BORDERLANDS RESTORATION NETWORK

VISION
We envision connected borderlands where rivers flow, plants, wildlife and cultures thrive, and communities develop an inclusive restorative economy where a sense of place inspires a sense of purpose.

WATERSHED RESTORATION
Install 1500 erosion control structures to retain 300 tons of sediment, improve water quality and increase infiltration across focus watersheds.

RESTORE HABITAT
Improve 150 acres by installing 5000 native plants and plant 500 pounds of native seed across focus watersheds.

RECONNECT COMMUNITIES
Engage 100 borderlands participants in placed-based education and outreach efforts.

Grow a restorative economy by directly hiring 50 borderlands youth for paid internship positions and adding up to 3 full time equivalent positions (FTE) directly to our organization or in collaboration with our Network Partners.

Watershed Restoration
The Watershed Restoration Program (WRP) offers a broad suite of restoration practices to a diverse set of partnerships and contracts with local residents, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies. Through the installation of erosion control/water harvesting structures (ECS), revegetation, and invasive plant management restoration activities, the WRP aims to restore flowing water to our streams, improve regional resiliency to climate change, return ecosystems to trajectories of recovery, and employ, train, and support local residents as restoration practitioners.

The WRP staff and its public and private partners conduct research and studies to continually improve our process and identify ways to incorporate new techniques and practices. This program area has a strong focus on work within the Borderlands Wildlife Preserve (BWP).

Native Plant Materials
The Native Plant Materials Program (NPM) promotes biodiversity by providing individuals, communities, and land managers access to restoration-quality plant materials and guidance for their effective use. The NPM program includes the Seed Lab, a seed storage and processing facility, and the Native Plant Nursery, a plant and seed propagation/production facility. These facilities work in concert to increase the availability of native plant material with locally adapted genetics through inquiry-based collection, propagation, and restoration practices.

Over the course of the past seven years, NPM staff have developed effective best practice methods for wild seed collection, cleaning, storage, propagation, out planting, research and data management. This program has also built strong collaborations with multiple local regional and national organizations as well as reliable working relationships with state and federal agencies.

Education and Outreach
Our Education and Outreach Program (E&O) creates opportunities for empowering, ecologically-centered, placed-based multigenerational learning experiences that focus on training, marketable skills, and applied knowledge. The program works to inspire the next generation of leaders for a restorative economy in our borderland communities.

The E&O programming includes 3 main efforts, Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) and Ṣu:dagī ‘O Wud Doakag (Water is Life) focusing on high school-aged youth while field studies courses focus on college-aged young professionals. BECY inspires and trains culturally diverse youth living on the US/Mexico borderlands to restore the trans-national watersheds they call home. Field studies courses offer an introduction to holistic responses to the ecological challenges facing the southern Arizona and northern Sonora borderlands region.

BRN has attracted, motivated, and retained competent and committed staff and volunteers. BRN in turn has invested in employee training, wellness, workplace satisfaction, benefits, and merit-based raises. BRN encourages learning, growth, and partnerships that support staff.

BRN is able to adapt quickly to changing opportunities and circumstances as well as working collaboratively across organizations and the border. The "network" of partner organizations allow BRN to bring the strengths and expertise of different organizations together to leverage and achieve goals more effectively and efficiently including shared resources and administrative services.

Since inception:

The Native Plant Program has collected 2,400 native seed collections representing over 200 species and propagated 200,000 native plants for use in restoration and residential projects.

BRN youth education programs including Borderlands Earth Care Youth have trained nearly 150 youth from 5 borderland communities.

Field Studies courses have trained over 25 students representing 7 nations.

The Watershed Restoration Program has improved 500 acres of public and private land retaining an estimated 1140 tons of soil, improving hydrologic and soil condition to enhance wildlife habitat, and recharging shallow groundwater tables.

BRN employs 15 full-time employees and 11 part-time employees averaging between 18-24 employees in total throughout the year, as well as an additional 20 interns.

BRN has worked and continues to work with over 60 program partners to carry out our mission.