The saguaro cactus stands tall, enduring nature's challenges. After the Bush Fire in 2020, efforts are underway to replant these iconic cacti across 193,455 acres of the Tonto National Forest. The fire, the fifth largest in state history, destroyed about 80,000 saguaros, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Four years on, inspired by a commitment to the land and its history, Tonto staff members like Drew Ullberg and Bec Veerman are diligently pursuing the restoration of the Sonoran Desert's native flora. They have engaged in creative alliances with nurseries, and local businesses, and have set in motion federal funding initiatives. Their dedication to this cause is evident in their collaborations with the National Forest Foundation and Natural Restorations, to take on the Herculean task of replenishing the lost population of saguaros.
In a stroke of serendipity, Arizona Wholesale Growers offered a helping hand to their mission. The company, having faced its own fiery trials that left 80 saguaros unsellable, donated these survivors to the forest. The Tonto's team, understanding the long road ahead, is also thinking long-term with an agreement between the Tonto and Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix to grow cacti from locally sourced seeds, aiming for a goal to plant over 10,000 cacti by 2028, "The targeted goal is to grow 10,000 or more cacti by 2028 and replant them in the burn scar," Ullberg told the U.S. Forest Service.
A slew of organizations have rallied to support the Tonto's replanting endeavors. Following the Bush Fire, Natural Restorations, co-founded by Justin and Nicole Corey, took command of the ‘Save Our Saguaros’ restoration project. This initiative blossomed into an annual event, where, as of their 5th year, they've seen around 150 volunteers planting 100 saguaros, boosting the number of replanted saguaros to 2,283 as of November 2024. And plans are already afoot for more such endeavors in 2025. "Natural Restorations and its team of veterans have been, and continue to be, the biggest contributor regarding replanting saguaros in the Bush Fire burn scar," Veerman told the U.S. Forest Service.
