New Mexico is the fourth most biodiverse state within the nation, however extended drought, excessive wildfire danger, decreased snowpack, and longer, hotter summers are straining habitats and water provides. Because the impacts of local weather change progress, we have to suppose creatively and use each instrument at our disposal to climate these challenges.
New Mexico’s at-risk fowl species are typically concentrated in riparian areas and forests. These habitats are additionally typically the locations that, when protected and restored, can retailer carbon and soak up greenhouse gases, in addition to present extra dependable water provides—for folks and birds.
Nature-based options are actions we will take to make these areas as wholesome and resilient as doable. Nature-based options are a strategy to mitigate the impacts of local weather change past insurance policies like lowering industrial carbon emissions and selling renewable vitality build-out. When mixed, these efforts are a complete response to local weather change.
The report discovered that nature-based options “help job creation, strengthen rural economies, and scale back long-term infrastructure and catastrophe restoration prices. By functioning as vital infrastructure, nature-based options present important providers akin to water storage, erosion management, and flood mitigation whereas additionally delivering broader co-benefits for biodiversity, recreation, public well being, and group well-being.”
In New Mexico, we have already got many state applications that may fund and implement nature-based options. These embrace applications Audubon Southwest has immediately advocated for such because the New Mexico Surroundings Division’s River Stewardship Program, which offers grants to non-public entities to revive riparian habitat alongside rivers all through the state.
It additionally consists of work finished by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts to enhance soil well being and scale back soil erosion. It consists of the state’s efforts to forestall wildfires by means of accountable forest thinning and forest well being tasks. It additionally consists of the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program, which helps non-public landowners implement bird-friendly practices by planting and restoring native grasses, amongst different actions.
Within the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January 2027, Audubon Southwest might be advocating for elevated funds to state applications engaged on nature-based options and can proceed to work on deepening our partnerships with state businesses who can even assist implement this vital work on the bottom.
By boosting the accessible funding sources and deploying extra nature-based options all through the state, we will help birds, different wildlife, communities, and companies all through New Mexico thrive.
