Borderlands Restoration Network

10/15/2026

On Tuesday our partners from the National Park Service came down to the nursery to pick up 150 native plants to be installed at Fort Bowie National Historic Site. Positioned at the juncture of four major biogeographical provinces: Madrean, Rocky Mountain, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts, this park is defined by grassland, chapparal, and riparian woodland corridors. Reliable springs, diverse geology, and mixed biogeography contribute to a landscape of exceptional ecological diversity. Despite this, much of Fort Bowie has suffered the adverse impacts of human disturbance. We hope these plants can play a part in fortifying the natural biodiversity of the site.

This order included Brickellia californica, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Glandularia gooddingii, Disakisperma dubium, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Rhus microphylla, Ericameria nauseosa, Parthenium incanum, Acaciella angustissima, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, and Trixis californica.
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10/14/2026

On Tuesday, our BECY interns spent the day at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, where they learned about native seed collection and the role of seeds in restoring our local ecosystems.

The morning began with an introduction to BRN’s Native Plant Program and seed collection crew, followed by a hands-on seed collection activity in the field.

After lunch, the group joined Friends of The San Pedro River docents for a guided hike. Along the riparian corridor, they explored the incredible flora and fauna of the San Pedro and learned why this unique ecosystem is so important to our region.

Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Lottery for funding this impactful program!

Este martes, nuestros pasantes de BECY pasaron el día en el Área Nacional de Conservación Ribereña del San Pedro, donde aprendieron sobre la recolección de semillas nativas y su rol en la restauración de nuestros ecosistemas locales.

La mañana comenzó con una introducción a y al equipo de recolección de semillas, seguida de una actividad práctica de recolección en el campo.

Después del almuerzo, el grupo se unió a los guías de la organización Friends of The San Pedro River para una caminata guiada. A lo largo del corredor ribereño, exploraron la increíble flora y fauna del río San Pedro y aprendieron por qué este ecosistema único es tan importante para nuestra región.

¡Gracias al U.S. Forest Service y a la Lotería de Arizona por financiar este programa de gran impacto!

10/13/2026

BECY and watersheds and applied ecological restoration, oh my!

Yesterday, the Watershed Restoration Program (WRP) started the morning off with a presentation, followed by a hands-on field experience at Lee Ranch Station. Our Borderlands Earth Care Youth interns spent the day learning about important work happening across our region

Participants worked alongside the WRP team to build erosion control structures, gaining firsthand experience with practical restoration techniques that help slow erosion, retain sediment, and improve watershed health.

A great day of learning by doing—and seeing how hands-on conservation work can make a difference in our local landscapes! Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Lottery for funding this impactful program!
¡BECY, las cuencas y la restauración ecológica aplicada, ¡increible! Ayer, el Programa de Restauración de Cuencas comenzó la mañana con una presentación, seguida de una experiencia práctica de campo en Lee Ranch Station. Nuestros pasantes de Borderlands Earth Care Youth pasaron el día aprendiendo sobre el importante trabajo que se está realizando en nuestra región. Los participantes trabajaron junto al equipo del WRP para construir estructuras de control de erosión, adquiriendo experiencia de primera mano con técnicas prácticas de restauración que ayudan a frenar la erosión, retener sedimentos y mejorar la salud de las cuencas. ¡Un gran día de aprendizaje práctico y de ver cómo el trabajo de conservación directa puede marcar la diferencia en nuestros paisajes locales! ¡Gracias al U.S. Forest Service y a la Lotería de Arizona por financiar este programa de gran impacto!

10/12/2026

Our fall 2026 Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) program kicked off yesterday!

BECY students spent the day at the Bisbee Science Lab, diving into the connections between art, ecology, and the Sky Islands. After learning about the unique landscapes and ecosystems of our region, participants got creative with hands-on cyanotype art, using light and natural materials to create their own botanical-inspired prints. 🌱☀️

The day was filled with learning, creativity, and plenty of opportunities to connect with the incredible landscapes right in our backyard.

Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Lottery for funding this impactful program!
¡Nuestro programa de otoño de 2026 de Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) por fin empezó ayer!

Los estudiantes de BECY pasaron el día en el Bisbee Science Lab, profundizando en las conexiones entre el arte, la ecología en las Islas del Cielo.

Tras aprender sobre los paisajes y ecosistemas únicos de nuestra región, los participantes se pusieron creativos con el arte práctico de la cianotipia, utilizando la luz y materiales naturales para crear sus propias impresiones de inspiración botánica. 🌱☀️

El día estuvo lleno de aprendizaje, creatividad y un montón de oportunidades para conectar con los increíbles paisajes que tenemos en nuestro propio patio trasero.

¡Gracias al U.S. Forest Service y a la Lotería de Arizona por financiar este programa de gran impacto!

10/10/2026

🎉 BECY takeover week starts now!

We're excited to announce a new partnership with the Arizona Lottery Gives Back program, whose $25,000 grant will provide much-needed supplies for our Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) interns!

Kicking off tomorrow in Douglas, AZ, this week-long conservation experience gives students hands-on learning in watershed restoration, native plants, wildlife conservation, and more. Thanks to this generous support, we can provide new camping gear, sun-protection clothing, restoration tools, and other essentials for our fall and spring 2027 interns, and beyond.

💚 A huge thank-you to Arizona Lottery Gives Back for helping our next generation of conservation leaders learn, grow, and make a difference!

Read more about our partnership here🔗https://loom.ly/g4aoXWg

PHOENIX (Oct. 1, 2026) – The Arizona Lottery and Borderlands Restoration Network today announced a new partnership supporting conservation education and career-readiness opportunities for young people across Southern Arizona.

10/09/2026

This summer, our Watershed Restoration crew put 1,560 pounds of native seed pellets on the ground and built 459 erosion control structures in our project area at the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape. Whew, that's quite an accomplishment!

With the summer monsoons, we've seen these structures slow stormwater, capture sediment, reduce erosion, and create the conditions native plants need to thrive. Located west of Montezuma Pass on U.S. Forest Service land near the new border wall construction, our team uses erosion control structures and locally collected native seeds and seed pellets to help restore a landscape under pressure.

This project is made possible by the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape and the U.S. Forest Service Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership.

10/06/2026

This Sunday, our Education Team welcomed the 2026 Cochise County BECY youth participants and their parents to the program orientation. Kicking off BECY by getting this awesome group of youth oriented and ready to take on a week of restoration with BRN and our partners is the best way to start the fall! 🥾💚🍂
Stay tuned for more BECY highlights to come!
Este domingo, nuestro equipo de Educación le dio la bienvenida y la orientación del programa a los participantes y padres de BECY en el condado de Cochise. Darle el inicio a BECY al orientar a este increíble grupo de jóvenes y preparándolos para una semana de restauración con BRN y nuestros aliados es la mejor manera de iniciar el otoño! 🥾💚🍂

¡Sigan atentos para ver más de BECY en los próximos días!

10/05/2026

👀 Are you a really great storyteller? We should talk.

Borderlands Restoration Network is hiring a full-time Communications Associate! If you can spot a good story, turn a conversation into a compelling quote, and make people excited about the plants, wildlife, and people of the borderlands, then this might be the job for you.

We're looking for someone who loves writing and editing, social media, digital communications, photos, and videos. You don't need to be an expert in conservation. You do need to be curious, creative, collaborative, and a great storyteller.

Applications are open through October 31. Head to the link below for the full job description and details:
https://loom.ly/zUwAZqw

Job Summary: Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) seeks a creative, collaborative, and detail-oriented Communications Associate to support the organization’s communications efforts within the Development department. The Communications Associate will create engaging written and visual content that...

