NEW MEXICOYEAR IN REVIEW 2018

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CONSERVATION IN NEW MEXICO

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We are rapidly approaching the 40th anniversary of our New Mexico Chapter. Looking back over our conservation accomplishments of the past four decades, it is gratifying to see that our program has shown both a tremendous continuity of purpose and the ability to strategically innovate.

A prime example of our persistence is our work on the Gila River, where we first started negotiations to purchase property in 1979. Forty years later, we are managing tens of thousands of acres of land and five miles of the river at our Gila Riparian Preserve.

Our chapter has had a profound, tangible and lasting impact both in and beyond New Mexico through successes such as the acquisition of the 220,000-acre Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, the purchase of the 320,000-acre Gray Ranch, and the protection of the 50,000-acre Rancho El Uno in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Our innovations include the Rio Grande Water Fund, a collaborative project that will impact 600,000 acres of forest in northern New Mexico, and our ambitious Albuquerque conservation program, where we are engaging and inspiring youth and planting trees to keep neighborhoods cool and reduce air pollution.

We are grateful to you for making this conservation work possible. None of our successes would have been possible without your generous ongoing support.

Thank you,

Terry Sullivan, State Director

DEAR FRIENDS,The Nature Conservancy in New MexicoBOARD OF TRUSTEES Julia Peters, Santa Fe, ChairCarrie Freeman, Corrales, Vice ChairZach Ives, Albuquerque, SecretaryBill Feinberg, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and El Paso, TX, TreasurerJohn Massopust, Santa Fe, Global AmbassadorDeanna Archuleta, AlbuquerqueJames E. Butcher, Santa FeDevon Fooks, AlbuquerquePhil Haworth, Santa FeBen Maddox, Arroyo SecoBob Moss, Santa FeTom Myers, HillsboroTrudy O’Toole, Santa FeChris Stagg, Taos Ski ValleyTom Swetnam, Jemez SpringsHenk van der Werff, Taos

EMERITUS TRUSTEESRobert Efroymson, Santa FeSusan McGreevy, Santa Fe

STAFF Steven Bassett, GIS Program ManagerAnne Bradley, Forest Program DirectorMartha Cooper, Southwest New Mexico Field RepresentativeAriel De La Rosa, AmeriCorps VISTA VolunteerRobert Findling, Director of Land Protection & StewardshipAlberto Granados, Finance SpecialistCollin Haffey, Conservation ManagerJackie Hall, Director of PhilanthropySarah Hurteau, Albuquerque Urban Program DirectorLaura McCarthy, Associate State DirectorRachel Meier, Conservation Information ManagerPriscilla Ornelas, Senior Director of Finance & OperationsNatalie Sommer, Marketing ManagerTerry Sullivan, State Director

ON THE COVER Abiquiú, NM © MissionPositive/iStock; THIS PAGE left to right Terry Sullivan © Alan Eckert Photography; Rocky Mountain Youth Corp members © Jackie Hall/TNC; OPPOSITE PAGE left to right top row Prescribed burn © Mary Huffman/TNC; Conservation Canine program © Karine Aigner; Ponderosa Pine in Jemez © Alan Eckert Photography; Tree planting © Flora Hurteau; Malpai Borderlands © Blake Gordon; middle row Jemez forest © Alan Eckert Photography; San Juan River © Erika Nortemann/TNC; Cedro Peak © Laura McCarthy/TNC; Jemez River © Alan Eckert Photography; bottom row Santa Fe National Forest © Bud Ellison, Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0; Bee © Chris Helzer/TNC; Bison © Dave Lauridsen; Rancho El Uno © Dave Lauridsen; Albuquerque © iStockphoto

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40 YEARS OF GROWTH AND EVOLUTION Thanks to you, we have accomplished so much over the past 40 years. Here’s a look at our collective

accomplishments with our many partners—and there is still so much more to be done.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE WHAT WE WILL DO

150 jobs created325,000

acres prepared for

treatment

53 river miles conserved

6,250 students reached through

educational outreach

141 partners we work with

to achieve conservation

410 firefighters trained through Prescribed

Fire Training Exchanges

131,000 acres restored with thinning and controlled burning

1.5 million acres of land

protected 7 preserves in the state

Create more livable communities for

168,860

Protect an additional

1,000,000

acres of land

Partner with 100

Rio Grande Water Fund signatories by 2020

Restore 600,000

acres of forest through the Rio Grande

Water Fund

Plant 300 trees

in the Albuquerque metro area

Albuquerque residents through our Urban Conservation Program

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The Nature Conservancy established the Gila Riparian Preserve and the Mimbres River Preserve to protect land, water and habitat.

Today, thanks to our efforts to keep natural processes intact and provide whole-watershed protection, plant and animal species show a remarkable recovery.

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large photo Gila River © Erika Nortemann/TNC; inset left to right Silver City sunset © Tucker Sherman, Flickr CC BY 2.0; Cottonwood trees © Melanie Stansbury; Southwestern willow flycatcher © U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr CC BY 2.0; Chiricahua leopard frog © Sue Sitko/TNC

GILA & MIMBRES RIVERS

The Gila and Mimbres Rivers are two of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest and support an astonishing array of plant and animal life. To protect land, water and habitat, The Nature Conservancy established the Gila Riparian Preserve in 1980 and the Mimbres River Preserve in 1994.

We now manage 1,200 acres and five miles of river in the Gila Riparian Preserve and own 600 acres and four river miles in our Mimbres River Preserve. In recent years, our focus has evolved from direct habitat management to whole-watershed protection, increasing the scale and pace of restoration in light of expected climate change impacts, including more frequent wildfires.

Through our collaborations with public agencies and private land holders, more than 250,000 acres of land within the Gila and Mimbres watersheds

are being restored. We are working with our partners to re-establish the rivers’ natural ebbs and flows, encourage the recovery of riparian forests and aquatic habitat in the rivers’ natural floodplains, and restore periodic, low-intensity fire to the forest to reduce the threat of severe, destructive burns.

Today, with efforts focused on keeping natural processes intact and removing stressors like overgrazing, plant and animal species show a remarkable recovery. Observable changes include stronger populations of native species, such as the Chihuahua chub—a freshwater fish found nowhere else in the United States and once thought extinct—the Chiricahua leopard frog and the southwestern willow flycatcher.

THEN & NOW

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large photo Bison roam the El Uno Ecological Reserve, within the Janos Biosphere Reserve. © Dave Lauridsen; inset left to right Working with ranchers in the Malpai Borderlands region © Blake Gordon; Jaguar © Bernard Dupont/Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0; Thick-billed parrot © Charlie Ott; Black-tailed prairie dog © Pixabay

GRAY RANCH THEN & NOW

Once dubbed the “American Serengeti,” New Mexico’s Bootheel comprises the southwest corner of the state and has long been known as a crown jewel of biodiversity. When the 320,000-acre Gray Ranch in the heart of this landscape became available for purchase in 1990, the Nature Conservancy leapt into action, making the largest private land acquisition in our organization's history.

Shortly after the purchase was completed, we began conversations with the Hadleys, a local ranching family who ultimately purchased the Gray Ranch and established the Animas Foundation to ensure the permanent protection of the ranch. We retained the conservation easements.

Thanks to the leadership of the Hadleys and other local ranchers, more landowners were inspired to work toward conservation. They established the Malpai Borderlands Group, uniting private landowners to allow additional conservation easements and better public land management.

As the Malpai Borderlands Group grew from New Mexico to Arizona, TNC began partnerships in Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico, and acquired Rancho El Uno in 2005. The 50,000-acre ranch was the largest private land purchase in Mexico

and spurred Mexico to designate the surrounding 1.3 million acres of prairie ecosystem as the Janos Biosphere Reserve.

Gray Ranch, Malpai Borderlands, Rancho El Uno, and the Janos Biosphere Reserve protect roughly 2.3 million acres of some of the most biodiverse land in the Americas and encompass two countries and four states. Conservation efforts have reintroduced genetically pure bison to the this reserve and protected the corridor for roaming jaguars and other animals.

The effort is one of the first and most successful examples of conservationists working with ranchers and across borders to accomplish conservation. TNC continues to manage Rancho El Uno and we have expanded conservation easements on the Gray Ranch, now part of the Diamond A Ranch. What began in New Mexico now serves as one of the most important conservation corridors in North America.

In 1990, The Nature Conservancy purchased the Gray Ranch, the largest private land acquisition in TNC history.

Today, roughly 2.3 million contiguous acres are protected, serving as one of the most important conservation and wildlife corridors in North America.

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1983 Conservation Targets Mimbres River, Rattlesnake Springs, Kuenzler Cactus, Jornada Bat Caves, and the Sabo Preserve are announced as critical conservation targets. TNC protects all five sites by the year 2000.

1987 Natural Lands Protection TNC lobbies successfully to pass the Natural Lands Protection Act in the New Mexico State Legislature.

1989 Dripping Springs TNC acquires the 2,200-acre Cox Ranch in the Organ Mountains. After it is transferred to the Bureau of Land Management, the ranch becomes the Dripping Springs Natural Area.

1990 Gray Ranch TNC acquires the 320,000-acre Gray Ranch which, at the time, was the largest conservation project in the history of all TNC’s global chapters.

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1973 Sevilleta Ranch The Nature Conservancy acquires the 220,000-acre Sevilleta Ranch and transfers the property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, establishing the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. At the time, this was the largest single acquisition in TNC history.

1979 TNC in New Mexico The chapter is formally chartered and authorized by the Board of Governors to “engage in natural area preservation activities.”

1980 Gila River TNC initiates efforts to preserve riparian woodlands in the Gila River watershed, known as the Gila Riparian Project.

1993 Jornada Bat Caves TNC acquires mineral rights to the Jornada Bat Caves, thereby protecting the bat community from mining.

1994 Rio Nutria Preserve TNC acquires the 1,280-acre Rio Nutria in the Zuni Mountains. The preserve provides essential habitat for the Zuni bluehead sucker.

2000 Santa Fe Canyon PNM donates 200 acres in the Santa Fe River Watershed, which ultimately serves as the foundation of the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve.

2005 Rancho El Uno TNC and our partner in Mexico, Pronatura Noreste, acquire 46,000-acre Rancho El Uno in the Janos grassland, which is contiguous with the Gray Ranch. This was the largest private conservation acquisition in the history of Mexico.

2006 Climate Change Initiative TNC launches the Southwest Climate Change Initiative, a three-year program that established tools to help communities and landscapes adapt to climate change.

2009 Janos Grasslands The government of Mexico designates 1.3 million acres of the Janos grasslands as the Janos Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest grassland reserves on the planet.

2010 Santa Fe Canyon Preserve An additional 320 acres of land are donated to the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve. 2012

Rare Jemez Salamanders TNC begins a partnership with Conservation Canines to locate endangered Jemez Mountain Salamanders.

2014 Rio Grande Water Fund The launch of the Rio Grande Water Fund offers a comprehensive plan for wildfire and water source protection to restore forests and secure fresh water for one million New Mexicans.

2016 Urban Conservation TNC establishes an Urban Conservation Program in Albuquerque and adds Climate and Energy to our strategic framework.

top left to right © Pixabay © Pixabay; bottom left to right © Dave Lauridsen; © Karine Aigner; © Leslie Ikenda/ NM Dept. of Game and Fish; © Alan Eckert Photography; © Dave Lauridsen; © Alan Eckert Photography; © Karine Aigner; © iStockphoto

2018 Gaining Momentum Now supported by more than 70 public and private organizations, the Rio Grande Water Fund restored 33,000 acres of forest in 2018. The total number is now 108,000 acres treated with thinning, controlled burns and managed natural fires.

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this page Cebolla Canyon of Santa Fe National Forest © Karine Aigner; opposite page inset left to right Firefighter © Esmé Cadiente/The Terra Project; Properly thinned ponderosa pine stand © Alan Eckert Photography; Marsh marigold and stream © Laura McCarthy; large photo Yellow Bellied Marmot © notnyt/Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

FOREST RESTORATION & THE RIO GRANDE WATER FUND

THEN & NOW

The 2000 Cerro Grande fire burned 45,000 acres and several hundred homes in Los Alamos, New Mexico. In the aftermath of Cerro Grande and a similarly devastating fire in Oregon, the federal government created the first national fire plan, paving the way for a national cooperative agreement between the Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. The resulting Fire Learning Network—focused on lessening the threat of catastrophic wildfire and implementing prescribed fire safely—held its first national meeting at Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe in 2003.

“Support from the Fire Learning Network allowed us to build partnerships with federal forest managers, leading to our first restoration project on 200 acres in the Jemez Mountains,” says Anne Bradley, TNC forest program director. “That small start led to many cross-boundary restoration efforts that have continued to this day.”

The need for larger scale restoration became undeniable in 2011 when the Las Conchas fire

burned 43,000 acres in the first day, eventually burning a total of 156,000 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest. The fire brought a sense of urgency to accelerate forest restoration. People living in the burned area returned to a landscape severely transformed by fire, flood and drought. People downstream were affected by ash and debris overwhelming rivers and streams that supply water to more than one million New Mexicans.

In response, TNC established the Rio Grande Water Fund in 2014 to ramp up the pace and scale of forest restoration. Now with more than 70 partners—including nonprofits, government agencies, private companies, foundations, and individuals—the Rio Grande Water Fund restored 33,000 acres of forest in 2018.

“The concerted effort of the Water Fund and its partners to do as much as possible after the Las Conchas fire has greatly enhanced our ability to prevent fires from causing the same extent of devastation as Las Conchas,” says Collin Haffey, TNC conservation manager.

In 2003, the Fire Learning Network held its first national meeting —focused on lessening the threat of catastrophic wildfire and implementing prescribed fire safely.

The Rio Grande Water Fund is a trailblazing project that is increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration to ensure a continuous supply of water to half of New Mexico's population.

As an example, the 2018 Venado fire in the Jemez Mountains started as a crown fire, quickly spreading through the tree canopy, but dropped to the ground when it reached an area treated by the Rio Grande Water Fund. Instead of facing a catastrophe, fire crews were able to manage the lower burning flames.

The Water Fund’s success is a result of partnerships and cross-boundary coordination among a number of public agencies and private landowners and signatories. The trailblazing project is not only restoring forests from the Rio Grande headwaters to Albuquerque but is also ensuring a continuous supply of clean water to half the state’s population.

