C I U D A D is a unique partnership of public and private institutions and organizations dedicated to advancing a critical understanding of how urbanization impacts desert environments, how these impacts can be minimized, and how ecologically degraded areas can be restored.

Through research, monitoring, public outreach and educational programming,  C I U D A D seeks to assist public decision-makers, researchers, planners, developers, resource managers, landowners, and the general public in developing innovative strategies for integrating conservation and environmental quality into urbanizing landscapes.