each spring. The iconic Saguaro cacti bloom here and
across other parts of Arizona. But the beauty. This
prickly mysterious giant that grows in the desolate
sonoran desert covering southern Arizona and northern
Mexico may be in jeopardy. The rate of climate change
has already surpassed potentially ecological tipping
points that we don't understand or haven't documente
research. Ecologist Daniel Winkler with the United
States Geological Survey says he's concerned about the
landscapes future. A picture he says research paints
with less Sawa Rose. The National Weather Service
recorded 2020 as the driest year in Tucson that same
year, August took the title as the warmest month on
record at 92° and it's expected to be hotter than
normal this year, Tucson is home to the Saguaro
National Park Sawara have evolved to deal with typical
desert conditions or days over 100° or more. What we
don't really understand is whether they can tolerate an
abundance of 100 degree days as we're seeing how our
droughts and how is climate change having an impact on
the number of Saguaro cactus that we see. So the severe
long term drought that much of the southwest has been
experiencing over the last couple of decades has been
negatively impacting Saguaro populations is
particularly in the national park. So what we're seeing
is that the number of young new individuals that are
the population is dramatically decreasing from hi
levels. The 2020 Severo Census found between 1990 and
2020, the number of sorrows at the National Park nearly
doubled to two million, but in 2010, the species began
to hit a wall and they detected only a slight inc
through 2020 Winkler says recent research shows, stress
is preventing the plants from surviving into adulthood.
Weather is just one component endangering the cactu
species as buffel grass spreads across our national
park. What we're seeing is an increased prevalence of
wildfires. In 2020 an invasive grass known as buffalo
grass fueled the bighorn fire in Arizona that charred
nearly 100 and 20,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of
Saguaro cacti. We know of at least 200 or more other
species of plants and animals that entirely depend on
the existence of sorrows for their own survival as it
gets hotter and drier. Fear is growing for the beloved
staple across metro Phoenix. Come on, let's go. A
couple of years ago, Scott Bartell says he began to
notice that sorrows in his neighborhood were decaying
and dying. So is this right here What concerns you Ye
yeah, I think, I think that is bacterial necrosis and
you can see it just eats away at the plant. This is
just one cactus he diagnosed, just makes me sad.
Bartell snapped pictures of mor than 200 Sawa Rose and
documented his findings on the eye. Natural sap for the
first metro phoenix Saguaro census launched this May by
the desert Botanical garden. I just had to touch it and
it just fell right off hundreds of volunteers signed u
to assess sua Rose. We don't understand if this is a
natural process or not. Research scientist. Tanya
Hernandez with the Desert Botanical Garden says
everything points to climate change, but suspects
disease and human pollution in the city may also play a
role. You have severe damage in the stem. She hopes the
census, they now plan to make an annual event. Every
May can help find answers before. It's too late,
Winkler says scientists like himself are conducting
research and conservation effor to help preserve the
prickly giants for future generations. When I look at
my data and I see that the number of sorrows in our
national Park is declining likely because of prolonged
drought. I'm disheartened becau I know that the place
that I I love and the place that I love to study and
love to recreate on my time off might not look like
this for the foreseeable future. The next Saguaro
census will be held in 2030 giving scientists a better
idea of these iconic giants will survive the Arizona
heat and potential fire threats, Adi Guajardo Newsy
in the Saguaro National Park