Mission

The Sonoran Institute inspires and enables community decisions and public policies that respect the land and people of western North America.

Vision

The Sonoran Institute contributes to a vision of a West with:

• Healthy landscapes – including native plants and wildlife, diverse habitat, open spaces, clean air and water – from northern Mexico to western Canada.
• Vibrant communities where people embrace conservation to protect quality of life today and in the future.
• Resilient economies that support prosperous communities, diverse opportunities for residents, productive working landscapes, and stewardship of the natural world.

A Collaborative, Community-based Approach

The nonprofit Sonoran Institute, founded in 1990, works across the rapidly changing West to conserve and restore natural and cultural assets and to promote better management of growth and change. The Institute’s community-based approach emphasizes collaboration, civil dialogue, sound information, local knowledge, practical solutions and big-picture thinking.

Sonoran Institute Strategy & Approach

To learn more about the Institute's unique brand of collaborative conservation, click below to read Maria Baier's summary of our strategy and approach.

 Maria Baier Letter