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Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks WILDERNESS! Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act GIS SPECIAL EDITION VOLUME XI, NUMBER III— FALL 2009 New Mexico WILD! Page 1 stephen capra new mexico executive director WILD! FALL 2009 The Newsletter of the It has been an amazing few months here at the New Mexico New Mexico Wilderness Alliance! The change in political winds has brought good fortune to the Land of Enchantment. It began with the United Wilderness Alliance States Senate introduction of the 302,000-acre proposal for El Rio Grande del Norte, near Questa, New Mexico. Then came the news we have worked toward for years: the introduction of the Organ MountainDesert Peaks Wilderness in the United States Senate. That proposal, including the National Conservation section, would protect close to 400,000 acres of land surrounding the city of Las Cruces, which would become the second largest Wilderness complex in New Mexico since the enactment of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Our thanks go to the real heroes here—Senators Bingaman and Udall—for following through on their promises to help us move forward on Wilderness designation across the state. Being last among all the states in the amount of our work in Chaco Canyon is beginning to indicate. protected public lands we have means New Mexico has So write a letter to Secretary Salazar, asking that buffer a long way to go. These two bills, along with efforts in zones be created for our national parks and Wilderness various parts of the state, however, point toward a new areas. The time has come to make protecting our lands and very serious attempt at preserving wilderness in and heritage a priority, trumping the endless greed and New Mexico. destructiveness of the oil and gas industry. Thankfully, we have good people in Washington who So our state is suddenly poised to add more than are making a real difference. Besides our senators, there 700,000 acres of protected land in the coming year! This are their staffers. Jorge Silva-Banuelos, for example, is is tremendously encouraging, but we remain vigilant on Senator Bingaman’s environmental aide. Many people many other fronts. Recently, for example, we learned of will tell you there is not a more qualified person working plans for opening an area on the northern boundary of on the environment in Washington than Jorge. He has Chaco Canyon National Historical Park to full-scale oil worked his magic over the past few years, helping to and gas development. This land is also adjacent to the craft our El Rio Grande del Norte Wilderness proposal areas that are at the center of our Split Lip Flats and and doing much of the groundwork in putting together Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah citizens Wilderness proposals. the Organ MountainsDesert Peaks Wilderness proposal, It is a surprising and perhaps little-known fact that in spending countless hours meeting with agency officials, the United States today there are only twenty World ranchers, off-roaders, conservationists, and sportsmen. Heritage Sites, out of 890 in the entire world. These are But Jorge has also come to New Mexico to camp, hike, places of natural beauty or of significant cultural value. and see the lands firsthand, asking questions, exploring In the United States, they include sites like the Statue Otero Mesa, and thinking about the potentials for of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, and New Mexico’s own Wilderness designation that remain in our state. He Chaco Canyon. Yet important landscapes like Chaco has also worked with longtime Wilderness craftsman Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns have no buffers from oil David Brooks, who is on Senator Bingaman’s Energy contents and gas development. In Carlsbad Caverns, one can see and Natural Resources Committee. These two men are Courts Rebuke BLM Otero Plan 04 oil rigs from the parking lot, and leasing goes right up to examples of the unsung heroes who have helped to make Otero Mesa Update 05 the park boundaries in many areas. This is a disgrace. this new era of Wilderness a reality in New Mexico. We El Rio Grande del Norte Update 06 In communications with Interior Department officials, thank them, and we look forward to working with them Changing the World, Bit-by-Bit 07 we have asked that Interior Secretary Salazar use an on many more Wilderness proposals. Hikes and Service Projects 07 executive order to create buffers around important Roadless Rule Update 08 landscapes like national parks and Wilderness areas, Which takes us to the long view, or the 11 percent NMWA Credit Union Membership 0 8 not just in New Mexico, but nationally—to preserve the solution. Currently only 2.1 percent of our state is Fear Divides It 09 scenic qualities for which these parks and Wilderness protected as Wilderness. Our