Annual Report 3 - New Mexico - Energy, Minerals and Natural ...

Fire crews dig line
and look for hotspots
caused by the Trestle
Fire near Chama,
New Mexico.
52
Forestry Division
MISSION: The Forestry Division (Forestry) retains lead responsibility for wildland fire management on
non-federal and non-municipal lands, maintaining fire suppression capacities and emphasizing firefighter and public
safety. Forestry promotes healthy, sustainable forests in New Mexico for the benefit of current and future generations.
Forestry is responsible for fire suppression on 43 million acres of non-municipal, non-federal and non-tribal
land across the state and assists New Mexico communities by evaluating those most at risk to wildfire and insect
infestation by developing appropriate management programs and implementing mitigation projects.
Forestry staff members provide technical assistance to landowners for developing sustainable forests that enhance
quality of life by providing tree care training, distributing low-cost seedlings, developing resource management plans,
and delivering forest health project funding.
PROGRAMS: One of Forestry’s priorities is to assist in the continued development of the forest products
industry (e.g., landscaping, construction, woody biomass) that uses land treatment byproducts. In addition, Forestry
oversees an inmate work camp, which utilizes trained minimum-security inmate crews for work on conservation
projects and wildland fire suppression.
Forestry regulates the harvest of forest products on
private forestland and conducts habitat protection
projects by studying plant species abundance,
defining ecosystems, acquiring easements and
purchasing key properties.
ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Photo by: Dan Ware
Forestry operates the New Mexico Forest and
Watershed Health Office (FWHO), which
implements the New Mexico Forest and Watershed
Health Plan and acts as a clearinghouse of
information related to the overall improvement of
forest and watershed health in New Mexico. The
FWHO serves as a centralized contact point for
local, state, federal and tribal activities that work
toward a common goal of improved forest and
watershed health, including enhanced wildlife
habitat, reduced susceptibility to pathogens and
wildfire, improved water quality and reduced
wildfire risk to communities.