Founded in 2013, HECHO works to conserve public lands by elevating Southwestern Hispanic culture and land stewardship traditions rooted in *querencia* (deep connection to the land) and *herencia* (the responsibility to pass it on). Through its Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC), HECHO connects local elected officials, community leaders, and federal policymakers to advance bipartisan conservation solutions across the Southwest. At the center of HECHO’s current campaign is the effort to designate Chiricahua National Monument as Arizona’s fourth national park.
Located in southeastern Arizona’s Madrean Sky Islands — one of North America’s most biologically diverse regions — the monument protects 12,025 acres of dramatic habitat supporting over 1,200 plant species, migratory birds, and wide-ranging wildlife. The Sky Islands landscape spans southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico, sheltering more than 7,000 plant and animal species and serving as a critical wildlife corridor linking the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Occidental.
Elevating Chiricahua to national park status would strengthen long-term protection, increase national visibility, and drive economic growth in surrounding communities. In 2024, the monument welcomed approximately 71,400 visitors who generated an estimated $5.7 million in total economic output for gateway communities. National park designation is expected to significantly increase visitation, tourism investment, and support for rural businesses in the region.
HECHO has already helped secure House passage of the Chiricahua National Park Act in early 2026 and the introduction of companion Senate legislation. Through Washington, D.C. fly-ins, in-district meetings, and targeted communications, HECHO is mobilizing Hispanic leaders and community voices to make the conservation, cultural heritage, and economic case for designation directly to decision-makers.
