Let’s preserve Galisteo Basin

If conservation groups, citizens and governments work together, this piece of New Mexico can be preserved, saving its historic past ...

All hands on deck: Governments, innovative thinkers and groups with fat wallets must join forces to figure out how to save the Galisteo Basin Preserve, 9,500 acres off U.S. 285, home to wildlife, expansive vistas and reminders of the ancient Puebloan culture.

The nonprofit Commonweal Conservancy had tried to save the acreage, using a variety of strategies, including limited development combined with open spaces. However, because of a combination of factors, that hasn’t worked. Now, the conservancy is being sued by Los Alamos National Bank for foreclosure. The suit claims that the conservancy owes $5.4 million in overdue loan payments, excluding interest.

Before the bank can take over the land, we hope other interested conservation groups step up. Governments, too, whether Santa Fe County or even the state of New Mexico, have a role to play in preserving the area. We would think, considering the number of artifacts left by the Pueblo people’s ancestors, that tribal governments also might want to contribute to saving the land.

This is an area of historic importance, one of the least disturbed parts of the 467,000-acre Galisteo Basin, home to the largest ruins of ancient Pueblo Indian settlements in the United States. Development there could remove the evidence of humans across the centuries, losing to modern archaeologists evidence of how people lived in the time before history.

Not just history is at stake, either. This an area beloved by those who cherish the outdoors. Located 14 miles south of Santa Fe near Lamy, the preserve features the largest publicly accessible trail systems in the county. There are 28 miles of biking, hiking and horse paths, attractions that bring some 4,500 people a year to experience the outdoors.

Then there is the untouched nature of the land, an attraction for creatures increasingly hemmed in by civilization. Wild creatures, including 130 species of birds, deer, antelope, black bears, cougars and migrating bobcats wander the area. With the conservancy in charge, the land and critters are protected. Under new owners, some land would remain protected through conservation easements, but much would be open to development. That would infringe upon the space wild creatures need to thrive.

The plan, before recession got in the way, was to combine preservation of open spaces with the development of 275 homesites. But of those, only 48 have been sold. Obviously, that has not delivered enough income to repay the loan, keeping the conservancy’s vision viable.

Now, we are in danger of losing this irreplaceable site — but it’s not too late. If conservation groups, citizens and governments work together, this piece of New Mexico can be preserved, saving its historic past and ensuring a strong future.