuan, and Rocky Mountain species meet. The Pinaleno Mountains contain the highest diversity of habitats in the shortest vertical distance of any mountain range in North America, traversing five ecological communities.

Sonoita Creek
Sonoita Creek
© C. Conte/TNC

Ecological Importance:
Sky islands are mountain archipelagos separated by basins of plains and semi-desert grasslands. The sky island mountains of this ecoregion contain a high mammal diversity, which includes nearly 100 species. It is the only mountain complex in the world that spans the temperate and subtropical latitudes. The result is an extremely rich biological community where Rocky Mountain flora and fauna meet that of Sierra Madre.

Conservation Concerns:
Invasive species in grasslands; lack of a natural fire regime in grasslands and woodlands due to fire suppression; effects of global warming on sky island forests; ex-urban growth; unsustainable use of limited ground and surface water.

Coatimundi, Montezuma quail, Lady's tresses
Top: Coatimundi © Jim Anderson/TNC
Bottom left: Montezuma quail © TNC
Bottom right: Lady's tresses © TNC
Arizona Ecoregions
© The Nature Conservancy  

Ecoregion Facts

  • Size: 30 million acres
  • Location: Central and southeastern Arizona, northern Sonora, northwestern Chihuahua, and southwestern New Mexico
  • Animals: 110 mammal species. Approximately 265 bird species breed here, with 30 species that reach their northern limit in the Apache Highlands. More than 75 reptile species, making it one of the most diverse reptile regions in North America. More than 190 snail species, of which 60 are endemic, found only in this ecoregion. The Gila River Basin, a significant part of the ecoregion, contains one of the most unique fish assemblages in North America.
  • Plants: More than 2,000 plant species are documented here, including many rare endemic species such as Canelo Hills lady's-tresses, Huachuca water umbel, pincushion cactus, and Goodding's wild onion.

Strategies and Actions:
Purchase of development program to place conservation easements on ranch lands; prescribed fire and grazing rest on ranch lands and woodlands; growth management planning to contain sprawl and minimize water use; reform of State Trust lands to include conservation purposes.

Places to Visit:

 

Other places of interest include the Verde River Watershed, Coronado National Forest, Verde River Wild and Scenic River, Mazatzal Wilderness, Chiricahua National Monument, missions of northern Sonora, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Tonto National Forest, San Rafael Valley, de Anza trail on the Santa Cruz River, and the Pinaleno Mountains.