Bills to protect more nature in New Mexico

New Mexico offers stunningly diverse landscapes to explore and six International Dark Sky Parks. Preserving and expanding the protections of these ecosystems are crucial to ensure that they can provide enchantment for many years to come. 

Introduced by Rep. Leger Fernandez, the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness Establishment Act aims to designate 12,898 acres in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument as official Wilderness, the highest form of protection of any federal wildland.

Introduced by Rep. Stansbury, the Buffalo Tract Protection Act permanently withdraws approximately 4,288 acres of federal land in New Mexico from mining and geothermal leasing. This tract is part of the ancestral lands of the indigenous communities in the area, particularly the pueblos of Santa Ana and San Felipe, and connects modern villages with historic ancestral sites. The bill would prevent prevalent gravel mining and protect air quality, water resources, environment and the surrounding wildlife. 

Introduced by Rep. Vasquez, the M.H. Dutch Salmon Greater Gila Wild and Scenic River Act aims to designate around 450 miles of the Gila River System in New Mexico as Wild and Scenic. This action would ensure “traditional and current use of the rivers, while protecting critical wildlife habitat”.