SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division is relieved with today’s announcement by the USDA Forest Service that fuelwood permit sales can resume immediately on all five National Forests in New Mexico.
“This could not have come at a better time for New Mexicans who’ve been scrambling to find another way to get their firewood,” said Laura McCarthy, State Forester, New Mexico State Forestry Division.
Today’s federal court decision stems from the case of WildEarth Guardians vs. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding the Mexican spotted owl, which halts all timber management actions on the Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests. The new modification now allows personal cutting and gathering of fuelwood and does not include commercial fuelwood or other important forest restoration activities such as thinning near homes, hazardous fuels reduction, or prescribed burning.
“We are happy that the court has clarified its intentions and we hope that both parties can move just as quickly on an agreement that allows work to protect and preserve forest habitat for wildlife, protect water resources, and reduce the risk to communities from catastrophic wildfire to continue.”
Fuelwood permits are still available through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the New Mexico State Land Office (SLO). Go to nmforestry.com and click on Announcements for more information.