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Learn More   Much of New Mexico is defined as desert so drought
is part of our natural process. Northern New Mexico has been experiencing
moderate
to severe drought since 1996, but what makes the current situation
so challenging is that it follows on the heels of twenty of the
wettest years on record. These years of increased moisture have
created tremendous forest growth resulting in overcrowded conditions
for trees and other vegetation. In addition, above normal precipitation
has set unrealistic expectations of water supply, especially for
those new to the area. Many climatologists predict we are in the midst of a long-term cycle of drier, warmer weather. Even when short-term forecasts show normal or above normal precipitation we cannot presume that drought is ending. Ecological consequences of prolonged dryness and unusually warm temperature are written on the landscape of stressed woodlands, particularly in stands of New Mexico’s state tree, the piñon. The current drought has been devastating for piñons, as they have struggled to survive not only the lack of water, but stress from overcrowded conditions, and a beetle that has been on the attack.  The
Ips confusus, or piñon bark beetle, is native to the piñon-juniper
ecosystem and in years of normal precipitation the bark beetle and
the piñon peacefully co-exist. However, drought has weakened
our piñon trees, causing bark beetle populations to explode.
Scientists estimate that over the past seven years some 825,000 acres
or 10% of New Mexico’s piñon-juniper woodlands have
been lost to the bark beetle. This comes to roughly 55 million trees
that have died. By 2003, New Mexico State Forestry GIS mapping revealed that piñon beetles had affected an estimated 200,000 acres of Northern New Mexico. That same year Santa Fe showed dramatic evidence of beetle infestation as hills that were once green faded to brown. Entire neighborhoods witnessed the disappearance of trees that had defined local landscape. Rumors circulated that when the beetles' rampage was finally over there would be no piñons remaining in Santa Fe. What began as ecological response to drought became a community crisis.  Santa Fe residential area attacked by beetles Residents and landowners feared plunging property values, cost of tree removal, controversy over pesticide use, and threat of forest fire. Home remedies promised healthy piñons, but with little or no science to back up these claims, citizens remained unsure of how to keep trees healthy. Understandably our community needed a coordinated and comprehensive response to the problem. In response to Governor Richardson’s call to action, New Mexico State Forestry, a division of the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, joined with leadership from the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County as well as the State Cooperative Extension Service, to develop and implement a coordinated response to the bark beetle community crisis. The new Santa Fe Piñon Initiative Steering Group, took immediate action in five key areas: 1. Forest health 2. Public awareness 3. Revegetation or regrowth 4. Waste management 5. Risk of fire The first goal was to understand and agree on the scientific facts and opinions. Once this was accomplished, focus turned to linking science to public awareness. Even if there was no immediate relief for the beetle epidemic, the Santa Fe Piñon Initiative Steering Group team was committed to making reliable and consistent information available to the public. Through a variety of channels including community events, newspaper articles, radio and TV public service announcements, special publications, and this website, the group reached out. As Santa Fe and nearby communities plan and prepare for changes that will shape the look of our land for the foreseeable future, the Santa Fe Piñon Initiative Steering Group is committed to making this website your community resource for information on how to live with the bark beetle, drought, and the risk of forest fire. Learn More Letter from Southwestern scientists to U.S. Cabinet Secretaries Norton and Veneman» (PDF) Ecological Responses to Climate Variability in the American Southwest» Governor’s Drought Task Force» Southwest Climate Outlook» Map of US Seasonal Drought» (note: large file can be slow to load) Earth Matters Newsletter (Overview on Drought)» (PDF) Earth Matters newsletter published by the NM Bureau of Bureau of Mines & Mineral Resources |