When Tom Fleischner started teaching students about a biodiverse Arizona landscape, he found a place with no name and little work by other scientists.

The region, sometimes called the Arizona Central Highlands, was seen as a boundary between two places. To draw more attention to it, Fleischner gave it a more evocative name: the Mogollon Highlands.

He also launched the Natural History Institute in Prescott as a way of helping people learn more about the region, it's art, science and humanities.

This is part of a monthly series highlighting Arizona's climate leaders and answering readers' climate-related questions. The stories aim to help to connect and inspire Arizonans who care about protecting a livable climate and may be struggling to find hope in that effort lately. You can nominate

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