WildernessProtection - New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

Join Us!Generations of New Mexicanshave worked together to protectthe wonderful landscapes thatmake New Mexico the Land ofEnchantment. We are fortunate tohave some of the fi nest and wildestlands in America. From the quietponderosa halls of primeval McKennaPark, deep in the Gila country,to the badlands of the Bisti,and the alpine peaks of the Sangrede Cristos. And from the rugged,remote terrain of the Apache Kid, tothe desert vastness of Otero Mesagrasslands, and the much lovedslopes of the Organ, Sandia andPecos Mountains, New Mexicanshave much to celebrate and enjoy.But, we have so much more todo. The threats are greater nowthan ever, and increasing everySupport Wilderness Protectionthroughout the year!! Join theNMWA Friends of WildernessGiving Program with monthly gifts,you’ll provide dependable incomethat will help our efforts to save NewMexico’s wild landscapes. Pleasecontact Roxanne at 505.843-8696 orRoxanne@nmwild.org if you’d like to signup for monthly giving.day. Wilderness, as Aldo Leopoldsaid, is a resource which can onlyshrink, and never grow. Once it islost, it is lost forever.The New Mexico Wilderness Allianceis dedicated to the protection,restoration, and continued enjoymentof New Mexico’s wild lands.Today, more than 90% of NewMexico’s public lands remain opento threats of destructive development.Amazingly, only 2.2% of thestate – just 1.6 million acres – ispermanently protected from logging,mining, and drilling.Protecting lands as Wildernessassures that core habitats forendangered and threatened wildlifelike the Mexican gray wolf, thejaguar, the Aplomado falcon, andthe southwest willow fl ycatcherwill be there to sustain them. Wildernessalso assures our growinghuman population opportunitiesand refuges for solitude and contemplation,for reconnection withthe wild, and unsurpassed opportunitiesfor hiking, photography,exploration, hunting and familycamping.Join New Mexico Wilderness Alliancetoday andbe part of thelocal movementto protect NewMexico’s naturalheritage forever.Your membershipincludes asubscription to ournewsletter, actionalerts to help keepyou informed andinvolved, and invitationsto volunteeroutings andspecial events.We also organizehikes to many ofNew Mexico’s wildernessareas thatare great opportunities to meetother wilderness lovers, and discovernew, exciting places youmight otherwise never discover.Without Wilderness, New Mexicowould be a very different placethan the Land of Enchantment youand I love. Help us preserve whatwe have now and increase thelands protected by Wilderness designation.SOLAR FIESTAThe New Mexico SolarEnergy Association presentsthe 5th Annual Solar Fiesta!September 25 & 26 2004 at theIndian Pueblo Cultural Center,2401 12th St., Albuquerque,NM. Free Admission to SolarFiesta will be given to thosewho attend the NMWA 2004Wilderness Conference or theRemembering Abbey event.Long-TimeVolunteer JoinsWilderness StaffTrisha became involved with theNew Mexico Wilderness Allianceafter she saw a slideshow presentationon Otero Mesa in SilverCity. Trisha’s interest and passionfor preserving wilderness in NewMexico gave her the drive to makea difference in her community. Shebecame the New Mexico WildernessAlliance’s first “CommunityTripp Killin’s family moved toAlbuquerque in 1977 when hisfather was stationed at Kirtland. Heattended high school in the northeastheights and is a graduate ofthe University of New Mexico’sBiology department.There he focused on environmentalconservation and restorationissues. He spent 3 years inthe San Francisco, CA area duringthe mid 90’s but was drawn backhome by memories of New Mexicansunsets and red chile sauce.As a long-time resident of thisbeautiful state, he has been luckyenough to explore many of itsscenic and wild places. Among hisfavorites are the Wheeler Peak WildernessArea and Sevilleta NationalWildlife Refuge. He looks forwardto being part of the efforts to protectand restore the wildernessareas of New Mexico.Anchor.” She volunteered to set upslideshows, distribute newslettersand gather scientifi c support fromUniversity professors. Trisha wasalso interviewed by the local newspaperand featured on local radiostation KNFT three times. Beforelong, Trisha London had become astar wilderness volunteer in southernNew Mexico.In February of 2004, when GretaMiller resigned from NMWA topursue a teaching career in El Paso,Trisha stepped in to lead NMWA’ssouthern New Mexico outreachefforts. With the help of formeremployee and Board member,Greg Magee, Trisha began to buildrelationships in the Las Crucescommunity.Trisha has already made a bigimpact in the south and continuesto work hard on the protection ofOtero Mesa.. Trisha London hastruly been a unique and excellentaddition to the New Mexico WildernessAlliance staff. Her passionand drive to make a difference inNew Mexico communities ensuresthat our southern outreach effortsto educate the public about wildernessare once again in full swing,and laser beam focused.To get in touch with Trisha in ourLas Cruces offi ce call 505-527-9962or email her at trishal@nmwild.orgNMWA Signs On New Development DirectorPage 16 Summer 2004