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THANKS The Nature Conservancy’s accomplishments are only made possible by the many individuals, organizations, businesses and foundations that made gifts to our vital conservation programs during fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018). Every gift plays a crucial role in our work—for people and nature. We thank you for your commitment to our mission.*

Anonymous (12)Dr. and Mrs. Stephen AbramD. L. AlbrightAlbuquerque Community FoundationMr. and Mrs. Paul AllisonKeith AlmquistMr. Jonathan A. AltmanMr. Robert D. AndersonArcher/Patterson Family FoundationMs. Deanna A. ArchuletaMr. Alan W. ArmentroutMr. Dana Atkins and Mrs. Gail AtkinsMr. and Mrs. John AubyMr. William L. AubyAvalon TrustMs. Jan Avent and Mr. Dave RossettiMs. Catherine AvesBank of America Charitable FoundationBarker Management CompanyMs. Sylvia J. BartayDonald H. BatesMs. Ann H. BatumMr. and Mrs. Christian BauerMs. Karen BecklinMs. Debra A. BeesonMs. Alma BestMr. Chris BeyerMr. Paul H. BianchiDr. Eva R. BirnbaumSilke S. BletzerMr. Steve T. BoerigterMr. William A. BradleyMr. and Mrs. John BrayerMs. Adele C. BreechMr. Bill F. BrineyMr. Jonathan D. BrinkerhoffMs. Marilyn L. BrodieAllison J. BrodyMrs. Ann BrownDr. Hamilton B. BrownMr. Richard R. BrusuelasErnest A. BryantRobert E. Burke

Carol Burleson and George BurlesonCabin Fund, Santa Fe Community FoundationJoe CairnsMr. and Mrs. C. CaldwellMs. Carolyn O. CallawayMr. and Mrs. Richard CarruthersMr. and Mrs. Alvino CastilloMs. Emily CastilloMary Ray R. CateRoy D. CatonCarlton M. CavesMr. Niels N. ChapmanMr. Mark Childs and Ms. Elaine ThomasMs. Ann Clark and Mr. Leo HarrisDr. Roger L. CloughCNA Financial CorporationMs. Camille F. CoatesMr. Nathaniel Cobb and Sarah CobbMr. Robert Coffland and Ellen MoorePeter Coha and Vicki NowarkGrace Colvin and William WinnMr. and Mrs. Peter ConewayChristopher Conover and Diane ConoverAndrew T. CowanNorman CroweCuadrosMs. Pamela J. CulwellMs. Hope A. CurtisMs. Marcia E. DarnellMr. James N. DavidsonMr. Andrew A. DavisDr. Jefferson Davis and Ms. Bronwen Denton-DavisTerry D. DavisMr. David L. DealMr. Peter DieboldMr. and Mrs. Steve DoornMs. Paula Dorris-Osborn Mr. and Mrs. Mark DunhamMr. J. Ryan DunnEco-Cpa, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. EfroymsonJean A. Eilek

El Deseo FoundationMs. Luisa B. EmersonMs. Cindy EwingMr. and Mrs. David FalkMr. Don J. FanslowMs. Alice E. FehlauFeinberg Foundation, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. William B. FeinbergKaren Sue FenimoreCharles R. FerenbaughMr. and Mrs. Dwight FinkelMr. Daniel Finley, III and Ms. Judith BernsteinMr. Casey Finstad and Ms. Elaine DreesMr. and Mrs. John FitzPatrickMartha FlandersMr. Roger B. FlegelMs. Denise J. FlignerMr. Mark S. FollettMr. Devon FooksMs. Judith FordMrs. Dawn S. FosterMr. and Mrs. David FoxCarrie and Brian FreemanCarolyn L. FreeseMs. Barbara W. FriedmanMr. Patrick P. FryHelen J. FullerMs. Mary S. GardnerMr. and Mrs. William GardnerGarfield Street FoundationMs. Bridget M. GavahanDr. and Mrs. David GayGeneral Mills, Inc.Dr. and Mrs. Frank Gerstle, Jr.Roz and Larry GibelMr. and Mrs. Anthony GilbertDaniel A. GossGrace and John T. Harrington FoundationDavid and Marilyn GrannerMs. Kathleen A. GrossMr. Scott D. HabermehlMrs. Valerie W. HamiltonMr. and Mrs. Roger Hammond, III

Mr. and Mrs. Michael HannahMr. Jasper Hardesty Robin HardinMr. Michael Hartshorne and Ms. Lida CrooksDr. Phil Y. HaworthMs. Sheila HeighwayMr. Bertram P. HeilMs. Pamela A. HenlineMr. Andrew J. HenryMr. and Mrs. James HickersonJames Hickman and Connie HickmanMs. Nicole A. HixonMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey HollanderMr. Rory Holscher and Ms. Marilyn HolscherThomas F. HoraMr. and Mrs. Jeff HuserJames IdenMr. and Mrs. Zach IvesJacqueline JaureguiMr. Larry A. JonesMr. and Mrs. Mark JonesMs. Terry JurrensMr. James M. KellerMs. Wendy KellerMs. Elizabeth J. KellyMr. Gary E. KirkMr. Darrow KirkpatrickMr. Charles E. KnappMrs. Pat KneenMs. Gayle A. KuldellLori A. KunkelSusan Ninde N. LanierMs. Sue LashleyMs. Pamela A. LeechToby K. LeonDr. Beth Leuck and Mr. Edwin LeuckMr. James R. LeverettNancy Levit and Cathy UnderwoodMr. Richard Levy and Ms. Dana AsburyCarlie Lines and B. C. RimbeauxMrs. Alice LiskaMs. Ann Livingston and Mr. Mark LivingstonMs. Donna M. Lombardi

