Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands.  But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny.

Carl Schurz

ISDA is a non-profit corporation founded in 1993 and governed by a board of directors representing the indigenous and non-indigenous populations of the U.S. and Mexico.

We are a group of concerned people from all walks of life who have joined forces to:

• promote the concept and practice of conservation throughout the bio region;
• provide education in ways of protecting and respecting valuable biological and cultural resources and traditions;
• develop creative and sustainable solutions to critical local issues such as housing and economic development;
• and provide practical opportunities for individual and community action.

ISDA also hosts public meetings that provide opportunity for broad community participation, and seeks input from a wide cross-section of voices and cultures.

At our board meetings we conduct business in three languages-English, Spanish, and O'odham, and we prepare our literature, from our books to our leaflets and our website, bilingually.