Saguaro in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which abuts the Mexican border. Photo by Zack Guido.
Lead CCASS Contact: Christopher Scott
The Consortium for Arizona-Mexico Arid Environments (CAZMEX), also known as the Binational Consortium for the Regional Scientific Development and Innovation, led at the University of Arizona by Chris Scott, is dedicated to addressing shared challenges in Mexico and Arizona from rapid growth and social problems, both exacerbated by climate change. CAZMEX's objectives are to:
- generate basic scientific knowledge and monitor physical, biological, and social dynamics in the Sonoran Desert and other arid environments;
- create the strategies that will be needed to improve quality of life and sustainably adapt to changes (including human resource development, increasing social mediation, and promoting partnerships between the private and public sectors); and
- strengthen and forge new binational groups and partnerships of scientists to study the binational socio-ecological region.
Theme areas are: climate extremes (particularly drought); water resources and their management; ecosystem processes and services; food systems; renewable energy; social and institutional dynamics and governance; and economic development.
Funding from: Mexican Council for Science and Technology (CONACyT); Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice; the University of Arizona; and the Brown Foundation.