Are the recent hot summers stressing out Phoenix-based saguaros?
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Dr. Tania Hernandez, a research scientist at the Desert Botanical Garden, has been closely monitoring Phoenix-based saguaros over the past several years and has noticed an unsettling trend.
“We started receiving many phone calls and inquiries from people, from the community, concerned about their saguaros dying, particularly after the summer,” says Dr. Hernandez.
Dr. Hernandez and her team recently completed their most recent “urban saguaro census.” Started in 2022, the census counts saguaros in the Phoenix metro area with the general public’s help.
This year’s census shows that the majority of saguaros are estimated to be of medium age, with relatively lower numbers of younger and older saguaros. While these age demographics are not necessarily unusual, Dr. Hernandez says, “This is concerning to us because there are not going to be enough, let’s say babies, to replace the dying population of old saguaros.”
To give the urban saguaros a better chance of long term survival, Dr. Hernandez says they should be planted in the Phoenix area, not transplanted from other parts of the desert.
“For the locals, we are used to these temperatures, we are better adapted to these conditions. A similar thing happens with plants,” she explained.
This summer was the hottest on record in Phoenix, while last summer was the 2nd hottest. However, to confirm there is a link between the heat and saguaros deaths, they need continued help from the public to collect more data. For many locals, there is an emotional attachment to the saguaro.
“If you have seen a saguaro dying or collapsing, it is dramatic because these plants can live for hundreds of years,” Dr. Hernandez said.
For information on how you can help, visit the saguaro initiative page of the Desert Botanical Garden.
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