New Mexico Land Conservancy

New Mexico Land Conservancy Join us in protecting water, wildlife, working lands, and scenic open space.

The New Mexico Land Conservancy is a statewide, non-profit land trust founded in 2002 in recognition of and in response to important land conservation needs throughout New Mexico. NMLC is dedicated to ensuring that New Mexico remains the “Land of Enchantment” by working to preserve the state’s unique and diverse land heritage for conservation purposes and the benefit of local communities, the publ

ic and future generations. NMLC works with landowners, and public and private partners to protect significant wildlife habitat, productive agricultural lands, scenic open space, cultural and historic sites, and recreational lands at community, watershed and landscape scales. NMLC’s current 25-year goal is to conserve, directly or in partnership with others, one million acres of high conservation value lands throughout the state by 2037. Our work at the New Mexico Land Conservancy is based on a deep respect for private property rights. We adhere to the established best standards and practices of the land trust industry to complete high quality conservation easements and other projects. Everything we do — landowner relations, field work, stewardship, and monitoring — respects both the land and private property rights. We achieve our mission by:
- Using voluntary land protection methods to help landowners conserve their land
- Monitoring, stewarding and legally defending the properties we have helped protect to ensure that the conservation purposes are fulfilled into the future
- Educating landowners and partners about land conservation and stewardship tools, techniques and benefits; and increasing general public awareness about conservation
- Engaging in policy and legislative initiatives that further land conservation and stewardship

We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose primary role is policy-making, governance and strategic planning for the organization.

Join us Wednesday, June 3rd! Learn about making your backyard wildlife and pollinator friendly with free native plant ki...
05/28/2026

Join us Wednesday, June 3rd! Learn about making your backyard wildlife and pollinator friendly with free native plant kits. RSVP at nmlandconservancy.org.

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual bird walk in Corrales this past weekend! A great way to celebrate World Mi...
05/11/2026

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.

Exciting news: we just completed one of our biggest projects yet! “Turkey Ridge” located south of Mountainair, is now pr...
05/07/2026

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 Brau...
04/24/2026

Our Spring Speaker Series kicks off next week! Join us on April 29th at the Petchesky Conservation Center with Alan Brauer from the Indigenous Farm Hub! 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 Conservan...
04/13/2026

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 pro...
02/25/2026

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 Center, Thursday, 2/19, 6PM Connecting Wildlife Habitat in a Fragmented...
02/19/2026

Join us! Pajarito Environmental Education Center Center, Thursday, 2/19, 6PM

Connecting Wildlife Habitat in a Fragmented World (In-Person & Live-Streamed Talk)

NMLC is presenting at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center Thursday, February 19th at 6PM! Join our talk in-person or remotely!

Sign up at:
https://peecla.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/peecla/event.jsp?event=64480&

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.

Address

5430 Richards Avenue
Santa Fe, NM
87508

Telephone

+15059863801

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