Several environmental organizations have initiated legal action to prevent two mineral exploration projects in southern Arizona's Patagonia Mountains, a region known for its rich biodiversity. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Tucson, targets Arizona Standard LLC, a subsidiary of a Canadian mineral exploration company. The plaintiffs, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, argue that the U.S. Forest Service failed to adequately assess the potential impact of the exploration activities on public lands, water resources, and endangered species. The exploration focuses on copper and other minerals in the mountains near the U.S.-Mexico border, a habitat for species like Mexican spotted owls, yellow-billed cuckoos, jaguars, and ocelots.
The Patagonia Mountains are considered vital "sky islands" in southern Arizona, offering a crucial corridor for jaguars and ocelots moving north from Mexico through a gap in the border wall. Carolyn Shafer, of the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, emphasized the importance of safeguarding this habitat, citing its role as a source of drinking water, clean air, and biological diversity that supports the region's nature-based economy. Arizona Standard, in a legal response, denied any violation of federal environmental regulations.
