Efforts to expand Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and create the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge

AZPM

Published May 16, 2024 at 4:47 PM MST

Santa Cruz River 1 — Supporters say a new Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge would enhance the Tucson metropolitan area and beyond. Currently, paths along the river are popular for pedestrians, bicyclists and other users.

Efforts to expand a national wildlife refuge, and create a new urban refuge

Penelope Starr speaking — Penelope Starr is a Tucson resident, author and workshop facilitator who founded Odyssey Storytelling in 2004.

Efforts to expand Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and create the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge

Featured on the May 16th 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with guest host Tony Paniagua:

Hear from Mike Quigley, the Arizona State Director of The Wilderness Society about efforts to create the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. The plan hopes to protect threatened open space while working on cultural and historical connections, accessibility, and other assets.

Santa Cruz River 3 — Supporters say a new Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge would enhance the Tucson metropolitan area and beyond. Currently, paths along the river are popular for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users.

Mike Quigley, the Arizona State Director for the Wilderness Society, in the azpm radio studios.

The community of Ajo in western Pima County is also looking to promote its wide-open spaces that can serve as sustainable economic drivers for residents in that remote region. We’ll hear from Aaron Cooper, the executive director of the International Sonoran Desert Alliance. He says Ajo is blessed to have hundreds of thousands acres of pristine desert at its doorstep, waiting to be explored.

Sonoran Pronghorn-Cabeza Prieta — The Sonoran pronghorn is one of thousands of animal and plant species that can be found at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.

Aaron Cooper, the executive director of the International Sonoran Desert Alliance, in the azpm radio studios.

Tucson resident and author Dr. Nooshie Motaref, who is also the director of Tucson Tellers of Tales, joins us to provide information about this non-profit organization which was founded in 1979. The group welcomes storytelling, folktales, poetry and music from diverse members of the community in a supportive atmosphere.

In addition to speaking about Tellers of Tales, Motaref also shares a personal story that transported her from Asia to Europe, and then, to United States.

Tucson Tellers of Tales 2 — Nooshie Motaref, PhD, is an author and former professor in Iran, who discovered Tucson Tellers of Tales after moving to Arizona.

Another organization in Tucson that welcomes members from all segments of the community is Odyssey Storytelling. It was founded by author, artist and resident Penelope Starr 20 years ago, which has her thinking about her past accomplishments and influences. How will she be remembered? Starr shares a story addressing this topic.

Penelope Starr

Penelope Starr is a Tucson resident, author and workshop facilitator who founded Odyssey Storytelling in 2004.

Santa Cruz River 5 — Supporters say a new Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge would enhance the Tucson metropolitan area and beyond. Currently, paths along the river are popular for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users.

Santa Cruz River 4 — Supporters say a new Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge would enhance the Tucson metropolitan area and beyond. Currently, paths along the river are popular for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users.

Web page by Alecia Vasquez.

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.

Update your Zip Code

Efforts to expand Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, and create the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge