Overview

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico State Legislature called for the development and implementation of a statewide plan to address forest and watershed health. The responsibility for convening and stewarding the Forest and Watershed Health Planning process was given to the Forestry Division of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

The Forestry Division convened a broadly representative stakeholder group to lead the planning process, and utilized town hall meetings and direct outreach to garner public input. After more than a year in the planning process, the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Health Plan was submitted to the Governor and approved in March 2005.  A state-led collaborative effort, involving numerous partners and stakeholders, is being used to implement the Plan.

The Forest and Watershed Health Plan:

• Promotes improved forest and watershed health conditions in New Mexico through increased coordination of effort and resources
• Is based on the National Fire Plan, the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy and the Implementation Plan of the Western Governors
• Utilizes a collaborative process of input and decision-making between the state, federal agencies, tribes, local governments, research and non-governmental organizations, business, and the public

Brief Background

New Mexico’s ecosystems are in an unhealthy state due to conditions of over density of fuels, including invasive species and noxious weeds. This unhealthy condition is exacerbated by drought, which results in the unwanted conditions of susceptibility to wildfire and insect infestation, compromised watersheds, and decreasing biodiversity. These conditions are common throughout the West and are of the highest priority, as indicated by the National Fire Plan and the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy.

New Mexico’s forest condition is being addressed by the federal land management agencies, tribal, state and local governments, private landowners, public interest groups, and research institutions. These efforts have grown and will continue to do so in the coming years. By necessity, some coordination of effort and resources has evolved. However, as the conditions become more acute, the resulting problems will have an even more devastating effect on the landscape and on public health and welfare unless swift, effective action is taken.

The need to coordinate the variety of efforts of all these entities is imperative to an expedient remedy of forest and watershed health condition. Effective coordination, resource allocation, project prioritization and integrated communication are all vital, and implementation of the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Health Plan is the way to bring this into action.

This webpage is maintained on the NM EMNRD Forestry web (nmforestry.com)