A 2017 assessment found that 35,905 km², or 7%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona, Médanos de Samalayuca Natural Protected Area and Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area in Chihuahua, Cuatro Ciénegas Basin, Ocampo Flora and Fauna Protection Area, and part of Maderas del Carmen Biosphere Reserve in Coahuila, Mapimí Biosphere Reserve and Cañón de Fernández State Park in Durango, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, and White Sands National Park in New Mexico, and Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Franklin Mountains State Park in Texas.