SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
Time is Running Out to Submit Public Comments in Support of Our Monuments!
The Interior Department comment period on 27 national monuments – including two in New Mexico – is closing soon. Secretary Ryan Zinke is expected to come to New Mexico in July to discuss Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, and some elected officials have been calling for reductions of the monument. Help us show Secretary Zinke our monuments in New Mexico have widespread support. As a hunter and angler himself, it’s especially important for Zinke to hear from sportsmen and women. Reducing or rescinding these monuments would harm our wildlife, cultural heritage, and ability to access public lands.
We must stand together against this attack, and we ask that you please help us keep public lands in public hands. We encourage you to submit a comment today, stating the cultural, scientific, recreation, and economic importance of these places.
The comment period runs until next Monday,July 10th – stand up for Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains Desert Peaks today!
Upcoming Events:
- July 26th – 27th: Holy Ghost Camping Trip: Join us to camp at the Holy Ghost Group Area, a prime location with awesome hiking and fishing nearby. The campground has restroom facilities and a pavilion. Youth will camp, fish, and enjoy their public lands! We’ll have a campfire, fly-tying stations, predator identification, wildlife viewing, and more! Space is limited, register today!
- August 19th – 20th: NMDGF Outdoor Expo: We’ll be tabling at the annual NMDGF expo in Albuquerque. Please email nmwildlife@nmwildlife.org if you’re interested in volunteering to help out!
- August 25th – 27th: Valles Caldera Camping Trip: Save the date for our second annual camping trip in the Caldera! More details to come!
Tell Secretary Zinke Sportsmen Want Sabinoso Access!
New Mexicans worked for years to gain access to the Sabinoso Wilderness Area. Last summer, it looked like we had finally won. Now, Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke is putting those plans on hold and locking YOU out of public lands that belong to all New Mexicans. Sign our petition today telling him sportsmen and women want access to Sabinoso.
Update on Felix Canyon Road Closure
We’re still working hard to give sportsmen and women back their primary access to Unit 32 in Chaves County. Following a series of road closures that limit sportsmen’s access to public lands across Southeast New Mexico, we’re exploring alternatives with local partners to find innovative ways to retain access to these special places, even when private land owners or local governments decide to close their gates. Stay tuned for more updates on this, and please email gabe@nmwildlife.org if you’d like to help with this effort.
Watch Our Latest Videos!
We’ve made a lot of new videos lately highlighting the importance of protecting our public lands. Head to our channel to learn about our trip to Bears Ears National Monument, see footage from our Matanza events in Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monuments, and learn the basics about monument designation.
Sign the Petition – Tell the BLM to Protect Habitat in Otero Mesa
Right now the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces Field Office is working on the Tri-County Resource Management Plan Supplement (Tri-County RMPS) and deciding how they want to manage Otero Mesa in the future. Sign our petition today urging the BLM to preserve and conserve wildlife habitat and the backcountry hunting areas and to prohibit oil and gas drilling where there are prime opportunities for hunting and recreation.
Meet Jeremy Romero!The Upper Rio Grande and northern New Mexico are home to some of the most complex wildlife corridors that contain a wide variety of species. Wildlife corridors and connectivity can be defined as a key to species conservation by providing daily and seasonal movements as well as long range dispersal and genetic interchange. As the threat of human development and fragmentation of these landscapes increases, it is paramount that we recognize the need to identify and protect crucial wildlife corridors to conserve wildlife for future generations to enjoy. In recognizing the importance of wildlife corridors and connectivity and the need to protect our wildlife across various jurisdictions, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Colorado Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation are pleased to welcome Jeremy Romero, Coordinator of Wildlife Corridors, who will be spearheading this work in the Upper Rio Grande. Jeremy is a lifelong New Mexican, avid hunter and fisherman, and rancher.
