Albuquerque City Council Passes Memorial in Defense of Public Lands

Albuquerque, NM — The Albuquerque City Council last night unanimously passed M-25-5, a memorial which expresses the Council’s support for the continued federal stewardship of public lands in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Public lands like the Sandia Mountains, Cibola National Forest, Petroglyph National Monument and Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge provide local communities with opportunities for recreation and a connection to cultural traditions. 

The memorial recognizes the critical role that public lands play in New Mexico: preserving clean air and water, protecting wildlife habitat, providing equitable access to outdoor recreation and supporting local economies. The memorial comes at a time when the Administration and Congress are actively trying to sell off public lands.

By passing the pro-public lands memorial, Albuquerque joins several cities, communities and advocates across the country calling for stronger protections for public lands. Local advocates applaud Councilor Fiebelkorn for sponsoring the memorial and the entire City Council for taking a stand to defend public lands against sell-off and other threats:

“Public lands are a cornerstone of our communities and our way of life, but they are under attack by an administration that values profit over public benefit,” said Michael Casaus, The Wilderness Society New Mexico State Director. “We thank the Albuquerque City Council for recognizing the urgency of this moment and the responsibility to act. Their leadership sends a clear and powerful message: defending our public lands is about defending our people and culture today and for future generations.”

“Across lived experiences and the political spectrum, one thing unites us: our shared love for public lands,” said Jesse Deubel, New Mexico Wildlife Federation Executive Director. “We are grateful to the City Council for their commitment to ensuring public lands stay in public hands.”

“Public lands in New Mexico serve as a vital source of exploration and education for our children while also providing numerous benefits, like improved mental and physical health, social connections and a lifelong love of nature,” said Mónica Otero, New Mexico Voices for Children Health Research and Policy Analyst. “New Mexico Voices for Children strongly opposes any action that would harm or reduce access to our public lands and national monuments. It is essential that these lands continue to be a place of respite and recreation for generations to come.”

“Together for Brother’s vision of better health outcomes for boys, young men of color and their families is dependent on our collective success to protect, maintain and increase access to public lands,” said Baruch Campos, Together for Brothers Executive Director. “Young people’s ability to access public lands here in New Mexico not only enhances physical and mental health but also creates greater opportunity to foster social connections, environmental stewardship, care and safety, especially for most impacted families in low-income communities with already limited access to quality outdoor spaces.” 

Local public lands advocates extend their gratitude to the Albuquerque City Council for passing the memorial and now call on leaders from other municipalities to follow their lead. 

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