LOR FoundationLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National Security, LLCMr. John R. LoveMr. and Mrs. Fred LutgensAndra Maddox and Ben MaddoxMr. and Mrs. Ron MandelbaumDoug MapelMrs. Edith L. MarianesMs. Jacqueline B. MarsRobert S. MarshallLuther M. MartinMs. Pamela W. MasseyMr. and Mrs. John MassopustMr. William K. MathisonDr. Robert MayerMr. and Mrs. Thomas MayerMr. and Mrs. Edward McCulloughMs. Susan McGreevyBarbara H. McGuireMs. Dee A. McIntyreMr. Guy R. McNamaraMr. Richard N. MeadowsMs. Linda J. MeinckeMrs. Julie MeltonMs. Coleen T. MeyerMs. Doris Meyer and Mr. Richard HertzPaul A. MillerMr. and Mrs. Ralph MilnesMs. Charlotte B. MinterMs. Marcia A. MiolanoMs. Letitia P. MorrisMs. Leigh W. MurrayMr. Rex Myers and Ms. Susan RichardsMr. and Mrs. Albert Narath, IIINational Fish and Wildlife FoundationFrederick A. NelsonNew Mexico Watershed CoalitionMr. Joshua A. NewmanNewton Family FundDr. Kurt Nolte and Dr. Bronwyn WilsonMrs. Martha B. NorthrupClaiborne M. O’Connor

Dr. and Mrs. Alden OlsonMr. David E. OramDr. Lawrence Osborn, M.D.Mrs. Lou Helen O’SullivanMr. and Mrs. Dennis O’TooleMr. and Mrs. Gary OverturfMr. Ted B. OwensMs. Jo Paap and Tony PaapMr. and Mrs. Peter PankuchMr. Malcolm J. PanthakiMr. Jerald V. ParkerMs. Sarah S. ParkerPatina Gallery, Inc.Deborah N. PayneMrs. Betty L. PerkinsMs. Julia L. PetersLaura PetersPhillips Family Living TrustMs. Cynthia Phillips and Mr. Thomas MartinMr. William Piatek and Carol PiatekDaniel J. PlessPNM Resources, Inc.Mr. Michael B. PodolnyAnthony G. QuayMs. Barbara QuissellMrs. Mary L. RajeJerusha Rawlings and Matt RawlingsMr. and Mrs. Robert ReedyMr. and Mrs. John ReeveMs. Lisa Reichman and Mr. Richard ReichmanMs. Edward ReidMr. Bob D. ReinovskyMr. Robert E. RhienDr. Elizabeth Richards, Ph.D. Robert L. and Marilyn H. RidgleyMs. Louise A. RinnMr. and Mrs. Harry RitchieThe Robert E. and Polly A. Zimmerman FoundationEric RobinsonMs. Judith A. RoderickMs. Susan R. RothenbergMr. and Mrs. James Ruff

Mr. and Mrs. George RuptierMr. Daniel E. RyersonDavid Ryerson and Marilyn RyersonMs. Karen Sakamoto and Mr. Robert AngellJohn M. SalasPatrick SamoraAl and Mary Anne SanbornSanta Fe Community FoundationSanta Fe Garden Club, Inc.Mr. Allen G. SaultDr. and Mrs. Richard SayreMr. and Mrs. Wolfgang SchlauchMr. Peter A. SchultzSchwab Charitable FundMr. James J. SchwarzSCM Partners, LLCMr. James C. ScottMr. and Mrs. Albert Seargeant, IIIMr. John Seeger and Ms. Lise SpargoMr. and Mrs. Ted SeeleyMr. Graham SharmanMs. Jessica K. SharmanMs. Sarah E. SharptonMs. Linda K. SheldonDr. and Mrs. Frederick ShermanMrs. and Mrs. Warren SiemensSigma ScienceMr. Peter C. SimonsMr. and Mrs. Michael SjulinMary Sloane and Andrew WallersteinMs. Linda J. SlutzMs. Dori Smith and Dr. Steven HechtMr. Brian G. SolanDr. Sherill L. SpaarMr. and Mrs. Michael SpearDoug L. SpornMr. and Mrs. Chris StaggMr. Paul M. StanfordMr. and Mrs. Walter Stern, IIIMrs. Jan R. StoneSulica FundRobert SuminsbyMr. and Mrs. Tom SwetnamT & E, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Dalton TarwaterAntoinette Taylor | Stuart TrugmanMrs. Sheri S. TepperMrs. Aija Thacher

Julie Fisher Melton has been a member of The Nature Conservancy for well over a decade, investing in a cause that means a great deal to her. After recently moving to New Mexico with her husband, Ed, which sparked early memories of childhood walks with her father along the Rio Grande, Julie decided it was time to make a bigger impact. Through a generous donation made via her IRA, Julie is helping to defend the Gila River from a diversion and supporting the work of the Rio Grande Water Fund—an initiative that is helping to secure water for 1 million New Mexicans. “Using my IRA to support the Conservancy was an easy decision. I was able to make the contribution—without incurring income tax on the withdrawal—making it an efficient way to support an organization that I care very deeply about.”

