Part of the Coronado National Forest, the Galiuro and Winchester Mountains offer remote and rugged terrain and are home to an immense diversity of habitats and species. These two ranges divide the Sulphur Springs Valley from the San Pedro River Valley and are part of the important network of sky islands that characterize southeastern Arizona. Although the mountains are relatively wild and remote, exurban development is reducing important linkages between adjacent mountains and watersheds.
Conservation Goals
- Maintain ecosystem function and forest management through natural, historic fire regime to improve landscape resiliency.
- Conserve and protect a major Madrean sky island that represents a rare/unique habitat mosaic in Arizona, supports populations of breeding, year-round and migratory birds, and provides habitat for state species of concern.
- Maintain and improve connectivity with adjacent COAs, including the Lower San Pedro River, Pinaleño Mountains. and the Aravaipa Canyon Ecosystem.
- Restore drainage to improve watershed and reconnect to Lower San Pedro River.
Map
Primary Threats
1. Agriculture
3. Climate Change and Severe Weather
7. Human Intrusions and Disturbance
9. Natural System Modifications
Potential Conservation Actions
1. Land and Water Protection
- Develop conservation easements on public or private lands in order to maintain and protect wildlife corridors.
2. Land and Water Management
- Identify and conserve areas known as stopover and breeding habitats for migratory birds and support their full life-cycle conservation through international collaborations that address threats to their migration and wintering habitats in Mexico, Central America, and beyond.
- Reintroduce prescribed burns to increase habitat resiliency in this unique and diverse Madrean woodland habitat.
- Ensure permeability of wildlife corridors throughout the wilderness area to maintain connectivity with adjacent open spaces.
4. Education and Awareness
- Improve education and awareness of the impacts of irresponsible recreational activities, especially OHV use.
5. Law and Policy
- Monitor and enforce compliance with management practices to reduce impacts of recreational activities, especially the use of OHV.
Habitats Present
Strategy Species
Amphibians
Chiricahua Leopard Frog, Lowland Leopard Frog, Sonoran Desert Toad
Birds
American Kestrel, American Peregrine Falcon, Black-throated Sparrow, Common Black Hawk, Elf Owl, Flammulated Owl, Golden Eagle, Harris's Hawk, Hooded Oriole, Loggerhead Shrike, Mexican Spotted Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Invertebrates
Mammals
Big Free-tailed Bat, Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Western Red Bat
Reptiles
Black-necked Gartersnake, Canyon Spotted Whiptail, Sonora Mud Turtle, Gila Monster, Bezy’s Night Lizard
Fish
See Associated Aquatic COAs for fish species.
Protected Areas and Other Areas of Conservation Value
- Galiuro Wildnerness
- Redfield Canyon Wildnerness
- Muleshoe Ranch (TNC)
Potential Partners
- US Forest Service - Coronado Ranger District
- The Nature Conservancy
- Bureau of Land Management
- Private Landowners
Relevant Conservation Plans
- Coronado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan
- Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan
Associated Aquatic COAs
- Bass Canyon Creek
- Bull Tank (Upper Ash Creek)
- Double R Canyon Creek(Muleshoe Coop Mgmt Area)(Hot Springs Canyon)
- Home Ranch Tank (Upper Aravaipa Creek)
- Redfield Canyon (Muleshoe Coop Mgmt Area)(Redfield Canyon-San Pedro R)
- Swamp Springs Canyon Creek(Muleshoe Coop Mgmt Area, Redfield Canyon-San Pedro R)