A preliminary analysis that has been drafted in conjunction with participating federal agencies. Land managing entities provided information and later a detailed review of fact sheets that summarize each reserve in terms of its size, ownership, authorizing documents, land use activities, priority vulnerable species, exotic and non-native species, baseline information, GAP status, acquisitions, management plans, research, monitoring and recovery programs. The study proposes eight Reserve Management Areas that include land managers who could work together across administrative boundaries.

Describes methods that are used in order to prepare reserve design alternatives in the area of biological conservation. The report also provides a brief history of reserve design theory, and demonstrates how the principles of biological reserve design have been extended to the other Elements of the Sonoran Desert conservation plan.

Provides a brief review of the rules, listing history, and biological issues relevant to the status and protection of the pygmy-owl in Pima County. Land use in unincorporated northwest Pima County is analyzed to determine existing commitments and conservation opportunities, and in order to begin to answer the question of whether a general biological goal of conserving 80 percent of the pygmy-owl's habitat can be achieved.

Status reports containing more detailed information about the priority conservation areas of each species. The first summary provides a view from the technical perspective of how the biological reserve has been assembled. The second summary provides a view from the historical and process perspective of how the biological reserve has been assembled.

The cornerstone of any habitat conservation plan is the establishment of a set of reserves that are ultimately managed to preserve or enhance populations of a particular species or suite of species. Also, with any priority species in a particular region there are geographic areas that are much more important to the species than others. Identifying those areas is an important part of the planning process and a required activity to help assure that the best habitat areas for each species are identified and targeted for inclusion within the reserve system.

Provides an overview of types of mitigation banking activities that have evolved from the Army Corps of Engineers wetlands banking. The discussion provides important distinctions between traditional practices in the area of mitigation banking and banking for endangered species purposes. The potential role of private sector in this market is described, as well as the roles of federal and local government participants.