Conservation
Committee Chair: Michiel Pillet
Mission: To advance the TCSS’s conservation of Arizona's native cactus, succulents and ecosystems through data-driven strategies, public awareness, collaborative partnerships, and the development of impactful programs that protect biodiversity and promote sustainable stewardship for future generations.
Introducing the TCSS Conservation Policy on Wild-Collected Plants
In September 2025, the TCSS Board of Directors voted to adopt a formal Policy, included below, describing its position related to wild-collected plants. This Policy was developed in coordination with the Conservation Committee, driven by the accelerating threat from over-collection faced by cacti and succulents. In recent years, many cactus and succulent societies have adopted similar policies. As conservation is a key component of the mission of our organization, it is important for us to follow suit.
Given the complexities involving wild-collected plants, the Policy aims to be flexible while formalizing steps to follow when confronted with such plants. Most members will not be affected. Importantly, the Policy is not intended to be punitive, and will be accompanied with educational materials so that we can learn to tackle this pressing issue together.
Please direct questions to the Conservation Committee.
Current Projects
Trust for Public Land Sonoran Desert conservation project in Tucson
Protecting 30 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert in Tucson!
Conservation is a core component of the TCSS mission – we all want to see our favorite plants prosper. TCSS supports conservation through a variety of activities, including our Rescue Program, speakers, our conservation policies, and the Research and Conservation Grant Programs.
The Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society is supporting the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in acquiring a 30-acre parcel of pristine Sonoran Desert habitat in Tucson. TPL acquires lands with conservation value and transfers these to governmental agencies for long-term protection. The parcel in question contains all the iconic Sonoran Desert cacti, with lots of younger plants, and appears to be free of invasive species.
The parcel is outlined in orange on the map included here. This unique plot is the missing puzzle piece connecting many protected areas, including the Sweetwater Preserve, Saguaro National Park, the University of Arizona Desert Research Station, and Tucson Mountain Park. Representatives from the TCSS and the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA) Conservation Committees recently visited the area, and provided the photos and video shown here. Since 2023, TPL has successfully added two parcels to this network of protected areas.
TPL needed $25,000 to support their acquisition and transfer of this important parcel, which TCSS and CSSA raised in late 2026 through a matching campaign. This is a rare opportunity to support the conservation of our prickly friends in our backyards. Wouldn’t it be great to visit this parcel during the 2027 Convention in Tucson?
For several years TCSS has supported the preservation and maintenance cost for the Coteco Biological Preserve in Sonora, Mexico through its Conservation Fund. The Preserve contains over 500 species of plants in a unique ecosystem dominated by pitayal or organ pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi).
Organ Pipe Cactus Forest conservation project
From left to right: Travel group with large organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi) cactus and etcho (Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum), photo Jan Emming; Peniocereus striatus with red fruit and cryptic stem, photo Jan Emming; Jam made from pitayal (organ pipe cactus fruit). photo Thomas Staudt; Pereskiopsis porteri a leafy tropical cacti, photo Jan Emming.
by David Yetman
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By Thomas Staudt
In 2018 through it’s conservation fund TCSS took on the responsibility of covering the preservation and maintenance cost for the Coteco Biological Preserve (pitayal) located about 45 minutes southwest of Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico. This is a cactus rich area with over 500 species of plants including grasses, herbs, shrubs, trees and of course various cacti. In particular interest was the pitayal or organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi). This is a culturally important plant used for food, fencing, roofing, fuel and a variety of medicinal remedies.
Ethnobotanist David Yetman along with the local population and other American and Mexican researches were quick to recognize the value of this unique and geographically limited coastal thornscrub ecosystem, and worked diligently to establish and preserve this area from the impending encroachment of agribusiness bulldozers.
In October, 2019 four TCSS members traveled with David Yetman and Mexican ecologist Alberto Búrquez to the 500 acre Preserve on a routine evaluation of the fencing stability and overall habitat at the site. The drive from Tucson follows Mexican Highway 15 through Sonora and past the major cities Hermosillo and Ciudad Obergón. Recent highway improvements and bypasses allow for ease in avoiding the congestion of those cities. Acquiring tourist cards and a vehicle permit were required stops along the way and provided a chance to stretch our legs. All four travelers were quite enthusiastic and eager to identify new plants as we traveled (six species of columnar cacti were observed). In the evening we settled into a comfortable motel in the city of Navojoa.
Justino Flores, a resident of the Mayo community of Massiaca guided the group when touring the site. His expertise with locating and naming plants was invaluable. Four species of columnar cactus are found in the preserve: organ pipe (Stenocereus thurberi), senita (Lophocereus (Pachycereus) schottii), etcho (Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum) and octopus cactus, (Stenocereus alamosensis). The saguaro, (Carnegiea gigantea and cardon, (Pachycereus pringlei) were seen on the drive but not present at the site. Also abundant were a dozen or so tropical tree species including the guayacán (Guaiacum coulteri), saituna (Ziziphus amole), endemics jito (Forchhammeria watsonii) and jócona (Havardia sonorae), jaboncillo (Fouquieria macdougalii), mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa), papelío (Jatropha cordata and cuneata), pasio (Maytenus phyllanthoides), palo chino (Havardia mexicanum), San juanico (Jacquinia macrocarpa), and several others.
Pereskiopsis porteri the cacti predecessor was found, as was Peniocerius striatus. Mammillaria species were also seen, including Mammallaria bocenis.
Many of the Massiaca Mayos and other adjacent Mayo communities harvest the sweet and tasty fruit of the pitayal. This takes place in the heat of July, August, and September.
The fruit is processed into jams and beverage concentrates, both for domestic consumption (residents of the region consume a dozen or so per day) and for sale in local and regional markets. Our group was very fortunate to be able to sample these products at the Flores residence.
Our observation concluded that the fencing at the Coteco Preserve was intact, the pitayal (organ pipes) were abundant and the area was under competent management.
The Coteco site has proven to be a valuable location for recent and ongoing research. The contained area provides a controlled site to compare and contrast invasion by agribusiness and overgrazing.
How you can help: We are currently restructuring the committee and identifying resources and opportunities to expand the conservation impacts of TCSS. Please contact us if you have ideas or would like to get involved!