April 6th, 2026 — The Outdoor Recreation Division of the Economic Development Department of New Mexico is investing nearly $6 million to build and enhance more than 355 miles of trails and support 288 jobs across 21 counties.

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, Otero County, $98,183: Outdoor Recreation Trail+ Grant

Develops community-led trail systems in partnership with the Mescalero Apache Tribe to support health, safety, and connection to nature for youth, families, and elders.

"In harmony with local values, the Mescalero Apache community plans to establish well-designed trail systems guided by a locally hired coordinator who will facilitate community involvement, asses trail needs, and serve as liaison among different organizations associated with the initiative. By engaging all segments of the community, from youth to elders, to identify a suitable location for trail development and ascertain their desires regarding trail utilization and design, a cohesive vision for a safe, accessible, diversified, and sustainable trail network will be developed. The finalized plan positions the project for successful grant application for future trail building, by presenting a coherent trail blueprint grounded in community priorities, and showcasing preparedness for construction."

April 1, 2026 — Congratulations to the second round of FY26 Outdoor Equity Fund recipients! The Outdoor Recreation Division is proud to support these programs that are improving equitable access to New Mexico’s great outdoors and connecting youth to meaningful career pathways.

Conservation Legacy, $40,000, Cibola County: Recruits Indigenous young adults to lead Acoma, Diné, and Isleta hiking clubs, providing paid leadership experience while guiding youth through multi-week sessions that reconnect them to ancestral lands, culture, and local land management knowledge.

From Las Vegas, NM and presently residing in Albuquerque, Isaiah Garcia currently serves as the Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator with the Ancestral Lands Albuquerque office.

His day to day includes working with several crews from Albuquerque, Zuni, Acoma, and/or Gallup to "cultivate access to open spaces by establishing native plants and trees, remove invasive species, and do trail work." In addition to the conservation focused work, he coordinates with partners—including federal and state agencies, local government, private owners and growers— as well as local plant nurseries to supply plants, shrubs, trees and seeds.

Tiana Cachini’s service with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) stands as a powerful example of how Corps programs and national service can elevate Indigenous voices, strengthen cultural representation, and contribute to lasting, community-centered conservation outcomes. As the Indigenous Mapping and Research Individual Placement supporting Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) and Native Lands, National Trails (NLNT), Tiana combined technical skill-building with deep cultural responsibility to produce work that will shape how tribal histories are respectfully shared for years to come.

Deandra Jones wraps barbed wire around trees in the Chuska Mountains, places sardines and glazed doughnuts in the center of a square-shaped collection site, then sprays commercial liquid called Bear Lure that smells sweet and fishy. When black bears arrive to investigate the scents, they brush against the wire and leave behind hair samples containing their DNA.

Hunter, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, which is affiliated with Casa Grande, has brought invaluable traditional cultural knowledge to the preservation work at Casa Grande. He has engaged tribal members in preservation events that he organized within his community to give indigenous members the opportunity to develop hands-on skills and work to preserve their cultural heritage.

What is your background and how have your skills or experiences helped you in your volunteer role?

My background in environmental studies has been incredibly helpful in my internship roles. After graduation, I interned at Pecos with the preservation crew. Following that, I then interned with an NPS program “Vanishing Treasures” through Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC). I returned to Pecos for a second internship as a Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) with ALCC.

This year, BLM Colorado has hired two new interns through Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC), a Conservation Legacy corps program that aims to engage Indigenous youth and young adults with conservation service programs. Macy Robinson (Cherokee) and Pualani Tupper are this year’s hires. Pualani sat down with Macy to discuss what her experience has been like so far and to highlight BLM’s burgeoning relationship with ALCC, an organization dedicated to the betterment of Indigenous lands and people.

Invasive plants are wreaking havoc in parks in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Utah—and have become a significant concern for the NPS. It’s essential to understand these invasives at an individual park level so that everyone can understand the true dangers these invaders create at a large scale.

This Week: Secretary Haaland highlights conservation and Indigenous youth public service as she begins her visit to New Mexico.