09/29/2026

Nuestro equipo de Educación y Conservación tuvo el placer de colaborar con el Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Bavispe (APFF) con en Sonora, México. Disfrutamos de la hermosa flora y fauna del lugar, como las larvas de la salamandra Tarahumara (Ambystoma rosaceum), magueyes (Agave parryi), y una gran mezcla de pinos, maples y encinos.

También aprendimos más sobre la valiosa labor que realizan nuestros amigos de la APFF Bavispe, incluyendo su programa de educación y promotores ambientales, la brigada contra incendios forestales y sus áreas de monitoreo y manejo. Además, nos reencontramos con nuestros aliados de .

Es increíble conocer el trabajo y los frutos de nuestras alianzas para la restauración, conservación y protección de las Islas del Cielo y el medio ambiente. A través de esta experiencia, nuestro equipo–Karla, Xochitl, Ganesh y Rodrigo—se prepara para la impartición de nuestro Curso de Campo en Zonas Fronterizas en el 2027, abriendo paso a futuras colaboraciones y más proyectos fronterizos emocionantes por venir.
Our Education and Conservation teams had the pleasure of collaborating with the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Bavispe (APFF) with in Sonora, Mexico. We enjoyed the beautiful flora and fauna of the place, among them Tarahumara salamander larvae (Ambystoma rosaceum), agave parryi, and a great mix of pine, maple, and oak trees.

We also learned about the great work our friends at APFF Bavispe are conducting through their education and environmental promoters program, wildfire brigade, and flora and fauna monitoring and management. We even got to reconnect with our colleagues from .

It’s always incredible to learn and see the impacts from our partners that work to restore, conserve, and protect the Sky Island region and our environment. Through this experience, our team– Karla, Xochitl, Ganesh, and Rodrigo, is preparing for the delivery of our Borderlands Field Course in 2027 and more exciting Borderlands projects to come!

09/22/2026

🌌 Look up! Southwest Skies is coming to Southern Arizona, and BRN will be there!
Join us October 1–3 for Southwest Skies, a new festival in partnership with Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Green Valley Recreation, and the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, celebrating the extraordinary dark skies of our region. The festival will feature science talks, exhibits, community events, star parties, art, and more at locations from Green Valley to Amado.

BRN is exhibiting on October 1st and October 2nd, sharing more about our work to protect and restore the incredible landscapes and wildlife of the borderlands.

Come say hello, learn something new, and celebrate the night skies that connect us all. ✨
📅 October 1–3, 2026
📍 Green Valley to Amado, Arizona
🎟️ Most events are free!
👉Head to the website for more info: https://loom.ly/1EdFfv4
🌌Mira hacia arriba! Southwest Skies estará en el sur de Arizona y BRN estará ahí! Acompáñanos este 1-3 de Octubre en Southwest Skies, un nuevo festival en colaboración con Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Green Valley Recreation, y Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, para celebrar los extraordinarios cielos oscuros de nuestra región. El festival tendrá charlas de ciencia, exhibiciones, eventos comunitarios, fiestas astrales, arte y más, en diferentes ubicaciones de Green Valley hasta Amado, Arizona.

BRN estará exponiendo el 1 y 2 de octubre, compartiendo más sobre nuestro trabajo para proteger y restaurar los increíbles paisajes y la vida silvestre de la franja fronteriza.

Ven a saludar, aprende algo nuevo y celebra los cielos nocturnos que nos conectan a todos. ✨
📅 Del 1 al 3 de octubre de 2026
📍 De Green Valley a Amado, Arizona
🎟️ ¡La mayoría de los eventos son gratuitos!
👉 Visita el sitio web para obtener más información: https://loom.ly/1EdFfv4

OCTOBER 1-3, 2026 | GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! *Free tickets are required for Light Speed Lectures. Up Close with VERITAS tours at Whipple Observatory are paid ticketed tours and not included as part of the festival. SEE THE FULL PROGRAM FOR THE FESTIVAL