Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision
We’ve built our vision on the following ideals:
The Patagonia Mountains must be protected from the impacts of 21st century industrialized mining
The 1872 Mining Law must be rewritten
“Being naturalized to place means to live as if this is the land that feeds you, as if these are the streams from which you drink, that build your body and fill your spirit. To become naturalized is to know that your ancestors lie in this ground. Here you will give your gifts and meet your responsibilities. To become naturalized is to live as if your children’s future matters, to take care of the land as if our lives and the lives of all our relatives depend on it. Because they do.”
Our Mission
Patagonia Area Resource Alliance works to protect the Patagonia Region and Arizona’s Waterways from the negative impacts of modern industrialized mining by:
Holding federal and state agencies accountable to environmental laws and regulations
Collaborating with strategic partners to ensure that mining-related activities meet the highest science-based standards
Our Values
We formed Patagonia Area Resource Alliance in 2011 as a response to renewed mining interest in the Patagonia Mountains. In all things, we strive to educate and engage the community in Patagonia and surrounding areas about the risks and realities of 21st century mining and promote local sustainable economies.
The areas surrounding Patagonia have a rich cultural heritage that includes ranching, farming, and ecotourism. The town of Patagonia supports a diverse arts community as well. PARA supports sustainable development that maintains or enhances economic opportunities and community wellbeing while protecting and restoring our natural environment and biological wealth.
We aim to prevent increased environmental degradation caused by 21st century industrials mining in order to maintain and preserve our public lands, our drinking water, the air we breathe, and the richness of our local flora and fauna. A thriving community, both now and in the future, depends fully on our ability to generate and maintain Patagonia’s economic and environmental health.