Arizona’s landscapes are some of the most iconic in the West—stretching from high country forests to vast desert basins. From the forests of the Mogollon Rim to the grasslands of the San Rafael Valley, Arizona’s wildlife depends on connected habitats to move, migrate, and thrive.

Species like mule deer, elk, pronghorn, and the endangered Sonoran pronghorn antelope require large, unbroken stretches of land to find food, water, and mates. They follow seasonal migration routes that have been used for generations. But as development spreads—whether for roads, housing, or energy infrastructure—these ancient pathways are increasingly disrupted.

Arizona’s population is growing, and with it comes more infrastructure: highways, fences, solar fields and wind farms, and urban expansion. While these developments are necessary for our future, they must be planned with wildlife in mind.

The good news? It’s possible to balance development and conservation. Read our best practices document, Conservation Priorities for Renewable Energy and Transmission in Arizona to learn more.

By identifying key movement corridors and integrating habitat connectivity into project design, we can reduce impacts on wildlife while still meeting human needs.

This means:

• Preserving and restoring open space in critical habitat zones
  

• Installing wildlife crossings over and under highways
  

• Siting solar and wind projects away from migration corridors
  

• Collaborating with landowners and tribes to keep private lands part of the solution

• Using science and mapping tools to guide smart growth that protects movement pathways