PROTECTION
To protect saguaros, lawmakers are finding ways to help Arizona’s environment.
Unlike other plants, saguaros are protected by strict laws. In Arizona, vandalizing or cutting down saguaros is a felony. Depending on the judge and the person’s record, perpetrators can face many years in prison.
There are also strict regulations if residents want to relocate a saguaro. According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, if someone is looking into retransplanting a saguaro over 4 feet tall, they must apply for a permit. From there, the landowner must then fill out an extensive application.
While strict, these laws are in place for a reason. Sarah Hunt is the director of policy and strategy at the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University. She believes that saguaros are so heavily protected because they cannot be easily replaced as they are only a few inches in the first ten years of their lives.
“We can't just replant them like how we can replant other plants.”
As Arizona’s dry climate worsens, lawmakers are working on more ways to protect saguaros, including partnering with Saguaro National Park to bring more water to the saguaros. While it isn’t clear what this partnership entails, Hunt believes it can benefit Arizona and its saguaros.
“Lack of water and water scarcity is a very important issue in Arizona. And I believe it is top of mind for every elected official.”
Photo Credit: Ireland Fleck at Desert Botanical Gardens
The biggest issue that politicians are having is getting other people to understand the severity of climate change and the importance of water for saguaros.
“There is a lot of disagreement about how big of an issue climate change really is and what we ought to do about it as a society and as a government,” said Hunt, “And I think the challenge there is having that conversation in such a way that we are all listening to each other and also understand that we need to make choices that balance a healthy environment and how we interact with climate change.”
National treasures such as the saguaro cactus can better help people understand the science of climate change.