Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

What Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection does

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP) is a Tucson, Arizona-based nonprofit founded in 1997 in response to the endangered listing of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl. It functions as a coalition of nearly 30 member organizations spanning local neighborhood associations to international nonprofits, collectively advocating for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) and Pima County's land-use decisions. The Coalition operates as the watchdog for the SDCP, a planning framework that protects 44 covered species and shapes development, transportation, mining, and water policy across eastern Pima County.

CSDP delivers its mission through a portfolio of community science and volunteer programs rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the Wildlife Camera Monitoring Program (remote camera traps tracking wildlife movement), Roadkill Surveys identifying wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, the Desert Fence Busters program (which has removed nearly 100 miles of obsolete barbed wire fencing), Habitat Restoration Days, and Wildlife Linkages & Crossings advocacy that produced the Oracle Road wildlife bridge and regional underpasses. It also runs educational resources, a biannual Friends of the Desert newsletter (68+ issues since 2000), and a Sonoran Desert Marketplace selling branded merchandise ($3 stickers to $25 shirts) via Threadless.

The organization is funded primarily through donations, recurring contributions, legacy giving, and grants (e.g., Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Grants). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led: email newsletters, public forums, volunteer events, and earned media (Time Magazine, National Audubon Magazine). There is no app, no API, no disclosed AI or proprietary software, and the operating footprint is a single Tucson office with limited public hours (Fridays 9 AM–12 PM).

Name

Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

Legal name

Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection

Website

https://sonorandesert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is a Tucson-based nonprofit coalition of nearly 30 member organizations that advocates for Sonoran Desert conservation, monitoring wildlife crossings, and serving as watchdog for Pima County's conservation planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Advocacy Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Desert conservation advocacy
• Wildlife corridor protection
• Community science programs
• Conservation land planning
• Habitat restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through one-time, recurring, and legacy donations from individuals and member organizations to support conservation programs and advocacy work.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates a Sonoran Desert Marketplace selling merchandise including t-shirts, stickers, mugs, pins, and keychains with wildlife and Coalition branding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the protection of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem in Southern Arizona through policy advocacy, community science, volunteer habitat restoration, and public education. It serves as the watchdog for Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and operates programs including Desert Fence Busters, Wildlife Camera Monitoring, Roadkill Surveys, and Habitat Restoration Days. The organization also runs the Sonoran Desert Marketplace, an online store selling branded merchandise to support conservation programs.

Product overview

The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection is a nonprofit organization that does not offer a unified software product or platform. Instead, it provides a portfolio of conservation programs and community engagement initiatives, including community science programs (wildlife camera monitoring, roadkill surveys), volunteer habitat restoration work, advocacy for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, and wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The organization also operates the Sonoran Desert Marketplace, a merchandise store selling branded apparel, accessories, mugs, and wildlife stickers to support its programs. Its communications include publications such as the Friends of the Desert newsletter series, annual reports, and research reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Desert Fence Busters: A program that removes outdated barbed wire fence in the name of wildlife protection and habitat connectivity, having removed 65+ miles of fence
• Friends of the Desert
• Wildlife Crossings Program

