Today, a broad coalition of New Mexico organizations supporting the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund released a new interactive map showing more than 750 land, water, agriculture and outdoor recreation funded projects in all 33 New Mexico counties and most Tribal communities. The map can be viewed at enchantmentfund.org/map. County-by-county breakdowns are available here. 

The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is New Mexico’s first dedicated state funding for conservation. It will provide funding for ten existing programs spread across six state agencies, prioritizing land and water stewardship, forest and watershed health, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation, and wildlife species protection. For a complete list of agencies and programs, click here. 

The Fund will help leverage federal matching dollars and provides recurring money for projects that have a proven track record of success, are popular in communities, or have rarely been funded to their full potential. The new interactive map allows the public to find details on past projects in their local communities completed by programs under the Fund. New projects directly supported by Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund dollars will begin July 1, 2024 and will be added to the map at a future date. 

“The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is all about delivering resources to New Mexico communities, and we’re excited to show how far and wide these resources can go with the legislature’s support,” said Debbie Hughes, executive director, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts. “Each project on the map represents a group of people who came together to make their community better, and with the legislature’s help, that work can continue.”

“New Mexicans understand the importance of land and water conservation, and as shown by this new map, Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund programs are making an impact statewide,” said Jonathan Hayden, senior policy advisor, Western Lands, Western Resource Advocates. “Establishing this Fund was critical to making these resources available to our communities. And with additional investments, we can leave a lasting conservation legacy all New Mexicans can be proud of.”

The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund was established by the passage of SB9, which was signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on March 23, 2023. It was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Senator Steven Neville and House Appropriations Chairman Nathan Small after five years of bipartisan negotiations among advocates, legislators and state agencies. Advocates are calling for at least $350 million in combined funding to ensure the funds can produce enough annual returns to be self-sustaining, weather economic downturns, access hundreds of millions of federal matching dollars, and meet the demand from all 33 counties and Tribal communities. 

For more information about the map data and instructions on how to use it, click here. The map should not be considered a complete accounting or government record of the programs listed. 

Background on the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund

The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund was established by the passage of SB9, which was signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on March 23, 2023. The legislation created two funds; an expendable fund with a one-time appropriation of $50 million, which will distribute $12.5 million annually to existing state programs beginning July 1, 2024. A second investment fund was created with an additional $50 million appropriation to distribute through the expendable fund each year once it accrues sufficient interest. Advocates are calling for at least $350 million in combined funding to ensure the funds can produce enough annual returns to be self-sustaining, weather economic downturns, access hundreds of millions of federal matching dollars, and meet the demand from all 33 counties and Tribal communities. For more information, visit https://enchantmentfund.org/