Thanks to her national and international connections, Julie is also helping to spread the word about the Conservancy’s work throughout the state and country. She holds a doctorate from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins and has been a consultant to many international NGOs on the topics of microenterprise development and building partnerships between indigenous and international NGOs. While a fellow at the Program on Nonprofit Organizations at Yale, she taught a course at the Yale Forestry School on World Population, and she spent 10 years as a program officer at the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio, a democracy think tank. She is the author of three books on indigenous NGOs, including The Road from Rio: Sustainable Development and the Nongovernmental Movement in the Third World and Importing Democracy: The Role of NGOs in South Africa, Tajikistan and Argentina.

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THIS PAGE inset Julie Fisher Melton © Will Wenzel; large photo Seeds of wild lettuce plant © Chris Helzer/TNC

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*Annual gifts of $500 or more

Ms. Nara S. ThacherThe Smidinger TrustThe Taos Ski Valley FoundationTides FoundationMs. Edith M. TimkenTt&G Family FundTurner FoundationThe Turner Law Firm, LLCMr. and Mrs. James TurnerMs. Alice Tyrol-ElliottUnited Way of Central New MexicoMs. Dona J. UpsonMr. and Mrs. Henk Van Der WerffMr. Richard D. Van DongenDr. Betsy VanleitMr. James R. VoetDavid and Marietta E. VogelRandy L. WalnBuzz WaterhouseEvelyn WatkinsMs. Kristi Watterberg and Mr. Ronald PolandMr. and Mrs. Robert WeilerMs. Stefi A. WeisburdMr. Dennis R. WellerWells Fargo FoundationChristine L. WellsMr. and Mrs. Terrell WhiteMr. and Mrs. Ron WilkinsMr. Michael Williams and Ms. Mary Louise WilliamsMr. Matthew Wilson and Ms. Lyle YorkMs. Melissa Wilson and Mr. Lewis SuberJill D. WinansMr. Doyle R. WiseJan M. Wiste, M.D.Ms. Karen WohlgemuthTom Wood and Ann WoodMr. Eric J. WortmanMr. and Mrs. Paul WrightMr. and Mrs. Thomas WyckoffMs. Ellen WymerMs. Pamela Yellen and Larry HaywardMr. and Mrs. Joe ZebrowskiMr. Michael ZimberMr. and Mrs. John Zinn

DONOR PROFILE Julie Fisher Melton

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Interested in naming The Nature Conservancy in New Mexico as a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy or financial accounts?

Please contact Jackie Hall at 505-946-2021 or jacquelyn_hall@tnc.org.

If you have already included TNC in your long-term plans and would like your gift specifically designated for New Mexico projects, please speak to your advisors about including the following statement in your paperwork: “The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit corporation, organized and existing under the laws of the District of Columbia, and with principal business address of 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606, (tax number 53-0242652) to be used in New Mexico.”

Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making a gift.

LEAVE A LEGACY

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LEGACY CLUB The Legacy Club is a group of supporters who have made a life-income gift to The Nature Conservancy or named the Conservancy as a beneficiary in their estate plans. We thank our Legacy Club members for their dedication to our mission.

Anonymous (43)Ms. Ann N. AcevesRobin S. ActonMs. Constance AdlerSharon AhrensKathryn Marie AlbrechtMr. Len AlexanderMr. and Mrs. MacKenzie AllenGerald and Permelia AllgoodMr. Stanley D. Allison and Ms. Malgorzata Allison-KosiorMs. Alice L. AndersonMax and Patricia AndrewCraig and Konnie AndrewsEugene H. AntesMr. and Mrs. Otto AppenzellerRobert and Marsha ArtigMr. Dana Atkins and Mrs. Gail AtkinsVictor AtvasDr. Jennifer B. AverillRichard and Linda AveryMr. and Mrs. Ernie AyersMaureen and Stephen BacaMary A. BacchusMrs. Betty B. BaerMr. Richard J. BaileyNancy BakerMs. Greta BalderramaMr. and Mrs. Richard BandoColin BarkerTodd and Lisa BarnesSylvia BarriosMr. Bruce R. Bates and Ms. Joan P. BradshawDonald H. BatesViAnn BeadleMr. and Mrs. Andrew BeckenbachMr. Harry BeckhoffMs. Debra A. BeesonMs. Starr BelskyKaren C. BenderMr. William D. BentonLaura M. BergJoan E. and David Berish

