The Sonoran Institute

The Sonoran Institute is a 501c(3) nonprofit helping people and communities achieve harmony between the built environment and the natural world.  More than conservationists, the Institute works to protect the environments, economies and communities of the West through unique programs and initiatives. From bringing back a dying ecosystem to providing communities with the tools and training they need to deal with a changing environment and economy, the Sonoran Institute’s programs optimize their mission to connect communities with the natural resources that nourish and sustain them.

For more than a decade, the Sonoran Institute in partnership with several conservation groups has been working to secure the long-term protection of mountainous areas within Cochise County.  It is challenging to quantify the value of these lands and, more importantly, the opportunity cost of keeping them in a natural state.

In 2017-18, Seidman was tcommissioned to quantify the long-term benefit of preserving the natural character of Cochise County. A balanced scorecard methodology was employed to articulate the long-run economic, demographic, and environmental benefits (expressed in terms of GDP and employment) for four scenarios that could be realized in Cochise County over 100 years.