Mr. Proudfoot, the leading pygmy-owl biologist in the United States, has worked for the last two years to gather and analyze the data that allows us to address issues regarding the genetic viability of ferruginous pygmy-owls in Arizona and to establish a framework for future management efforts. The two major questions addressed are (1) do populations of concern lack genetic variation relative to putative healthy populations, and (2) how unique are geographically distinct populations within a species of special concern?

This conservation plan is the coming together and the coalition of a lot of issues that had the opportunity to germinate into what it is today, partly a Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan. A part of it is just a general conservation plan of many planning elements that the County has been involved in over a number of years.