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Our Land

A river surrounded by trees and rocks.

Listening to the Gila

10.27.23 – Rarely in the United States do we remember that rivers are living beings…

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The cost of free land by rebecca clarke.

The Cost of Free Land

10.13.23 – At the turn of the 20th century, Rebecca Clarren’s ancestors fled antisemitism in…

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An aerial view of a burned area in colorado.

Building Public Trust in the Forest Service

9.22.23 – In the third and final segment of their conversation, Our Land Senior Producer…

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A group of people sitting around a table in an interview.

New Fire Protocols

9.22.23 – In the second of a three-part conversation, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus…

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A forest service logo with a mountain in the background.

2022’s Historic Fire Season

9.22.23 – This week on New Mexico in Focus, Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus…

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An image of a river with mountains in the background.

NM’s Water Challenges Are ‘Significant’

9.8.23 – Our Land’s Laura Paskus spoke with New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Director Hannah…

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An aerial view of a lake in the desert.

Is a Settlement on the Rio Grande Coming Soon?

8.4.23 – After the relatively wet years of the 1980s and ‘90s, New Mexico’s reservoirs…

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A person is digging a hole in the ground.

New Mexico Journalists Detail Long-Lasting Dangers of Cluster Bombs

7.21.23 – In July, the Biden administration publicly announced its decision to send cluster bombs…

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Educate your inbox

Stay up to date with everything happening in New Mexico.

New Mexico wildfires.

Reporting Challenges During Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire

6.17.2022 – Our Land Executive Producer Laura Paskus talks with two reporters about their experiences…

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A background image of a dry cracked earth with the logo for the Middle Rio Grande Convervancy District over top.

‘Bleak’ Outlook for Middle Rio Grande Water Supply

6.9.2022 – Our Land Correspondent Laura Paskus explores the harsh realities of shrinking water supplies…

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Low view of branded cows, with their necks held in a gate.

Art Schaap’s Dairy Dilemma

New 2022 Updates Regarding PFAS Exposure to Art Schaap’s Dairy Cows. March 12, 2021 –…

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Firefighters working on the side of a road working on the Black Fire.

Black Fire Grows to NM’s Third Largest

5.27.2022 – In the Gila National Forest, the Black Fire ignited on May 13—and has…

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A picket sign that says "One Earth."

Upending the West’s Water Narratives

5.20.2022 – Andrew Curley is a professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Geography,…

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A map of New Mexico with cartoon flames at the bottom of the image.

Wildfire Mapping

5.20.2022 – Using public data from the U.S. Forest Service, Steve Bassett, Director of Planning…

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Blades of grass and wheat grain blowing in the wind.

Understanding Extreme Winds

5.13.2022 – New Mexicans know all about gusty spring winds. But what we’re experiencing this…

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A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety front cover.

Coping with Climate Anxiety

5.13.2022 – Sarah Jaquette Ray’s 2020 book, “A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to…

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A cartoon drawing of the scales of justice over a map background.

NM Natural Resources Trustee on Ft. Wingate Settlement

4.29.2022 – The U.S. Army has reached a settlement of $1.5M that will go towards…

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Silhouettes of firefighters against a bright orange flame.

Fighting More Than Fire

4.22.2022 – As the nation’s wildlands burn with increasing intensity, fires are taking a bigger…

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Two people in outdoor safety gear watch and discuss something off-frame.

Forests Under Siege

4.22.2022 –The 2011 Las Conchas Fire burned 156,000 acres of the Jemez Mountains. At the…

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A forest fire burns in the night sky.

New Mexico’s Evolving Droughts & Wildfire Threats

4.22.2022 –Park Williams is a bioclimatologist who studies drought and wildfire in the western United…

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A group of firefighters with headlamps coordinate with each other next to a forest fire.

Wildland Firefighters Update

4.22.2022 –Environment reporter Laura Paskus catches up with former wildland firefighter Jonathan Golden to talk…

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A pile of cut down trees pieces.

Preparing for Fire Season

4.22.2022 –Tree ring scientist Tom Swetnam, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona, has studied…

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A forest of burnt down trees.

Wildfire Notifications & Resources

4.22.2022 –Eytan Krasilovsky is the deputy director of the Forest Stewards Guild. He explains the…

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A person chainsaws a tree body in the middle of a forest.

Community-Based Forest Management in Northern New Mexico

4.22.2022 – In the Carson National Forest, there’s a new model for community forestry—and it’s…

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A car driving away from a wildfire.

What Do We Do now?

4.22.2022 –Fire season for 2022 saw an early start, with some prescribed burns swelling out…

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A persons hand holding a small globe outside.

Earth Day Message

4.22.2022 – Environment Reporter Laura Paskus shares her message to New Mexicans on Earth Day.…

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Resources mentioned during the show: 

U.S. Forest Service’s National Prescribed Fire Resource Mobilization Strategy 

U.S. Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy 

U.S. Forest Service investigation of the Cerro Pelado Fire 

FEMA’s Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office 

Santa Fe National Forest 

“The Federal Government Accidentally Burned Down Their Houses, Then Made It Hard to Come Home” By Patrick Lohman with Source NM for ProPublica 

Southwest Jemez Mountains Collaborative Landscape Restoration 

How to learn more about wildfires when they’re happening: 

For fire locations and details about individual fires: InciWeb  

New Mexico Fire Information: NM Fire Info & NM Fire Info on Facebook 

National Interagency Fire Center – Fire News 

If the fire is burning on U.S. Forest Service land, search the name of the forest to find updates. Many of the forests, such as the Santa Fe National Forest, also have active Facebook pages. 

NOAA Fire Weather information and alerts (to see things like red flag warnings for your area) 

Fire and Smoke Map  

New Mexico Department of Health 5-3-1 Visibility Method (for determining if smoky conditions in your area are unhealthy) 

How to learn more about protecting your home and community: 

Community Wildfire Protection Plans in NM (includes guidelines and information on creating one, as well as links to plans for communities across the state)  

Ready, Set, Go! Your Personal Wildland Fire Action Guide (New Mexico) (for information on protecting your home, being ready to evacuate, and making a personal wildfire plan for your home) 

En sus Marcas, Listos, Fuera! Su Guia de Accion (Spanish) 

Fire Adapted New Mexico Learning Network 

NM State Foresty, Fire Prevention Programs 

NM State Forestry: Protecting your home from wildfire 

NM State Forestry: Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones 

Living with Fire: A Guide for the Homeowner (English)  

Firewise USA: Residents Reducing Wildfire Risks (National Fire Protection Association) 

State of New Mexico Prescribed Burn Certification Program 

Past Our Land shows related to New Mexico wildfire: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX-Gj22wAC46YnLfxBPo5ek7CxXB4_eOE