Taos Soil & Water Conservation District
Forest Health
The Taos Soil and Water Conservation District provides technical and financial assistance to local landowners to develop defensible space areas around homes and structures located in the wildland/urban interface. Utilizing a certified forester, the District improves the forest health in critical areas of Taos County. Because of current drought conditions, this program has grown exponentially in recent years.
Overcrowded or unhealthy forests increase the risk of severe wildfire, erosion, flooding, and long-term damage to natural resources. Through forest health practices such as thinning and fuels reduction, landowners and communities can reduce these risks, improve ecosystem resilience, watershed function, and support sustainable land stewardship that aligns with the District’s mission to conserve soil, water, and related natural resources.
This program is for individual landowners who own forested land within Taos County. We aim to empower landowners with the knowledge and tools to be effective, responsible land stewards. Please read the information about how the Forest Health Program works prior to filling out an application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted, so please do not submit an application that does not include all of the required information.
A typical forest thinning project located near Red River, NM.
Aspen, a fire retardant species, is left standing as well as a good portion of conifer trees.
Information
Information about how the Forest Health Program works can be found by clicking here
Application
Please click here for the Forest Health Application
Describing Thinning with it's essential basis for Forest Health.
Thinning is an essential forest health practice that removes select trees to reduce overcrowding, improve stand structure, enhance wildlife habitat, and decrease the risk of severe wildfire and insect or disease outbreaks.
Tips on Forest Management
Effective forest management promotes healthy tree density, reduces wildfire risk, protects soil and water resources, supports native species diversity, and sustains long-term forest health.
Resident Testimonials from participants of the Forest Health Program
Hear directly from residents about their experiences and the benefits of participating in the Forest Health Program.
Additional Resources on Forest Health
Fire Wise Plant List from NMSU Extension
Click Here to View and Download
Taos County Wildfire Plaza
A place for people to share news, information and resources related to forest and watershed restoration and wildfire risk reduction.
Links from New Mexico’s EMNRD for more information about reducing wildfire threat to your home and property
