Abstract

Mapping a Thousand Saguaros
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Veronica Nixon

The Desert Botanical Garden encompasses 150 acres in Phoenix, Arizona, and is home to over 4,400 plant species, including the iconic Carnegiea gigantea (saguaro). Creation of an online GIS-linked plants database (www.livingcollections.org) enabled us to carry out an in-depth inventory of the nearly 1,000 saguaros on Garden grounds.

The saguaros were mapped with a survey-grade GPS unit. Locations were stored in an ArcSDE geodatabase and a map service was created to synch the data with the Living Collections database. Next, volunteers equipped with iPads utilized inventory tools on the Living Collections site to navigate to and inventory each saguaro.

The inventory included collecting crucial horticultural management data; plant health, height, diameter, number of arms, and a photo. Additionally, saguaro inventories in natural (undeveloped) garden areas will serve as a baseline dataset for biannual measurements that will help us better understand the saguaros' responses to varying climatic conditions over time.