New Mexicans encouraged to plant a tree for future climate action

Santa Fe, NM – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proclaims March 2021 as Arbor Month in New Mexico. The second Friday in March is also recognized as Arbor Day in the Land of Enchantment. This year it will be March 12, 2021. To highlight the importance of our urban trees and forests, the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Forestry Division is encouraging New Mexicans to plant a tree in their yards or community for future climate action.

“Whether you own acres of land, have a small urban backyard, or reside in an apartment building, we can all do our part,” said Erin Maehr, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager. “By planting a tree or volunteering with one of the various organizations working in your community, together we make our cities and towns resilient to climate change and a better, healthier, more enjoyable place to live.”

Approximately 80% of New Mexicans reside in urban areas where trees provide essential benefits like cooling shade, clean air, and support overall mental well-being. Healthy urban forests can also help solve many community problems by creating safer and more sociable neighborhoods.

New Mexicans are already helping to make measurable progress in protecting and preserving urban and community forests under a changing climate. Over the past year, New Mexico’s Urban Forestry Council focused on identifying and promoting tree and shrub species for New Mexico urban environments that can survive now and into the projected climate zones of the future. A Climate-Ready Tree List was created for Albuquerque by The Nature Conservancy and lists for other cities and towns across New Mexico are currently being developed. By the fall of 2021 there will be Climate-Ready Tree Lists for each of the primary growing zones in New Mexico. These lists will aid communities across the state in selecting the best trees for the future as we transition into a warmer, drier plant hardiness zone.

For more information on the 2020 New Mexico Forest Action Plan, ways you can get involved, or suggestions on tree planting (right tree, right place), go to http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/ or email Erin Maehr, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager at Erin.Maehr@state.nm.us. The Climate Ready Tree Species List for Albuquerque is located at Climate-Ready-Trees-Location-Lists-Nov2020.pdf (nature.org).