Nature-Based Solutions Play Key Role in Improving New Mexico’s Climate Resilience

New Mexico is the fourth most biodiverse state within the nation, however extended drought, excessive wildfire danger, decreased snowpack, and longer, hotter summers are straining habitats and water provides. Because the impacts of local weather change progress, we have to suppose creatively and use each device at our disposal to climate these challenges.  

New Mexico’s at-risk fowl species are typically concentrated in riparian areas and forests. These habitats are additionally locations that, when protected and restored, can retailer carbon and take up greenhouse gases, in addition to present extra dependable water provides—for individuals and birds.  

Nature-based options are actions we will take to make these areas as wholesome and resilient as attainable. Nature-based options are a option to mitigate the impacts of a altering local weather along with insurance policies like decreasing industrial carbon emissions and selling renewable vitality build-out. 

The report discovered that nature-based options “help job creation, strengthen rural economies, and cut back long-term infrastructure and catastrophe restoration prices. By functioning as crucial infrastructure, nature-based options present important companies similar to water storage, erosion management, and flood mitigation whereas additionally delivering broader co-benefits for biodiversity, recreation, public well being, and neighborhood well-being.” 

In New Mexico, we have already got many state applications that may fund and implement nature-based options. These embody applications Audubon Southwest has instantly advocated for such because the New Mexico Setting Division’s River Stewardship Program, which gives grants to non-public entities to revive riparian habitat alongside rivers all through the state.  

It additionally contains work completed by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts to enhance soil well being and cut back soil erosion. It contains the state’s efforts to forestall wildfires by accountable forest thinning and forest well being initiatives, and the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program, which helps non-public landowners implement bird-friendly practices by planting and restoring native grasses, amongst different actions.  

Within the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January 2027, Audubon Southwest can be advocating for elevated funds to state applications engaged on nature-based options and can proceed to work on deepening our partnerships with state businesses who also can assist implement this crucial work on the bottom.  

By boosting the accessible funding sources and deploying extra nature-based options all through the state, we might help birds, different wildlife, communities, and companies all through New Mexico thrive.