A strong sense of place and reliance on the land that sustains us is a thread that unites us as New Mexicans. From the forests and mesas that catch rain and snow to feed our rivers, to the vibrant ecosystems in which New Mexicans farm, hunt, fish, hike and bike, our relationship to the land, water and wildlife is central to our quality of life and deep cultural diversity.

New Mexico is home to nearly 35 million acres of public lands, including monuments and parks such as Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, Caja del Rio and the Gila National Forest. These lands are critical habitats for an abundance of wildlife, and support recreation, hunting, tourism, and traditional cultural practices that are essential for our state’s diverse communities. They support an outdoor recreation economy that has a powerful and positive economic impact on the US economy. The outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico grew 1.8% from 2021 to 2022, according to the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. The report also shows that outdoor recreation creates $2.4 billion in value added for New Mexico and accounts for 1.9% of state GDP, including nearly 28,000 jobs. For many rural communities, such as Silver City and Farmington/Aztec, ecotourism is a growing portion of the local economy.

As we have seen in recent years, the effects of climate change have increased the severity and duration of wildfires in the state. In 2022, New Mexico saw the worst wildfire in our history that will have long-lasting impacts on communities, watersheds and the land that burned. At the same time, due to relaxed mining and oil and gas leasing regulations, New Mexico’s public lands have become a haven for extractive industries seeking to mine and refine natural resources and minerals. These activities degrade not only the land, but the water and air, making other uses impossible without expensive cleanup and remediation.

Human impacts on land and the human impact on climate are one and the same. We need wide-reaching solutions that address the climate crisis. Fortunately land policies play a big role in an effective climate change strategy. Conserving and restoring more lands and waters would help protect our communities from floods, fires, storms, and other impacts of climate change, safeguarding the natural resources we rely on for food, jobs, and recreation. 

Significant amounts of land remain in a natural condition here in New Mexico, creating opportunities to protect those places for future generations. Legislation like the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, the first-ever permanent recurring funding for conservation in New Mexico’s history, is precisely the kind of broad community-supported action we need to achieve this goal. It demonstrates that by working together we can secure a legacy of healthy land, habitat, and communities for years to come.