Moctezuma, Sonora, is a small rural town nestled in the southern valleys of the Madrean Sky Islands. Known for its talabartería (leather arts) and carne machaca, the scenic town is a view of life in the semi-arid matorral of the Río Moctezuma Valley. With a view of the Sierra La Madera in the backdrop, Universidad de la Sierra has made this its home for the past 20 years. And over the past five years, Sky Island Alliance has collaborated with the school’s biology department, investing in its students as future stewards of the region.

In 2022 we elevated our commitment to the area, community, and students. With an ambitious vision to further develop our collaboration with UniSierra, we have updated our memorandum of understanding. Half of Sky Island Alliance’s staff in our Sonora program are alumni of the school, and we only expect that to grow. And we couldn’t have been happier when our Environmental Outreach Coordinator Monica Montaño recently pulled the strings to open our first ever satellite office in Sonora.

The shared vision is simple yet profound: We seek to continue providing resources, mentorship, and opportunities for students to thrive and become the very experts protecting and managing the landscape they call home. In 2023 we’ll be opening a lending library for field gear to facilitate the research and restoration work happening in the region. We are calling on Tucson and the greater Arizona community to consider donating new and used field gear for students to use. All gear will be available to students at UniSierra and will aid in project work managed by SIA and independent thesis work in the Sky Islands.