OUR WORK
CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project is currently focusing on major state and national campaigns:
Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E
The OUTDOOR F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative is a piece of national legislation that will establish a national equity Fund for Underrepresented, Tribal, Urban, & Rural Equity. Alongside the leadership and support from Senator Heinrich of New Mexico (D-NM), Nuestra Tierra is currently drafting this policy in order to ensure that low-income/youth of color have access and opportunities to experience the great outdoors.
America The Beautiful Coalition
As part of the America the Beautiful For All Coalition, Nuestra Tierra is committed to advancing President Biden’s 30X30 Initiative that aims to protect 30 percent of the U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The coalition’s Justice40 goal aims to make sure that at least 40 percent of the 30x30 initiative investments directly benefit diverse communities of color. As a floor and not a ceiling, this goal is strives to make sure that the largest conservation goal in U.S. history addresses racial and economic inequity as well.
ONGOING EFFORTS
Based in Las Cruces, New Mexico Nuestra Tierra strives to maintain a strong local presence through ongoing work in our immediate community.
David Soules
Conservation Memorial Scholarship
In 2021, Nuestra Tierra launched the David Soules Conservation Memorial Scholarship in honor of the late conservation community leader and New Mexico State University alumni David Soules. Soules was instrumental in the proclamation of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
This humble scholarship is for New Mexico State University students studying a conservation discipline. At the beginning of each year we name two awardees based on a brief application. We look forward to continue developing this scholarship fund for a new round of applicants in 2024.
La Mancha
Wetlands Restoration Project
La Mancha Wetlands Restoration Project aims to restore the ecological richness of the lower Rio Grande and provide the public with a place where they can come understand and enjoy the history of the river. Historically, you could find meadows, bosques and wetlands along the river, but over the last century much of this habitat has been lost to dams, canalization and climate change. Today , this pocket of wetland serves as a haven for countless species—birds, bats, fish, and humans alike.
La Mancha is located off of S. Fairacres Rd. in Las Cruces, NM and is open to the public.
PAST SUCCESSES
A track record of state and regional success has allowed Nuestra Tierra to scale up to our current national campaigns.
Castner Range
National Monument
For over 50 years, the El Paso community had been advocating for the permanent protection of the Castner Range. Nuestra Tierra joined and strengthened this local conservation campaign, which finally resulted in Caster Range becoming a national monument in 2023. Caster Range National Monument now protects 6,672 acres of land holding immeasurable cultural, scientific, and historic value. The monument also honors Tribal nationals and U.S. veterans, making it a distinctly people-centered monument. Situated along the U.S.-Mexico border, this national monument also expands public lands access to the second largest population of urban border dwellers. Castner Range National Monument is a major accomplishment that showcases the power of community-centered conservation! This was one of two successful national monument campaigns that Nuestra Tierra strengthened as part of the Monumental Shift Coalition we started.
Chaco Canyon
Public Comment Campaign
In 2022 Nuestra Tierra did our part to make sure that New Mexican communities were informed and able to participate in the Bureau of Land Management’s most recent public comment period regarding the protection of Chaco Canyon. This involved a state-wide educational radio tour, Diné language targeted social media ads, a local film screening of Our Story: The Indigenous Led Fight to Protect Greater Chaco, and more. In 2023, Secretary Haaland withdrew public lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future extractive leasing.
New Mexico
Outdoor Equity Fund
Nuestra Tierra spearheaded the creation of the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund (OEF), which first launched in 2020 and continues today. This state-level grant funding helps organizations that are serving underserved youth and their families access more educational and enrichment opportunities in public lands, state parks and other outdoor spaces near their homes.
This fund is an important investment in the next generation of environmental stewards in the state of New Mexico. In 2021, Governor Lujan Grisham signed a bill that designated $3 million to OEF. Other states, such as California, Colorado and Nevada, have adopted similar state level funds since. Nuestra Tierra’s success with this state-level initiative is what has allowed us to scale-up and create the OUTDOOR F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative.
Vamos A Pescar
Deming Free Fishing Day
Nuestra Tierra helped stocked the Trees Lake in Deming so that children in the city could experience fishing for the first time! The event had a wonderful turn out with well over 100 families participating in the first-ever Vamos a Pescar (Let’s Go Fishing) free fishing day for children. Thank you to the City of Deming and the many partners who helped host this event.