Forest Stewards Guild
Grants Awarded
The program focuses on delivering essential restoration and repair works to trails and recreational areas within Santa Fe and Cibola National Forests, and the Pueblo of Jemez, which have suffered damage due to overuse and natural hazards. By partnering with the National Forest Foundation, RiverSource, Pueblo of Jemez and the U.S. Forest Service, the initiative strives to enhance outdoor infrastructure while training the next generation of forest conservationists through the Forest Stewards Youth Corps. Expected outcomes by 2026 include 44.2 miles of improved trails, 17.25 miles of constructed fencing, treatment of 3,190 acres for fuel management, and creation of jobs and training opportunities for 40 New Mexico youth annually, thereby fostering sustainable and equitable land access.
The Forest Stewards Guild (Guild) is a non-profit organization dating back to 1984, then known as the Forest Trust. Over the past 42 years, the Guild has continued to work with and support rural forested communities across New Mexico. This project aligns with our organizational mission as it has benefits that cross between individuals, communities, and multiple ecosystems and natural resources. Since its inception in the late 1990s, the Guild’s Forest Stewards Youth Corps (FSYC) program has employed over 1000 youth, achieved 320,000+ hours of conservation service and education, awarded over 240 hours of college credit, and invested over $8 million in rural New Mexico communities. On-the-ground work accomplished includes trail construction, wildlife monitoring, forest thinning, recreation site improvement, and assistance with prescribed fire operations. Corps members have gone on to build successful careers in natural resource management and become strong leaders in their communities. The Guild has successfully completed over 18 previous contracts with the New Mexico YCC Commission. The Guild completed the specified work projects and trainings, maintained open lines of communication with YCC staff, submitted timely reimbursement requests, and appropriately submitted in-kind documentation forms. Not only does the Guild have over 27 years of experience with youth conservation, we also have extensive experience working with the State of New Mexico, the New Mexico Association of Counties, and federal land management agencies like the USDA Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. For over 18 years, the Guild has been the fiscal agent for the Forest Health Initiative run by the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department-Forestry Division. We also have worked on several forest restoration planning and implementation projects with the NM State Land Office across thousands of acres. With the USDA Forest Service and Jemez Pueblo, separate from our YCC-related work, the Guild has successfully completed a wide array of grants and agreements over the years. This work has included planning, monitoring, forest management and prescribed fire treatments.