NEXT STEPS
While the future doesn’t look bright for Arizona’s saguaros, there is still hope. According to Hernandez, replacing and planting more is the key to saving Arizona’s beloved saguaros.
“If we are going to do something, we need to start acting,” said Hernandez. “If we want to preserve saguaros in the Valley, we need to start doing that now. The best way to do that is by planting more saguaros.”
Currently, efforts are being made to help protect these beloved succulents. At the Desert Botanical Garden, they plan to create an adopt-a-saguaro program for conservation purposes.
They are working on gathering seeds from areas that adapt well to extreme temperatures in hopes they can survive urban settings. This may take a couple of years to run.
In the meantime, there are ways people can preserve and protect their saguaros now. The best way to take care of them is not to overwater them. Instead, run a hose 2′-3′ feet from the base of the cactus. Let the water trickle for four to six hours monthly during summer.
Cam Juarez describes the importance of protecting saguaros.
For many in the Southwest, the saguaro symbolizes resilience and strength. People come from around the world to see one, and it is hard to imagine a world without them.
Juarez explains that Arizona’s biodiversity and food chain will disappear if all saguaros die.
“If you kill a keystone species like the saguaro, all the interdependent species and the biodiversity that relies on it, the food chain will also disappear.”
As the future looks uncertain, saguaros need protection more than ever. Juarez warns, “It is one of our species here that we need to protect. Once it is gone, it will never come back.”
For those with more serious concerns about the saguaro, contact the Garden’s plant hotline at planthotline@dbg.org.