John Bessey and Shirley NagelschmidtMichael Q. Bily and Christy Ford Fred and Daryl BlackLeith H. BlackMr. William J. BlanchardMr. and Mrs. James BodenLaverne and Peter BohlinMs. Varsila L. BohrerMike and Pat BoringJames L. BotsfordShirley BrainardSusan BrakeMr. David BreeckerKatherine Breen and John MerrittMs. Berkeley BrestalJonathan D. BrinkerhoffMs. Virginia BrossMary L. BrownN. T. Brown, Jr.Mr. Larry T. BrownNancy Gay Browning and Dr. J. Bruce BeckwithAlicia Brown-MatthesDavid and Nichelle BrunerCornelia C. BryerIsabel BucherA. Janine and David L. BurkeCarol Burns and J. HammerbergTimothy A. BushRobert J. and Mary E. ByramMs. Juliet CalabiGwen CameronAnn S. CardilloDonald E. and Mina L. Koym CarnicomLeslie CarpenterAndrea CastellanosNiels N. ChapmanLance and Katherine ChiltonDr. Marilyn J. ChimesMarcia F. Christmann and Catherine ChristmannShannon CimarronMr. David J. ClearyMr. Kenneth Alan Collins

Mr. Stockton B. ColtDavid L. ColtonEugene P. ColtonMary E. Correnti and Delores F. AndersonMr. Warren Cox and Mrs. Susan Forster-CoxRobert W. and Hannah C. CrooksNorman CroweMr. Guy E. DahmsMr. George R. DalphinMr. Wayne C. DarnellJames N. DavidsonVera M. DavisMr. and Mrs. Ronald R. DeVriesOmar L. and Susanne T. DeWittDon DietzMaurice M. Dixon, Jr.Delphine Douglass and James WerbelMichael DrongCelestine DuncanJerry and Janice DusseauGlenn Maury EarlCraig F. and Barbara EberhartDr. and Mrs. Charles EberleMr. James W. EdwardsMr. and Mrs. Robert A. EfroymsonMs. Suzanne I. EisemanMs. Jane EngelMs. Jeanne ErbacherMs. Margaret M. EutslerMr. and Mrs. Gerald FarberMr. Donald R. FennemaMs. Ingrid V. FergusonMr. Keith FergusonSally R. FishMs. Penelope FisherRoger B. FlegelMs. Glenda FletcherMark S. FollettMarilyn M. ForbesPhilip and Carol FortunaDawn FosterFrancine Foster

Ms. Beth Francis and Mr. David WileyBrenda FranksLisa FreemanCarrie and Brian FreemanMs. Martha A. FreemanBill FreimuthDianne Frost and Robert SilverMr. and Mrs. William GardnerMr. Phil Geller and Dr. Diane MorrissetteMr. Raymond S. GeorgeMs. Susan GerberFrank and Pauline GerstleAudrey Q. GinnMr. Christopher Goad and Ms. Donalda SpeightRonald J. GoleHector R. and Pamela L. GomezChris GorbachMs. Judith F. GordonMr. Dave F. Gori and Mr. Scott WilsonSusan GormanWilliam S. GornallBill and Denise GoséJay and Lynn GouldKatherine Gould-MartinPatches GrahamMs. Suzanne L. GrahamMr. W. B. GrantRuth M. and Alan D. GrauerChampe GreenCharlotte GreenfieldRand and Teresita GreenfieldEric W. GreisenPatricia HaberJackie HallMs. Susan M. HallBill and Linda HardyKatherine H. HarperMr. Michael HartMr. William R. Haushalter and Mr. David DarstGerard HeckMs. Ann L. HedlundDeWitt HendersonMs. Pamela A. HenlineCarl and Kim HenneyRichard HenryTom and Jennifer HermannMrs. Elinore HerrimanMrs. Margaret W. HetrickAnne L. HickmanDavid N. HillMs. Shirley M. HirschNancy HockstadJim and Sandra HogeMatilde Holzwarth and Lloyd Barr

Thomas F. HoraMs. Susan HorstMs. Melissa HowardMarie Hudson and Clark HudsonMr. and Mrs. Robert HullClarice HunterMrs. Jean S. IngoldMr. and Mrs. Kent JacobsDr. and Mrs. Calvin JaegerToya JamesJacqueline JaureguiMrs. Mary Esther JollyDaniel P. JonesDouglas M. JonesHeloise R. JonesTerry JurrensHildegard KaiglerMarjorie KamineGlen KayeMr. S. C. KeithleyRichard J. KetchumDaniel R. KeyesMr. Gil KieferMr. and Mrs. William KilcupMrs. Rowena KingDaniel E. KleinMrs. Pat KneenRobert B. and Miryam L. KnutsonJan V. KopeckyMr. and Mrs. Basil KorinThomas Korosec and Rose FarleyRebecca A. KraimerJennifer C. KrugerDouglas S. KurtzDr. A. Leckman and Ms. Deborah HallJerry D. LeeMr. and Mrs. Frank LeechLisan S. LemaSusan LentzDiane LeRescheMr. and Mrs. Allan LernerSusan and Scott LevitonWayne S. LindsayAlice LiskaMs. Lee D. LockieMarjorie and Dwayne LongenbaughMargaret Lopez and Christopher FrechetteMr. Louis Lopilato, IIDayton LummisMr. and Mrs. Hugh MaddenLeonard MagnusLinda MalmJennifer Marie MammoliMr. and Mrs. Ron Mandelbaum

