New Mexico near top of list in acres of public land conserved
Adrian Hedden
About 1.3 million acres of public land in New Mexico were conserved from development in the last decade, ranking the state third in the American West.
A study from the Center for Western Priorities found New Mexico behind only Utah with 2.2 million acres conserved between 2011 and 2021 and California which had the most land set aside at 2.9 million acres.
New Mexico topped land conservation in Nevada with 801,600 acres, per the report, along with Montana at 480,700 acres and Washington with 363 acres conserved during the last 10 years.
States lower in the 11-state ranking were Idaho, Oregon, Colorado and Arizona, with Wyoming in last place after conserving no land during the timeframe of the study.
New Mexico ranked at the bottom when it came to the portion of its federal public lands conserved with 18 percent of its 24.7 million acres protected.
California again to the top spot with 46 percent of its 45.5 million acres of public land conserved, per the study.
More:President Joe Biden signs bill to boost New Mexico's outdoor recreation, improve access
The report highlighted the 2019 designation of White Sands National Park, formerly a national monument, adding about 2,000 acres to the largest national park unit in New Mexico.
The Center was critical of states where outdoor recreation, national parks and other conservation uses are touted, but often not supported by government policy.
Between 2000 and 2010, Congress enacted policy to protect about 9.5 million acres, declining by about 65 percent to about 3.3 million acres from 2011 to 2021.
More:Hikers now required to pack out poop from Guadalupe Mountains wilderness
The study showed conservation of public land in the 11 states declined from the prior decade from 12.8 million acres conserved between 2000 and 2010 to a total of 8.6 million acres from 2011 to 2021.
“It’s a shame that conservation has slowed over the past decade in states where the vast majority of voters support protecting public lands,” said Executive Director Jennifer Rokala.
“Members of Congress should work with President (Joe) Biden in order to deliver for their constituents by protecting unique and valuable public lands, before it’s too late.”
More:New Mexico publishes 5-year plan to leverage federal outdoor recreation dollars
The study came amid Biden’s 30x30 initiative that would see 30 percent of U.S. public land conserved by 2030, and Rokala said such work will ensure the nation’s natural resources survive for future generations.
“Conserving public lands is always popular with voters,” she said. “They don’t care whether it gets done by Congress or the president—they just want to see the lands they love protected for their kids and grandkids.”
New Mexico working to increase statewide land conservation
Last year eight new conservation easements were added to the state’s conserved land, totaling 16,175 acres, per the New Mexico Land Conservancy’s annual report published April 4.
More:Seasonal help fills void for increased outdoor activities during spring and summer
That created a total of 339,925 acres conserved on 12 active easements.
The new easements in 2021 were mostly in the mountainous northern regions of New Mexico.
At Fort Union Ranch in Mora County, the Conservancy reported it preserved 3,550 acres, and another 12,451 acres at the B Square Ranch in San Juan County.
Another 36 acres was conserved at the Coyote Creek Bank in Mora County, the Conservancy reported, along with 21 acres at Otro Lado in Taos County and three acres at the Lopez Farm in Sandoval County.
More:Carlsbad recreation facilities selling point for locals and potential new residents
Valencia County saw the conservation of 93 acres at Rio Abajo, the report read, and 19 acres at Santuario Nuevo in Taos County were set aside.
Earlier this year, the Conservancy reported it produced a conservation easement for a sprawling 315,000 acres at Armendariz Ranch, private land owned by billionaire media tycoon Ted Turner, brokering a deal between the Turner Organization and U.S. Department of Defense due to the ranch’s abutment of White Sands Missile Ranch.
That land supports more than 500 vertebrate species, including about a million bats, read a report from the New Mexico Land Conservancy, along with Indigenous cultural resources and ancient footprints.
“The permanent protection of this land presented a unique and timely convergence of interests between the various partners involved,” said Scott Wilber, Conservancy executive director. “This is truly a win-win-win project for wildlife, the people of New Mexico and our national security.”
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.