Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Maricopa County Parks and Recreation:

Invasive species are among the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, and increase wildfire occurrences and magnitude. Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on removing invasive species in parks. The Invasive plant species have severely impacted our park’s natural ecosystems and contributed to our most recent wildfires. The data collected through the mapping work and the invasive species removal efforts will help reduce the invasive plants and wildfire potential within these parks. Join the Desert Defenders program to help us find and remove these plants! Registration Required FREE Desert Defender T-Shirts when you participate in four or more events (while supplies last) Thanks to Arizona Master Natrlaists and Central AZ Conservation Alliance, Please bring gloves, water, a snack, and dress in long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes. We will remove invasive species by hand pulling or using hand tools and bagging them to be placed in trash receptacles. Programs with less than three registered volunteers may be canceled at least one day before the event. Registered volunteers will receive an email stating the event has been canceled. Meet in the main parking lot. To register, please click on the link https://signup.com/go/ztJDqQj