Southwestern Region

U.S. Forest Service and NM Association of Counties Working Together

ALBUQUERQUE (June 11, 2008)—The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service and the New Mexico Association of Counties are solidifying their desires to work collaboratively on mutually beneficial activities through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Both parties recognize the importance of working together in a wide variety of areas such as recreation, landscape restoration, economic development, fire management, and planning to name a few.  This document will help facilitate communications effecting resource and community issues that are of special interest or concern to both entities. 

“There are approximately 9 million acres of public lands in New Mexico and with that comes differing views regarding resource management,” stated Regional Forester Corbin Newman.  “It’s crucial that the Forest Service and the New Mexico Association of Counties maintain an on-going relationship and dialogue on many issues, and this agreement will help facilitate that process,” he added.

"It is important that the counties and the Forest Service establish a partnership to address resource management issues in New Mexico", stated Michael D. Anaya, President of the New Mexico Association of Counties.  "This MOU sets the framework to create that collaborative working relationship."

The signing will take place on June 20 in Las Cruces at the New Mexico Association of Counties Annual Conference.