Archaeology Southwest - Exploring and protecting the places of our past

Taking Action

Protecting places that matter requires a broad base of support among the public and within all levels of government. Private, public, and tribal interests are involved. Of necessity, this must be a collaborative effort; no single organization or agency can accomplish enough working alone.

All of us have a stake in protecting our cultural heritage. Advocating for protections and working with partners from all walks of life are essential elements of Archaeology Southwest’s mission. Our diverse body of advocacy work reflects the varied landscapes in which we work and the many different people who find meaning in these special places.

This work often involves advocating the expansion of existing protected areas or the designation of new areas for protection. Examples include our efforts to expand Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and our work to promote National Heritage Area designations for the Santa Cruz and Little Colorado River valleys.

We also work on large-scale planning efforts to advocate that public agencies fully comply with the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 106 consultation process. Whether working on regional transportation planning, utility scale power transmission, renewable energy development on public lands, travel management planning on public lands and National Forests, or land use planning on federal lands, our advocacy is directed at avoiding impacts to significant cultural landscapes, areas, and sites.

Featured Partnerships:

	Great Bend of the Gila River We support the Sonoran Desert Heritage Campaign to protect portions of this unique cultural crossroads.
	Saving Camp Naco Archaeology Southwest and the Naco Heritage Alliance seek to preserve and interpret this historic facility in the borderlands.

•