Protection of the environment Management success on the ground

The view around you is representative of the Sonoran Desert, in this region, one of the hottest and driest in the nation. Far from a lifeless wasteland, the Goldwater Range embraces a variety of unique environments including sand dunes, lava flows, desert basins and playas, and over 23 mountain ranges. These landforms habor a diverse array of plants and animals, and have also been inhabited and traversed by many groups of people over time. The challenge facing BLM and the USAF is balancing the preservation of unique and natural and cultural resources with the military airwing mission. In order to meet this stewardship challenge, the BLM and the USAF have established special man- agement areas, conducted surveys and studies of endangered plants and animals, inventoried and protected archaeological sites, and prepared long-term land use plans guiding military use and resource management. By workin together, the public, the BLM and the USAF can continue to successfully combine responsible land use with conservation.