In the heart of an urbanized area in South Central Phoenix, next to the Salt River and within the Sonoran Desert, an inspiring pollinator restoration initiative is underway.  Led by a public-non-profit-academic planning team, including Arizona State University (ASU), Audubon Southwest, Tiger Mountain Foundation and the City of Phoenix, this highly collaborative project is restoring pollinator habitat and informing the public about the important connection between pollinators and their habitat. The project is part of the regional river revitalization initiative, Rio Reimagined, which aims to improve environmental engagement, quality of life, habitat, and health of neighborhoods along the Salt and Gila river corridor in metro Phoenix.  The initiative recognizes the crucial role pollinators have in maintaining ecosystem balance and aims to raise awareness about the benefits of protecting and restoring natural ecosystems in a rapidly growing county .

The Significance of Pollinator Projects in Central Phoenix

Pollinators, including species of bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, sunbirds, and bats—all found in the Sonoran Desert—play a vital part in plant reproduction and the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Nonetheless, these essential species face numerous challenges, such as habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. To address this urgency and to protect these species, ASU, Audubon Southwest, City of Phoenix and the Tiger Mountain Foundation are creating a pollinator demonstration garden as part of a conceptual ‘Pollinator Trail’ of waystations  along the Salt-Gila River corridor .

This pollinator garden is also implemented as part of SER’s Standards-based Restoration in Action in collaboration with Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team. The project focuses on restoring a 1-2-acre pollinator habitat along the Salt River, in the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, near the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. The pollinator garden’s proximity to the Audubon Center will allow for enhanced community engagement and educational programs. Ecologically, pollinator gardens along river riparian zones offer practical and accessible ways to support biodiversity by providing a haven for both local and migrating pollinators .

The Audubon Center will be the second site established through Rio Reimagined partners within the last year, joining existing waystations installed by the City of Phoenix - Central Avenue Trailhead Pollinator Garden, the Maricopa County Parks - Estrella Mountain Regional Park Pollinator Garden. The City of Phoenix has a 5-year Monarch Pledge program that is increasing habitat in municipal sites throughout the city.

Rio Salado Corridor - Photo Credit Tim Roberts

Creating Vibrant Pollinator Habitat

The overarching aim is to transform a 1-2-acre area into a vibrant habitat for pollinators by following a well-defined ecological process. The process begins with site preparation, including removing invasive species and improving soil quality. Garden design will be provided by landscape architect students at Arizona State University’s Design School.  Native plant species will be carefully selected based on their blooming periods and appeal to different pollinators. Offering diverse nectar and pollen sources throughout the year ensures a continuous food supply for resident pollinators. Strategic plantings will also create a harmonious and interconnected habitat. Finally, ongoing monitoring and maintenance will help ensure the garden's long-term success. The pollinator demonstration garden project will include the following enhancements : 

Diverse Native Plant Understory: Carefully chosen native  shrubs, cacti, succulents, perennials, wildflowers, and grasses attract a variety of pollinators.

Efficient Irrigation System: An automatic irrigation system conserves water while maintaining plant health.

Educational Interpretation: Multi-lingual interpretive signage in the garden and exhibits in the Audubon Center educate visitors about the vital role of pollinators in the riparian ecosystem.

Stone Garden Pathways: Improved pathways enhance visitor experience and accessibility.

Climate change resilience: Phoenix is experiencing its hottest summer ever, with water availability already a concern, and likely to grow over the next five to ten years. In planning this garden, efforts will be made to include climate resilience designs.

Photo credit VGPhotoz Collectionz by Vlad Georgescu

Community Engagement, Outreach, and Education

Another aim of this project is to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for the environment and its resources. Involvement of the local South Phoenix community, , various non-profit organizations, academic research, and citizen scientists, is crucial for success. Therefore, the project  intentionally includes landscape design by students, project labor by a leading community-based workforce development organization and indigenous cultural values of plants and pollinators on signage .

Furthermore, the pollinator garden will serve as a demonstration area and educational hub for the Audubon Center, offering guided tours, workshops, and outreach programs. People of all ages will be able to learn about local and migrating pollinators, their significance, and the importance of conserving their habitats. By deepening the community’s connection with this vital ecosystem, the project aims to inspire a generation of environmental advocates working towards a sustainable future .

RIO Volunteers - photo credit VGPhotoz Collectionz by Vlad Georgescu

What makes this project standards-based ecological restoration?

By using the SER standards for this project, the planning team will have a greater chance of meeting their project goals. Standards-based ecological restoration helps account for complex ecosystem dynamics, navigate trade-offs in land use, address challenges, and increase design and implementation effectiveness. The pollinator garden demonstration project aligns with principles outlined in the SER standards b y:

1. Ensuring diverse and relevant knowledge and technical capacity are integrated, including local and indigenous knowledge. The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is a well-established eco-tourism destination near downtown Phoenix, fostering connections between people and nature in an urban area.  Audubon collaborates with various organizations and experts to promote conservation stewardship, restore habitats, and increase biodiversity through native plant and pollinator abundance. Local residents are engaged in these efforts to create a greener and more sustainable community.
2. Promoting inclusion and participation of the local community (Principle 1). The project actively involves diverse community members, local businesses, and organizations in creating a pollinator garden. Youth, women, seniors, and underserved communities play vital roles in spreading awareness about the environment, social justice, sustainability, and resilience. Private sector partners and non-profit organizations collaborate to support conservation events and projects, engaging the public in workshops and initiatives for a healthier ecosystem and more resilient communities.
3. Identifying and reducing indirect and direct causes of degradation to the extent practical. The pollinator garden project addresses the decline of pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats, which affects plant reproduction and ecosystem health. The restoration area provides a habitat for these pollinators, and best management practices are employed to enhance their well-being.
4. Increasing integrity, area, number, or viability of biodiversity within the restoration area and community. As part of the Rio Reimagined efforts, the project aims to create pollinator garden sites along the Salt – Gila River corridor, with the Rio Salado Audubon Center as a critical waystation on the south bank of the river. These pollinator garden sites not only provide high-quality habitat for pollinators but also benefit local urban gardeners and farmers, who rely on pollinators to obtain high yields of fruits and vegetables. But perhaps most importantly, these gardens have become places where city residents connect with biodiversity, where tangible interactive exhibits visibly and tactilely demonstrate natural ecosystems and their benefits to society.
5. Achieving and sustaining the greatest net gain possible for environmental benefits, human well-being, and social equity for the community. The pollinator garden restoration project yields numerous benefits for both pollinators and the local community. By providing a rich and diverse habitat, the garden attracts a wide array of pollinator species, contributing to biodiversity conservation. As the pollinators thrive, so do the native plants, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. Furthermore, the project fosters environmental education and awareness by engaging visitors, students, and volunteers, highlighting the crucial role of pollinators and inspiring a sense of stewardship for the natural world.

This new pollinator demonstration garden at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center benefits the local ecosystem and the local community. By creating a diverse and sustainable habitat, fostering environmental education, and engaging the community, the project is sure to make a positive impact for years to come . 

Microsoft is proud to collaborate with Society and Ecological Restoration to deliver standards-based ecological restoration with the with Arizona State University (ASU) in partnership with Audubon Southwest in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Learn more here.