Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project
Grants Awarded
The La Mancha Wetlands Restoration Project, managed by Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, focuses on maintaining a man-made wetland, acting as a natural filter and carbon sink, to support local wildlife habitats. With the property donated by the Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC), there are initiatives to improve public access, safety, and engage with local community through education about native species and ecological restoration efforts. Attention is also concentrated on rejuvenating the trail network, controlling soil erosion and upgrading site infrastructures for better aesthetics and decreased environmental impact.
Nuestra Tierra's youth initiatives foster a strong connection between marginalized communities in Las Cruces and Albuquerque and the great outdoors. The program provides engaging outdoor experiences like fishing, archery, wetland restoration, and conservation education, while also empowering youth to care for, protect, and advocate for public spaces. With an established network of partner organizations and resources such as the David Soules Scholarship for New Mexico State University (NMSU) conservation students, the program not only exposes more youths to nature, but also nurtures a future generation committed to environmental justice within their communities.
Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project’s mission is to ensure historically and deliberately excluded communities have access to the outdoors and that their history, values, and people are authentically reflected in public land and water management decisions. The organization was founded in 2017 by a group of friends from Las Cruces, New Mexico who noticed the lack of opportunities for Latino people, living in the State, to engage with public spaces. Since acquiring 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 2019, the organization has launched a plethora of successful state and national campaigns such as the New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund, the national Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E Initiative, the 30x30and Justice 40 initiatives led by the Biden-Harris presidency, and the addition of two new national monuments in partnership with the Monumental Shift Coalition.