Products and services

• Wildlife Camera Monitoring Program Community science program engaging volunteers in remote wildlife camera trap monitoring to study animal movement across the landscape and inform wildlife linkage and crossing decisions.
• Desert Fence Busters Volunteer program removing outdated barbed wire fencing from the Sonoran Desert landscape to protect wildlife and improve habitat connectivity, with 65+ miles of fence removed to date.
• Roadkill Surveys (Desert Roadies) Community-based surveys identifying where wildlife cross roads to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and protect wildlife populations.
• Wildlife Linkages and Crossings Program Program connecting open spaces within wildlife movement corridors and facilitating construction of wildlife crossings including bridges and underpasses along Pima County's major roadways.
• Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan Watchdog Program Ongoing policy and planning advocacy work to protect Sonoran Desert open space, serving as watchdog for Pima County's comprehensive Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan covering 44 covered species.
• Sonoran Desert Marketplace Online merchandise store selling branded apparel, accessories, mugs, and wildlife stickers (t-shirts $10-$20, long-sleeved shirts $25, stickers $3-$10, mugs $10, pins $5-$7.50, keychains $8.50) to support conservation programs.
• Habitat Restoration Days Volunteer program for the Desert Wildlife Crossing Crew that improves and restores wildlife habitat on the Oracle Road wildlife crossings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 miles of fence removed through Desert Fence Busters program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Friends of Ironwood ForestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2024Coalition member and joint advocacy partner on protecting Ironwood Forest National Monument and opposing La Osa Project. Collaborated on comments to Pima County and Pinal County.
• Tucson Audubon SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2024Coalition member and joint advocacy partner on ADOT-FHWA MOU renewal comments. Collaborated on comments regarding transportation and wildlife protection.
• Center for Biological DiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2024Joint advocacy partner on environmental issues including Copper World air quality permit concerns and ADOT-FHWA MOU renewal. Collaborated on comment letters to Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
• Save the Scenic Santa RitascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2024Lead organization on Hudbay Aquifer Protection Permit comments. Coalition signed comment letters on Copper World mine concerns. Focused on protecting Santa Rita Mountains from Rosemont/Copper World mining.
• Nearly 30 Member OrganizationscoreOthersCoalition of nearly 30 member groups ranging from local to international non-profit organizations who collectively advocate for Sonoran Desert protection. Includes conservation groups, neighborhood associations, and advocacy organizations.
• Pima County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition serves as watchdog for Pima County's Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. Works with county on conservation planning, development review, and implementation of Multi-Species Conservation Plan protecting 44 covered species.
• Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on wildlife crossing infrastructure including Oracle Road wildlife bridge and wildlife underpasses. Coalition monitors funnel fencing and provides input on wildlife-safe transportation planning.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partner in Endangered Species Act compliance and conservation planning. Multi-Species Conservation Plan helps Pima County comply with federal ESA requirements.
• Arizona Game and Fish DepartmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner on wildlife monitoring and habitat conservation. Funded Safe Passages for Wildlife on I-10 East project through Heritage Grant program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Biological Diversity: National nonprofit headquartered in Tucson that uses scientific advocacy and litigation to protect endangered species and wild places. Direct peer as the Coalition's most frequent joint comment-letter partner on Arizona conservation issues, sharing focus on Sonoran Desert, pygmy-owl habitat, and federal ESA enforcement.
• Grand Canyon Trust: Regional conservation nonprofit protecting the Colorado Plateau and greater Arizona landscapes. Direct peer on landscape-scale conservation, public lands defense, and advocacy against extractive development (mining, drilling) in Arizona ecosystems.
• Wildlands Network: National nonprofit focused on wildlife corridors and continental-scale connectivity. Direct peer on the Coalition's wildlife linkages and crossings work, including Oracle Road wildlife bridge and I-10 Safe Passages advocacy in Arizona.
• Tucson Audubon Society: Regional Audubon chapter focused on birds and habitat in Southern Arizona. Direct peer as a Coalition member and recurring joint advocacy partner on transportation planning (ADOT-FHWA MOU) and wildlife corridor protection in the same geography.
• Friends of Ironwood Forest: Citizen-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Ironwood Forest National Monument. Direct peer and Coalition member working on the same monument defense, Pima/Pinal County land-use advocacy, and opposition to the La Osa Project.
• Save the Scenic Santa Ritas: Grassroots Southern Arizona organization dedicated to protecting the Santa Rita Mountains from mining (Rosemont/Copper World). Direct peer on mining advocacy, frequently co-signing comment letters with the Coalition and operating in adjacent conservation niches.

Broad incumbents

• Defenders of Wildlife: National nonprofit focused on wildlife and habitat conservation with active Arizona programs on endangered species, wildlife corridors, and ESA implementation. Broad incumbent with overlapping focus on Sonoran Desert species and federal ESA advocacy.
• Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter: State chapter of national environmental organization active on Arizona conservation policy, public lands, and climate issues. Broad incumbent competing for some of the same donor base and policy influence on Arizona land-use decisions.
• National Audubon Society: National bird and habitat conservation organization that has profiled the Coalition's work in National Audubon Magazine. Broad incumbent sharing the same bird/habitat conservation theme but operating at national scale rather than local desert focus.
• The Nature Conservancy in Arizona: Global land conservation organization with significant Arizona operations. Broad incumbent that awarded the Coalition its first major recognition (Joseph Wood Krutch Conservation Award in 2000), comparable in mission but with far greater resources and portfolio breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection