The University of Arizona, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, released a study in November 2021 that estimates nearly 1,200 jobs, $41.2 million of labor income and $53.8 million of gross domestic product (GDP) are created from three economic sectors of Santa Cruz County: Nature-Based Industries, Nature-Based Tourism and Conservation & Restoration.

One of the major drivers of these industries is the biological diversity of the county and surrounding region, including the Santa Rita Mountains, which form part of what the report calls ¨the Madrean archipelago.¨ The report states that Santa Cruz County ¨has the highest concentration of federally-listed endangered and threatened species, as well as Species at Risk,¨ of any of Arizona´s 15 counties.

To read the report or summary, see: https://economics.arizona.edu/nature-based-restorative-economy-santa-cruz-county-arizona.