Southwest and Rocky Mountains Region

ArizonaThe Southwest and Rocky Mountain region possess some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring sights in the world. Once embracing prehistoric seaways, the land now features desert and mountain ecosystems and communities, its peoples dealing with local issues far removed from the urban priorities of their distant coastal neighbors. Here people have a different experience of space, although the creep of modern development and culture relentless spreads from growing cities and towns. Fresh water is a major issue, as well as concerns about economic security, health, education and other elements central to quality of life. In this region we also find groups and individuals committed to promoting sustainability practices, policies and values among their neighbors and institutions.

Arizona
Colorado
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming

Networks and organizations

San Juan Citizens Alliance

Colorado Environmental Coalition

Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance - a coalition of conservation and recreation organizations focusing on protection and preservation of public lands in Colorado and southern Wyoming.

Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition

Western Colorado Congress

Colorado Action Network

Western Governors Association - "Addresses important policy and governance issues in the West, advances the role of the Western states in the federal system, and strengthens the social and economic fabric of the region. WGA develops policy and carries out programs in the areas of natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and state governance. WGA acts as a center of innovation and promotes shared development of solutions to regional problems."

Local sustainability strategiesArizona 2

Rocky Mountain Institute

Southwest Environmental Center - "Aquatic ecosystem such as rivers and wetlands are the lifeblood of the Southwest. Our Desert Waters Program seeks to protect these treasures. Through our Desert Lands and Wildlife Program, we work to ensure the long-term survival of native wildlife--not just in remnant populations but in ecologically meaningful numbers distributed across their historic ranges. We believe that lasting success depends upon obtaining local support for conservation efforts. Through our Education for a Sustainable Society Program, we seek to build that support by creating an informed and active constituency for protecting biodiversity throughout the region."

Western Resource Advocates - "Founded in 1989, Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is a non-profit environmental law and policy organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the natural environment of the Interior American West. With more than 22 employees and offices in three states (Colorado, Utah and Nevada), we have developed strategic programs in three areas: Water, Energy and Lands. We meet our goals in collaboration with other environmental and community groups, and by developing solutions that are appropriate to the unique environmental, economic and cultural framework of this region."

Community indicators

Indicators of Opportunity
http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid489.php

Local sustainability issuesRocky Mountains

Water

Clean Water Action (Colorado)

Rocky Mountain Institute - Water

Energy & climate change

Arizona Solar Energy Association

Colorado Renewable Energy Society

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Rocky Mountain Institute - Energy

Environment

Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project

Center for Native Ecosystems

Environment Colorado (formerly CoPirg)

Western Resource Advocates

Colorado Conservation Voters Education Fund - Nonpartisan political voice of Colorado's environmental community.

Sierra Club - Rocky Mountain Chapter

Food

Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group

Land-use and Transportation

Rocky Mountain Institute - How to reduce the environmental impacts of transportation


REGIONS

Appalachia

Mid-Atlantic

Midwest

New England

Pacific Coast

South

Southwest/Rockies

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