Welcome to New Mexico State Forestry
State Forester - Tony Delfin
What do the words “forest and watershed health” mean to you? Not long ago, the health of our forests and water was not a concern for most citizens. But, after several years of drought, highly visible insect and disease devastation and an overall increase in the knowledge of our natural resources, New Mexicans are concerned about our forests and watershed health.
Forest Conservation Regulation
Starting in 1939, New Mexico's Legislature recognized that the application of poor harvesting practices on private lands created long term impacts on our water quality, wildlife, and the economic stability of surrounding communities. The results of poor practices were large destructive wildfires, epidemic insect infestations, and sedimentation of streams and lakes.
In 1970, the state replaced the 1939 statute with the first regulation. This regulation, as revised in 2002 (19.20.4 NMAC), is intended to set minimum standards for the treatment of slash, utilization of felled trees, and stabilization of roads and skid trails. This reduces the hazard of wildland fires, insect epidemic, soil erosion, sedimentation of streams and lands, and the perpetuation of productive forests.
Wildfire Email Alert Service
Stay up to date with active wildfires burning on State and private lands. State Forestry's Wildfire Email Alert Service is free and easy to join. Click the button above or the link below to subscribe and you will receive updates on active wildfires you can access from your computer, tablet or smart phone.
NEW - Click Here for any current local, state or federal FIRE RESTRICTIONS in New Mexico
Ready, Set, Go!
The Ready, Set, Go! Program and New Mexico Action Guide is a new addition to State Forestry's Fire Prevention Program. This inter-agency supported Program and Guide are designed to give homeowners, fire departments and others, practical, step by step guidelines on how to be prepared for when a wildfire threatens communities. Click the button above for a downloadable copy of the New Mexico Action Guide (2MB PDF). The link below will direct you to the national Ready, Set, Go! Program page.
Living with Fire
Helping New Mexicans live safely with the threat of wild fire.
Red or Green
Fire prevention poster from the NM State Forestry Division.
Advisory Boards and Councils
New Mexico State Forestry participates in several resource management advisory boards or councils.Urban and Community Forestryand Tree New Mexico work with communities and numerous volunteers with tree planting on municipal lands such as schools and parks. The Stewardship Advisory Committee disseminates federal cost-share dollars to landowners who have met requirements in planning and implementing specific resource enhancements on their property. Forest Legacy provides a way for landowners to assure their property is not fragmented or cleared for development with a conservation easement. Any commercial harvest of 25 acres or more requires a permit from New Mexico State Forestry. For more information on resource management visit our pages on Forest Management, Fact Sheets, Seedling Program, Re-Leaf Program and Tree Farm Program