Rep. Rebecca Dow argues New Mexico should invest conservation dollars in existing public and working lands rather than acquiring additional private property

Rep. Rebecca Dow, New Mexico House Republican Caucus Chair

New Mexico is about to spend $37 million in taxpayer dollars through a new, nonrecurring program to create, expand or restore public lands.

The question we should be asking is simple: Is buying more private land the best use of those dollars?

I believe the answer is no.

I strongly oppose using taxpayer dollars to acquire additional private property for public ownership. New Mexico already has millions of acres of federal, state and other government-owned land. Before we add more land to the government’s portfolio, we should make sure we are properly managing the land we already own.

This is not an argument against conservation. Quite the opposite.

It is an argument for better conservation and better stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Imagine what $37 million could accomplish if it were invested directly in conservation on the ground: watershed restoration, forest thinning, fuel reduction, erosion control, rangeland improvement, soil health practices, water conservation technology, groundwater recharge and other projects that improve the health and productivity of our working landscapes.

And those investments could be made alongside the people who know the land best — New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers.

Agricultural producers are not obstacles to conservation. They are some of our most important conservation partners. They manage soil, water, grasslands and wildlife habitat every day while producing the food our families depend on.

Our 47 local conservation districts are uniquely positioned to help direct resources toward voluntary, locally led projects that produce measurable conservation results while keeping working lands productive.

That is where I believe our conservation dollars should go.

Private property rights matter. So does fiscal responsibility. And conservation should be measured by the health of our soil, water, forests and watersheds, not by how many additional acres government owns.

I will continue advocating for common-sense policies that allow agricultural producers to thrive while protecting our state’s critical natural resources.

We don’t need $37 million to buy more land. We need $37 million invested in making the land we already have, and the land our farmers and ranchers work every day, healthier, more productive and more resilient.

Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, is chair of the New Mexico House Republican Caucus.