Mrs. Barbara MannGloria L. ManneyElse MansLauren Marchese and Peter StreetRobert Marcus and Ann CoulstonEdith L. MarianesDr. Martha Marks and Mr. Bernard MarksMr .and Mrs. James MartinDeanna Martinez and Richard LandMr. and Mrs. Roy MasintonJean and Bill MasonHelen MatelsonMs. Sara MathewsMr. George MatthewsJanet Harkness MatthewsRobert J. MaxwellThomas and Edel MayerMargarete MayerMr. Rayo McColloughMr. and Mrs. Edward McCulloughCarse McDanielHarry and Lauren McGavranMs. Susan McGreevyMs. Susan E. McIntoshJoseph and Carol McVeighMr. and Mrs. James MeemPatricia MehlhopMeg and Richard MeltzFrank Merritt and Carlene RotersKatherine MeyerMr. Steve MilazzoMs. Elizabeth MilfordMrs. Julius MillerMr. and Mrs. Eric MoonMr. and Mrs. Charles MossburgSayan D. Mukherjee and Laureen M. ZunnerJames and Janet MuraMrs. Barbara J. MurdochMr. Thomas W. MyersJames NeelyWilla Nehlsen and Robert FoleyFrederick NelsonGillian NielsenSue Nissenin memory of Bruce NoelMr. Michael Nossaman and Ms. Sidney SchulerMr. and Mrs. Jan NovakG. Frank Oatman and F. Jon WoodMr. Jerry R. OldenettelTrudy and Dennis O’TooleGary and Carol OverturfMr. and Mrs. David J. ParkMr. and Mrs. James R. ParkerPriscilla F. Parrish

Ms. Lisa PattersonMr. and Mrs. David PattonDonna and Bill PedaceJohn Pedersen and Sharon PedersenMr. and Mrs. Arnold Peinado, IIIVirginia PerssonJulia L. PetersMs. Eleanor L. PetrieJoni K. PierceGunnar PlakeM. LaRue PollardDavid L. PropstStephenie PurnellMeg QuinnRoberta and Fred RamseyMs. Mary ReedTerry Richey and Nancy PopeRonald J. RichmanMr. and Mrs. Michael RileyMs. Rhoda B. RileyJoyce A. RobertsLarry and Alice RodgersMr. and Mrs. James RogersJames E. and Elizabeth B. RoghairMrs. Sara B. RoseKevin and Irene RoweMr. Thomas E. RussellChristopher M. RustayBernard and Nancy RyanMr. Donald W. SadaMs. Deborah D. SaffordLydia SantillanezKathleen Quackenbush SassoMs. Karen SchmidtMenno and Doris SchmidtJohn R. SchoemerPeter A. Scholle and Dana Ulmer-ScholleHermine SchoustraSidney Ruth Schuler and Michael D. NossamanChristine M. SchwabRobert and Carol ScothornJudith SedlowIlan ShamirLinda J. SheldonMs. Susan ShipleyMonte and Phyllis ShriverJoyce M. SimondsMrs. Roy SimpsonClaire SinclairAnn SmithDori Smith, MEd and Dr. Steven HechtMrs. Luween SmithSusan SophiaRebecca Speakes

John and Marsha SpencerChris StaggSusan R. SteelMr. and Mrs. Hugo SteensmaLuther and Elaine StevensMrs. Jan R. StoneAdele StrasserMs. Cathie L. SullivanSteven SwenertonWilliam and Rebecca TallmanEugene TepperBetty J. TichichJackie TobiasJanet TrauthPatricia TrumbullArlene J. TugelMr. Sam TumaAlice C. Van BurenMargaret H. Van DammNita and Henk van der WerffDoug Van LoanIrene von HorvathLinda J. VikJan VillescasMs. Jessie D. VostiMrs. Mary M. WahlMrs. Judith S. WaiteRita K. WasmuthMr. Lyndon WatsonMr. and Mrs. Bruce WeberKaren M. WeberDale and Jean WebsterMr. David WegnerChristine L. Wells, Ph.D.Wertheim New Mexico Legacy FundMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey WestMr. and Mrs. Terrell WhiteWilliam A. Wiley, Jr.Mr. Brent S. WilleKent B. WilliamsonMr. Matthew Wilson and Ms. Lyle YorkMs. Melissa Wilson and Mr. Lewis SuberMr. Robert L. WilsonDr. Jeanne K. WindsorMr. Doyle R. WiseLinda and Jim WolcottMrs. Martina T. WoodvilleMs. Sara P. WrightPamela G. YellenDr. Robert Zahary and Dr. Margaret HartmanMr. and Mrs. Stanley Zdziarski, Jr.Qiguang Zhao and Litao ZhangMs. Katrina Z. ZiegweidMr. and Mrs. Clark Zrakovi

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