The idea for the Upper Rio Grande Wildlife Initiative developed out of two gatherings of land managers, conservation groups and community leaders to identify key wildlife corridors in the region, as well as the need for collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal governments.
As a direct result of those workshops, eight special management areas were suggested for the Carson, Santa Fe and Rio Grande National Forests. If the Forest Service adopts these recommendations, the management areas would provide protections for wildlife corridors to ensure healthy and thriving species for generations to come.
The work continues to grow and this summer a broader coalition will come together to build on this foundational work and to consider additional proposals for landscape-scale connectivity throughout the Upper Rio Grande area.