Thank you to everyone who attended our annual bird walk in Corrales this past weekend! A great way to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and to learn about protecting wildlife habitat through conservation easements.
The Puma Ecology and Conservation Easement Tour was amazing! Thank you @nmlandconservancy for partnering with us for this fundraiser. The weekend was full of amazing food, nature walks, puma tracks, conservation easement tours, and so much more!
Exciting news: we just completed one of our biggest projects yet! “Turkey Ridge” located south of Mountainair, is now protected thanks to an ambitious effort to preserve a sweeping 60,000+ acre expanse of New Mexico’s rugged beauty for generations to come. Turkey Ridge is a unique collaboration between NMLC, White Sands Missile Range, and the NM State Land Office that puts 60,048 acres of land into a special conservation status for the next 75 years. This innovative collaboration builds upon the “Chupadera Mesa” project which contained 60,082 acres the three organizations conserved in 2025—bringing the total acreage of connected land to over 120,000 acres. With this project, NMLC’s portfolio has grown to over 860,000 acres of protected land!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the NM Department of Game and Fish identify Turkey Ridge as containing large natural areas and crucial habitat for a plethora of species, including pronghorn, elk, bobcats, spotted bats, and Peregrine falcons. Over 85% of the protected land consists of unfragmented habitat blocks, offering critical wildlife and migration corridors. Turkey Ridge also consists of productive rangeland with native grasslands and is an important part of the agricultural community in Torrance and Socorro Counties. The property’s soils sustain its function as productive ranchland while also contributing to the conservation of native grasslands and wildlife habitat.
The property lies within the traditional homelands of the Pueblos, Jumanos and Apache. Despite histories of forced displacement, the Pueblo, Jumanos and Apache maintain deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological connections to this land. This easement reflects a commitment to protecting not only the land itself, but also the histories and relationships it holds for Indigenous peoples.
Our Spring Speaker Series kicks off next week! Join us on April 29th at the Petchesky Conservation Center with Alan Brauer from @indigenousfarmhub RSVP at nmlandconservancy.org
Alan Brauer currently serves as the Senior Director of the Indigenous Farm Hub at Naca Inspired Schools Network. Alan spent his formative years and early career on his family’s dairy farm in western Maryland. He is deeply rooted in sustainable locally centered farming approaches. He moved to New Mexico in 2001 to teach First grade on the Navajo Nation in Smith Lake. Alan entered into teacher coaching and non-profit management with Teach For America in New Mexico and Baltimore. He joined the NACA Inspired Schools Network in 2015 to lead the Fellowship implementation and manage technical assistance and school support. Alan served as the Director of the Charter Schools Division at the New Mexico Public Education Department. He recently served as a Public Education Commissioner, representing District 3. He proudly serves as a member of Native American Community School’s governing council, ACE Leadership High School Foundation board and is a member of the Farm Service Agency’s Urban County Committee for Albuquerque. Alan holds a BA from Goucher College, an MAT from Western New Mexico University and an MBA from the University of New Mexico.
Over 800,000 acres protected!! In the face of unprecedented threats to our land and water, the New Mexico Land Conservancy has exciting news to share. Earlier this year we crossed an important organizational milestone: the protection of over 800,000 acres! NMLC remains a national leader in conservation efforts through the dedicated support of our engaged community of conservationists like you. Every donation, from near and far away, large and small, has been a critical lifeline to protecting the Land of Enchantment. While we are excited to share this enormous achievement, we are equally excited to share our appreciation of you. Thank you for attending our events, sharing our successes, and funding our work. It is not an overstatement to say that we couldn’t do it without you.
We recently installed wildlife cameras at the Petchesky Conservation Center! The center has 240 acres of permanently protected land that we have devoted to becoming a wildlife and pollinator sanctuary. Our land has become an increasingly valuable refuge for both wildlife and pollinators amongst rapid development in our region. In our ongoing efforts to document and protect our native species we wanted to share some of our recently discovered neighbors!
Join us! Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Thursday, 2/19, 6PM
NMLC is presenting at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center Thursday, February 19th at 6PM. Join our presentation in-person or remotely! Sign up at /.
Jonathan Hayden, executive director of the New Mexico Land Conservancy, explores the critical importance of connecting fragmented wildlife habitats across the Southwest. He highlights how NMLC’s conservation of land forming wildlife corridors supports species movement, genetic diversity, and long-term ecosystem resilience in the face of development and climate change. Hayden shares real-world examples from New Mexico, discusses collaborative conservation strategies with landowners and communities, and emphasizes why protecting and reconnecting these landscapes is essential for sustaining the state’s rich biodiversity.
