Key Conservation Issues:

Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

New Mexico and the greater Southwest are home to wildlife populations that thrive in our varied ecosystems, from mountains to high desert to unique grassland habitats. According to the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico has the 4th highest native species richness in the nation, and counts 90 species that are known to live only in our state. However, our wildlife species are at risk as the planet is experiencing a global extinction crisis. The 2022 World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report found that 69% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have been wiped out since 1970, putting the future of our global ecosystem in jeopardy. This crisis is being driven by a combination of unchecked human development, poor habitat and forest management practices, extractive industry, habitat destruction, and the impacts of climate change. In New Mexico alone, the Department of Game and Fish reports that there are 116 animals on the threatened and endangered species list, and numerous plant species are in jeopardy.

At the same time, increased pressure for expansion of residential development, along with industry, have continued to push vital ecosystems and wildlife habitat to the brink. This has created conditions that have worsened the impacts of climate change, from horrific forest fires to the devastating floods that follow. At the same time our society has recklessly bolstered development of public lands that are home to critical wildlife and fragile ecosystems. It is clear that immediate action on climate change and protection of remaining land and water resources are critical to the survival of our state’s wildlife.

Slowly, New Mexico is recognizing the tremendous benefits of protecting our natural assets, like our wildlife. Outdoor recreation is now a multi-billion dollar industry in New Mexico. Economic studies show that more than $1 billion annually is spent directly on wildlife-associated recreation, and an additional $1 billion is spent on non-wildlife related outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and skiing. The establishment of one of the West’s first state outdoor recreation divisions is an impressive step toward leveraging this industry and generating jobs in a way that protects what makes our state unique. The division includes the first-ever Outdoor Equity Fund that ensures New Mexico’s youth experience the land their culture is tied to while also providing opportunities to boost rural economies.

Add to that the booming film industry that thrives on our scenic beauty, and we have every reason in the world to take action to ensure that we don’t jeopardize either our economic opportunity or our legacy for our children and grandchildren.

Mexican Gray Wolf

The Mexican Gray Wolf was eliminated in the wild, due to U.S. government action on behalf of private ranchers. An emergency breeding and reintroduction program using a handful of wolves captured in Mexico re-established the wolf, but the population in the Southwest stood at just 186 wolves as of 2020. Photo: FWS – Evelyn Lichwa/Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team

Know the Score > Take Action

Related Votes for Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

Topics:

Air Quality
Effective
Government
Energy &
Climate Change
Environmental
Justice
Land
Water
Wildlife & Habitat
Conservation

Priority	Bill #	Title	Sponsors	Topics	CVNM Position	Year
No Proposal Records Found. Please note that data prior to 2005 has not been loaded yet. Stay Tuned!

Know the Score > Take Action

Strategies for Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

Actions that protect wildlife and habitats:

Thank you!

In 2019, the Wildlife Corridors Act was signed into law. The Act called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Game and Fish (DGF) to develop a comprehensive wildlife action plan to identify critical wildlife-vehicle crash areas and create safe passage for wildlife to avoid accidents. Approximately 1,200 crashes are reported to New Mexico law enforcement annually, costing drivers and the state nearly $20 million in property damage, emergency response, and healthcare costs. The Wildlife Corridor Action Plan, the first by any state in the country to identify target areas, was completed in 2022.

In 2023, the Wildlife Corridors Funding Act (SB 72), sponsored by Senators Mimi Stewart (SD 17) and Carrie Hamblen (SD 38), was signed into law. The bill created a fund and appropriated $5 million to support the Wildlife Corridors Action Plan and its 11 high-priority safe passage projects around the state. The first project, a 16-mile segment on US 550 north of Cuba, began the long process toward completion soon after the legislation went into effect. Scoping was completed in July 2023 and the first two of four planned phases are under design. Meanwhile, an additional $5 million was allocated to the wildlife corridor fund in the 2024 legislative session. Safe, open wildlife passages will save lives and prevent injuries for animals and humans, and dedicated state funding will also open access to federal resources.

Actions that threaten wildlife and habitats:

No thank you!

The New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Act was signed into law in 2014. The Act tasked the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (DGF) with protecting and monitoring threatened and endangered species in addition to its traditional role of protection, restoration, and cultivation of game species. Meeting that mandate has proven elusive. The seven-member commission has not had a full roster for many years and the appointment and removal of members has become politicized under the last two administrations. License fees, which provide approximately half the DGF’s budget, have not risen since 2006 and no longer support the commission’s broader scope of responsibilities. The DGF has a list of 274 “species of greatest conservation need” while even the limited number of game species are not receiving sufficient protection. Finally, some legislators are determined to prevent the DGF from using its funds to acquire land and water needed to support wildlife, including game species, with improved habitat. The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will help on the funding side, if legislators don’t throttle how the agency uses those funds to carry out its mission. But the 2014 Wildlife Conservation Act needs to become the basis for the agency’s mission and members need to be insulated from the political whims of the state.

Communicate with the Governor and your Legislators

Whether you’re congratulating them on their score or expressing your disappointment, be direct, courteous and polite.

The most important part is letting them know that you are paying close attention to how they vote or, in the case of the Governor, what actions she takes on legislation that affects our air, land, and water.

Calling your legislator directly and sending letters through regular mail remain by far the most effective ways to communicate with your legislators.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor can always be contacted at the State Capitol. Except during the legislative session, state legislators should be contacted in their home districts, as listed on the current Legislators page.

To find your House District number and Representative, visit our map here.