Informing Conservation through Science

The Nature Conservancy's New Mexico Conservation Science Program works with public & private agencies and institutions on ecological management, conservation planning, and scientific assessments to further its mission to “preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”

Ecoregional Assessments

We have identified lands & waters critical to the conservation of biodiversity across western North America. These assessments help prioritize conservation efforts and evaluate activities that affect conservation values. Learn more

New Mexico Climate Change

We are assessing the ground impacts of climate change on New Mexico's biodiversity and identifying local level adaptation strartegies that can help build ecological resilience to ongoing climate change. Learn more

Southwest Forest Assessment

We have developed information on the status of National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico and tools to evaluate restoration strategies. Learn more

Rangeland Ecological Assessment

The Rangeland Ecological Assessment assesses and maps ecological condition and restoration opportunity in New Mexico to support science-based restoration in a regional and landscape context. Learn more

Jemez Mountains

In the United States and many other parts of the world, fires are behaving differently now than they have throughout history, largely as a result of human actions. An estimated 80% of U.S. forests and rangelands have altered fire dynamics. The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico is working with federal partners to restore ponderosa pine forests and fire dynamics in the Jemez Mountains.

Learn more

Get to know us

Laura Falk McCarthy

Laura McCarthy is our New Mexico Director of Government and Agency Relations.  Laura comes to the New Mexico chapter from the Conservancy’s Global Fire Team. Laura joined The Nature Conservancy in 2005 as the first fire… read more

Downloads

We have reorganized our reports and data sets to make it easier to find the information you need. Browse our downloads.

Featured download

Report 2 (of 3) Evidence of Climate Change in NM

The second of three reports assesses the conservation implications of recent climate change on New Mexico’s watersheds and hydrology. Analyzing recent trends (1970-2006) in a water balance variable—climate water deficit—that indicates biological moisture stress or drying, this study identifies watersheds of high conservation importance in New Mexico that are most and least vulnerable to ongoing climate change.

Download

Collaborators

To conduct effective conservation science, we can't go at it alone. Download data and reports created with our collaborators:

How You Can Help

Please visit our nature.org website to see ways you can help The Nature Conservancy