goal is to get that number Saving Small Worlds 09 areas were created and to allow them the dignity that to 11 percent—still far behind states like California, A Trip to Washington 10 they and their wildlife so richly deserve. Washington, and others—but a number that is Volcano Hills Wilderness Area 11 Leopold’s Dreams, Our Passions 12 obtainable and that would dramatically change our poor We have been studying these areas, using the most People and Wilderness 14 standing as far as the amount of protected public lands Victory at Sabinoso 15 advanced GIS techniques to identify parcels that have in our state. It would also ensure that future generations Time to Pay Up 17 not been leased for oil and gas, and meeting with various will enjoy landscapes rich in wolves, bears, prairie dogs, Thirds in Seconds 17 agencies to try to broker trades or exchanges that could and all the wildlife that is so important to maintaining Community Land Grants 18 create important buffers for our parks, Wilderness areas, a healthy and balanced environment. Finally, it would Reflections on the Journey 18 and wildlife. These are complex arrangements often protect areas large enough to sustain precious water Enduring Gift of a Penny 19 involving the Bureau of Land Management, the National and wildlife resources. So remember that number—11 New NMWA Board of Directors 20 Park Service, the State Land Office, and sometimes percent. It is a goal that we are working toward, and one WildStyle Book Club 20 tribal entities. The results, however, can be dramatic, as that will be achieved with your continued support! Tax-Free Giving 21 Get Involved 21 Page 2 FALL 2009 in the state), and we have vast areas uninhabited by humans but bearing evidence of previous inhabitants in the many petroglyphs and fossil remains. Broad Canyon is one of the most inter- esting areas an explorer will encounter Main Office in southern New Mexico. It is filled with 505/843-8696 • fax 505/843-8697 the artwork of the Ancients. Fossils [email protected] • www.nmwild.org P.O. Box 25464, Albuquerque, NM 87125 Wilderness Explorer and petroglyphs are abundant, rock Las Cruces Field Office formations and the native flora are 275 N. Downtown Mall breathtaking, yet there is currently no Las Cruces, NM 88001 575/527-9962 by Pat Buls those of us who cherish nature, our permanent protection for this area. The Santa Fe Field Office fondest wish—our driving force—is to New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and 341 E Alameda St I’ve been an explorer all of my life. I preserve the earth as it was created. its support groups continue to work Santa Fe, NM 87501 505/216-9719 always take the back roads, the scenic Throughout my amazing journey to establish such protection. We know route, the road less traveled. Growing through life, I have had the rewarding that it’s now or never, for once public Mission Statement The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance is up in a military family, I had ample experience of bringing other people lands are “disposed of” (sold for private dedicated to the protection, restoration, opportunity to explore many different into the wilderness–my children, my development), there’s no getting them and continued enjoyment of New Mexico’s areas in the United States and South horseback-riding students , and now back. Even holding on to public access wildlands and Wilderness areas. America, mostly by horseback. I settled my grandchildren. What a delight it roads becomes difficult when private NMWA Staff in southern New Mexico because of its is to foster that spirit of adventure and ownership is granted. Fences are built, Albuquerque Office climate and its vast, open spaces— watch it unfold into a desire to care for Stephen Capra, Executive Director gates are locked. Nathan Newcomer, Associate Director room to explore. and nurture the earth! It is, after all, our Tisha Broska, Development Director natural habitat—and our only viable For those of us with any sense of Roxanne Pacheco, Finance Manager Trisha London, Membership & Grassroots Assistant I’ve also been a seeker of the Truth, the one! adventure, it is imperative that we Craig Chapman, Special Events Coordinator reason for our existence here on this become active, not only in exploring Miranda Gray: GIS Coordinator awesome planet. My extensive explo- Here in Doña Ana County, we have some our habitat, but in protecting and Roger Turner: Member and Volunteer Coordinator ration of the backcountry has led me George Duffy, Volunteer Superstar of the most extreme contrasts in habitat preserving it intact, as it was created Carlsbad Office to places where I entered into the very for both human and animal inhab- for our enjoyment, our sustenance, Steve West, Staff Scientist presence of the Creator of this wondrous itants. We are one of the poorest in the and our spiritual renewal.
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