On a pleasant day in mid-October, TNC New Mexico staff visited the Bartlett Mesa and Buck Ridge Ranches outside of Raton, New Mexico to see these newly acquired TNC properties and discuss the future of TNC’s work in the region. The morning before, the TNC NM staff met with the Mayor Pro-tem Lori Chatterley. She shared how her rural community was transitioning as the local coal mines had closed and the community was now looking to new forms of economic development. She also shared how the developing vision for their community includes a robust and diversified economy that is powered in part through recreation-based tourism as it has been successful across the nearby Colorado border.
Looking down into Sugarite Canyon State Park from the east rim of Bartlet Mesa.
In support of their vision, TNC New Mexico and the Southern High Plains Initiative of TNC are helping Raton achieve its goals through the acquisitions of the Bartlett Mesa and Buck Ridge Ranch properties. As you can see in the map below, these properties will serve as the first public lands gateway connecting the city of Raton by hiking trail and conserved public lands to a complex of state parks in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, including the popular Sugarite Canyon and Fishers Peak State Park.
Location of Buck Ridge Mesa, Bartlett Mesa and Nearby Communities and Parks
Taking in the beautiful landscape and the socio-political moment of Raton, the TNC NM team talked on top of Bartlett Mesa about the opportunities and challenges facing the region and TNC’s past and future role in it all. The team also discussed how this rural part of northern New Mexico presents an ideal opportunity to continue the good work of The Nature Conservancy in conserving the lands and waters upon which all life depends and doing it in a way that ensures local people and their communities thrive.
Everyone who was there that day had a deep sense of pride in playing a part in helping the community of Raton reinvent itself and its future through economic development that includes land and wildlife conservation. Certainly, the coyotes, osprey, and bluebirds seen that day on the mesa will also appreciate the hard work of TNC and the community members of Raton.
To learn more about TNC’s work in the Hi-Lo region of New Mexico, check out these news releases:
https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/new-mexico-bartlett-mesa-ranch-acquisition/
https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/tnc-acquires-buck-ridge-ranch/