2006-2007 Saguaro Cactus Census Saguaro National Park - Final Report

Ahnmark, Eric

In 2006 and 2007, the Friends of Saguaro National Park funded an effort by the park to collect census data from saguaro monitoring plots first established in 1990. Led by park personnel, volunteers revisited ten (10) plots throughout both districts of the park and measured all detected saguaros to the nearest tenth of a meter. Teams also recorded data regarding saguaro health and number of arms. When compared to data from the 1990 survey, the 2006-2007 census efforts yielded encouraging results. In all plots visited, saguaro recruitment (the establishment of seedling saguaros) increased significantly. After many decades of decline, the overall size of the saguaro population at the park appears to be continuing the increase first observed in the late 1970s. Since its inception as a National Monument in 1933, Saguaro National Park‟s consistency in monitoring the status of its saguaro population has led to greater knowledge of the ecology and conservation of the park‟s namesake cactus. This study provided valuable lessons for the park and helped to lay the groundwork for the next major survey of the park‟s saguaro population in 2010.