NM keeps a close eye on pick for BLM boss
New leader must ensure staff has resources to be good land stewards and adhere to the laws
For hundreds of years, ranching has been part of the economy and culture of New Mexico.
Coming from across the state, our families have been blessed to experience the best that New Mexico has to offer, and are privileged to serve as stewards of our public lands. In some parts of our state, ranching is the predominant industry, while in other areas we operate on the same lands as the oil and gas industry, solar and wind power, national monuments and wilderness areas.
Our public lands not only sustain our industry, but also provide clean water and a home to wildlife that we all deeply value as New Mexicans. These lands are also important for other activities we value, such as hunting, camping, fishing and horseback riding.
We are fortunate to have an abundance of federal public land in New Mexico to provide us these opportunities and ensure all New Mexicans, including ranchers, can maintain our connection to the land and outdoor heritage for many more generations to come.
For all users of public lands in New Mexico, the largest and most significant federal agency is the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM serves as the managing authority of some 13 million acres of land and is the largest land manager in the state. BLM’s management of our public lands, as stated in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, is to be on the basis of multiple use and sustained yield.
FLPMA mandates that multiple use management be conducted in a “manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain public lands in the natural condition; that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; and that will provide for outdoor recreation and human occupancy and use.”
As President Trump considers his pick to lead this agency as its director, it is critical that whoever he selects is committed to preserving the balanced policies that all New Mexicans count on.
The BLM’s actions have a direct bearing on the success of our ranching operations, as well the preservation of the land and recreational activities that we treasure.
New Mexicans draw both sustenance from our public land and benefits from the sustainable economic opportunities that they provide.
In a state that has far too much poverty and young people moving away to seek employment, the BLM plays an important role in working with and balancing the needs of stakeholders who want to create new jobs and opportunities on our public lands.
The outdoor recreation industry, for example, generates nearly $10 billion per year in direct spending in New Mexico and approximately 65 percent of New Mexicans enjoy outdoor recreation activities.
Local communities have enjoyed increased tourism from the BLM’s new Rio Grande del Norte National Monument up north and Organ MountainsDesert Peaks National Monument down south. And New Mexico’s iconic “True” marketing program has increased tourism and rural economic development in all corners of the state by promoting the recreational and historic wonders found on BLM and other public lands.
The BLM also plays a vital role in public lands stewardship through fostering collaborative partnerships like the “Restore New Mexico” program, which has helped improve rangelands and habitats vital to ranchers, sportsmen and wildlife enthusiasts, and through the multi-state initiative to help to recover the sagebrush grouse.
These success stories are helped along by the BLM understanding and balancing the needs of diverse stakeholders.
To serve in this role, the BLM needs a director who will support its staff in the field, make sure they have the resources they need to be good land stewards and adhere to our public land laws.
While federal, state, and local administrations come and go, our public lands remain one of our state’s most important and enduring resources.
We hope and expect that President Trump and his future BLM director will work to understand the diverse needs that New Mexico’s public lands serve. Only by respecting these varied needs and attributes can we ensure the preservation of benefits we all derive from them.
This will require balanced land management leadership moving forward.
We will be watching President Trump’s choice for Bureau of Land Management director closely. Our way of life and that of many other users of public land across New Mexico depend on it.