Tribal-led Restoration in New Mexico
Water security in Sante Fe and Albuquerque relies on healthy forests within the watersheds of Santa Fe National Forest.
In the last 10 years, more than 400,000 acres of these forests have burned.
Your support TODAY can help us secure a steady path to the Land of Enchantment’s long-term water future.
Your donation will help support:
Restoration of watershed health and function for Albuquerque and surrounding areas.
Reforestation of 400 critical acres of SFNF with 150,000 native, culturally-relevant tree species.
Fuels reduction and mitigation measures to reduce severity of future wildfires.
Collection of viable seed from the landscape to drive future reforestation efforts.
Employment of 50+ Tribal Natural Resource Professionals and Native youth conservation corps members.
Why act now?
New Mexico has experienced severe environmental degradation due to prolonged droughts, climate-induced megafires, debris flows, and post-fire floods, ultimately affecting watershed function for Tribal communities and millions of other residents.
Incorporate something about the Rio Grande drying up?
In 2024, Trees Water & People (TWP) and the US Forest Service signed a historic 5-year agreement, enabling Tribes to reforest and steward their ancestral lands within SFNF designation. This initiative, led by TWP, Tribal partners, and other diverse stakeholders, aims to address decades of ecological damage through long-term adaptation strategies and innovative remediation of 400 critical acres in SFNF.
Tribal stewardship will integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into restoration, protection, and long-term management of the Capulin watershed, crucial to protecting the cultural heritage of surrounding Pueblo nations and safeguarding downstream ecosystems and communities.