Atascosa Borderlands: Connecting the land, the wildlife, and the people.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published January 10, 2024 at 1:56 PM MST

Atascosa Borderlands 1 hero — A view from the Atascosa Borderlands in the Coronado National Forest.

Atascosa Borderlands 2 hero — A view from the Atascosa Borderlands in the Coronado National Forest.

Atascosa Borderlands: Connecting the land, the wildlife, and the people.

Featured on the January 11th, 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

A conversation with Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal, the chief medical officer at Sierra Tucson, about improving the way we communicate with loved ones who express suicidal thoughts, and doing away with the stigma of being a suicide survivor.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can get in touch with the national Suicide & Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 988. In Tucson, The National Alliance on Mental Illness is available at 520-622-6000, and The Hope Incorporated Warm Line is 520-770-9909. There is no shame in attempting to save a life, especially your own.

jasleen chhatwal hero — Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal is medical director of Sierra Tucson and past president of the Arizona
Psychiatric Society.

Tony Paniagua speaks to Jack Dash and Luke Swenson, current Tucson residents who are fascinated by a biodiverse region that is west of Nogales, Arizona. Learn about the Atascosa Borderlands, and the project that hopes to raise awareness and appreciation for this unique region. Their goal is to introduce you to this rugged, 42-mile wide region so you can explore its history, attributes and the challenges it will face going forward.

Jack Dash and Luke Swenson are holding a presentation and panel discussion about Atascosa Borderlands on Thursday, January 18th from 6 pm to 8 pm at Tohono Chul in northwest Tucson. The event is free and open to the public. but does require registration in advance.

Atascosa Borderlands 5 hero — Tallia and Mary Pfrimmer visiting the ruins of their childhood home in Ruby, Arizona.

Atascosa Borderlands 4 unsized — Graptopetalum bartramii (Patagonia Mountains stonecrop) can occur as individual plants, or in small populations perched precariously on rocky crevices in the shade of riparian canyons growing just a few inches across. The flowers of this small succulent bloom following the summer monsoons and are pollinated by small flies.

Atascosa Borderlands 03 hero — Looking south from Atascosa Lookout towards the US-Mexico border. Smoke from the severe wildfires burning across parts of California, Oregon, and Washington begins to clear as day breaks. In the distance is Ruby Road, the main artery for vehicle access across the Atascosa Highlands.

jack dash luke swenson hero — Jack Dash and Luke Swenson, the originators of Atascosa Borderlands, in the AZPM radio studio.

Arizona Daily Star “Street Smarts” columnist David Leighton looks into the history of Sahuarita, and explains why its name has caused confusion over pronunciation since the 1800's.

David Leighton spot — David Leighton in the AZPM Studio.

Rancho Sahuarita lake — A view of the Santa Rita mountains from Rancho Sahuarita Lake.

360 pecan cluster — A cluster of pecans growing at Green Valley Pecan Company in Sahuarita.

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT airs Fridays at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm, and Saturdays at 5:00 pm, on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM.

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Atascosa Borderlands: Connecting the land, the wildlife, and the people.