Mission

Fly the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance over mining operations and leases in the threatened biodiverse haven of the Patagonia Mountains, located in southern Arizona.

The Patagonias are home to more than 300 species of birds, over 600 species of native bees, 300 types of butterflies and moths, 14 hummingbird species, and rare nectar-feeding bats. This area is a biodiversity hotspot and supports a wide array of wildlife, including about 112 federally threatened, endangered, and sensitive species like jaguars, ocelots, and Mexican spotted owls. This incredible biodiversity needs to be well protected especially in the face of a decades-long water and biodiversity crisis.

South 32’s Hermosa Project, located in Patagonia contains zinc, lead, silver, and manganese potential. The Australian mining company, South32, controls 450 patented acres and 26,073 acres of unpatented claims on Forest Service public lands. The mine would consume between 670 million to 1.2 billion gallons of water each year, and could consume as much electricity as over 35,000 Arizonans annually. The Hermosa Project would greatly impact the fragile ecosystem, water sources, and wildlife habitats. The project threatens this global biodiversity hotspot and Santa Cruz County residents, and being proposed inside Arizona’s Municipal Supply Watershed, could deplete drinking water and perpetually contaminate area groundwater with acid mine drainage, according to a new peer-reviewed report.

EcoFlight's partners are working to ensure mining is done responsibly to protect communities and the environment in Arizona.

Click for photos from the flight, geo-referenced flight photos, and aerial footage from the flight.