New Mexico

Mason Cummings, TWS

Enchanted wildlands

It’s no wonder New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. With some of the West’s most unique wild places and culturally significant lands, the state offers endlessly intriguing experiences. From the scenic vistas of Cerro de la Olla to the rugged mountains of the Gila, to the sacred lands surrounding Chaco Canyon, so much is worth protecting.

Yet so much in New Mexico is at risk. Oil and gas development in the Four Corners region is not only threatening the globally-significant cultural resources of the greater Chaco Canyon area, but also the health and safety of nearby communities. Extractive logging and other development threatens national forests from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the Gila.

Working to ensure public lands managers make decisions with conservation in mind will help keep these spectacular lands protected.  

State lands sold off to private interests
That includes 30% of land originally granted to New Mexico at statehood.
90% of Greater Chaco Canyon region leased
Rampant oil and gas development puts New Mexico's communities and cultural treasures at risk.
800 new oil and gas wells
The amount expected per year in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park area alone.

Get involved

Drilling, mining, unsustainable logging and other threats face public lands across New Mexico. Sign up for our WildAlerts for opportunities to take action.

Major issues in New Mexico