A stretch of the Rio Grande near the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, as seen from the upper level of the New Mexico Rail Runner. (File photo/ Source NM)
You can’t have the Land of Enchantment without the public lands that define New Mexico. As a born-and-raised Burqueño, I’m proud to celebrate Albuquerque’s recent leadership in public lands protection, especially as these critical spaces are under attack from the Trump administration.
Access to world-class protected places like the Petroglyph National Monument, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sandia Mountain Wilderness have defined my life — from my career, to my childhood, and even my romance. As a young child, I was inspired to pursue a career in environmental science while out on hikes in the Sandia mountains with siblings, friends, parents, and grandparents. As a former environmental educator, I had the joy of taking the next generation of environmental stewards to study wildlife at Valle de Oro. And I met my soulmate at Petroglyph National Monument, where we deepened our love for a protected place while falling in love with each other…