LTE: Confirm Haaland

This piece originally appeared as a Letter to the editor in The Santa Fe New Mexican on January 24, 2021.

By HECHO National Advisory Board Chair, Rock Ulibarri — 1/24/2021 2:00 AM PT

My family was one of the original families that settled Las Vegas, N.M. For generations, my family has lived off the land, growing food in the summer and hunting at the first snow to prepare for the winter. I am chairman of the advisory board for Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO). This deep connection to the land has led me to advocate for the responsible management of our public lands so that wildlife populations will flourish for generations to come. That’s why I’m so supportive of the nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland to lead the Department of the Interior.

HECHO in the NewsGuest BloggerJanuary 25, 2021LTE, Advisory Board, Rock Ulibarri, Department of Interior (DOI), New MexicoComment

Op-ed: The spotlight must remain on climate solutions

This piece originally appeared as an op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican on October 31, 2020.

By HECHO National Advisory Board Member, and former San Miguel County Commissioner, Rock Ulibarri — 10/31/2020 12:00 AM MDT

Currently, all of New Mexico’s residents are in drought — 2,060,000 people. Over 46 percent of the state is in extreme drought, with more than 30 percent in severe drought (drought.gov/drought/states/new-mexico). We know a decrease in rainfall and snow has increasing implications for our water supply. The unreliable Rio Grande has put farmers at risk.

Press Release: Santa Fe City Becomes the 10th Jurisdiction to Pass Resolution Supporting Wildlife Corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

SANTA FE – On Oct. 30, the City of Santa Fe unanimously voted to pass a resolution supporting the protection of wildlife corridors in the upper Rio Grande Basin, as well as supporting pending legislation to protect wildlife corridors nationwide. The City becomes the 10th jurisdiction in New Mexico to support such a resolution, joining Mora, Colfax, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe County, Taos County, as well as the Town of Taos, the Village of Pecos, and the City of Española.

Press Release: Mora County Unanimously Passes Wildlife Corridors Resolution, Joins 5 other Counties in New Mexico Fighting to Protect Habitat Connectivity

NEW MEXICO (October 23, 2019) – Mora County Commissioners today approved a resolution supporting the protection of wildlife corridors. The county joins 5 counties and 3 municipalities urging Congress to pass the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019, and encourages the Forest Service to adopt and establish special management areas that provide wildlife with habitat connectivity in forest plan revisions.

Press Release: Colfax County Becomes the 5th County in New Mexico to Unanimously Pass a Wildlife Corridors Resolution in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

NEW MEXICO (September 9, 2019) – Colfax County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution supporting protections for wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Basin this week, joining several counties and municipalities across New Mexico that have passed similar resolutions. The resolutions also urge Congress to pass the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019, serving to protect wildlife corridors nationally.

Op-ed: Wildlife corridors keep our cultural traditions alive

For the past seven generations, my family has lived and cultivated the land on our property in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, with ancestors that were among the first to settle Las Vegas, New Mexico. With our back fence bordering a national forest, we are rarely indoors. Like many New Mexicans, my family enjoys the nature that surrounds us. We are avid anglers, campers, hikers and hunters.

Press Release: Taos County Unanimously Votes to Support Wildlife Corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

TAOS COUNTY, NM (August, 20 2019) – Taos County Commissioners today passed Resolution No. 2019-39, in support of protecting wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. Taos County joins several other New Mexican counties and municipalities that have unanimously supported wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande. The resolution also urges Congress to pass the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 that would serve to protect wildlife corridors nationally.

Press Release: Village of Pecos, City of Española, and Town of Taos Vote to Support Wildlife Corridors

The Village of Pecos, City of Española, and Town of Taos council members unanimously approved resolutions this week supporting the protection of wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande region. The resolutions also urge Congress to support the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 that would serve to protect wildlife corridors nationally. Pecos, Española, and Taos join Rio Arriba, San Miguel, and Santa Fe Counties in passing wildlife corridor resolutions this summer.

Press Release: Rio Arriba County Commission Joins Growing List of Counties Unanimously Passing Wildlife Corridor Resolutions

RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, NM – Today members of the Rio Arriba County Commission unanimously approved a resolution in support of the protection of wildlife corridors in the Upper Rio Grande Region. The resolution also urges Congress to support the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act that would protect wildlife corridors nationally.

Press Release: Santa Fe and San Miguel County Commissions Pass Wildlife Corridor Resolutions

The Santa Fe and San Miguel County Commissions on Tuesday both unanimously endorsed resolutions in support of protecting wildlife corridors in the upper Rio Grande Basin. The resolutions also urge Congress to support pending legislation to protect wildlife corridors nationwide.

"Passing the Wildlife Migration Corridor Resolutions at this level sets a precedent, showing communities that our traditions, culture, and uses of these lands are valuable," Ulibarri said. "With so many barriers to migration patterns like highways and other urbanizing development, these corridors ensure the protection of genetic diversity, and the continuation of species.”

Statement: HECHO Heralds Passage of Historic Natural Resources Management Act

The passage of the Natural Resources Management Act is a historic win for our public lands, outdoor heritage, and conservation across the country, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO) said today. HECHO urged the president to swiftly sign it into law.

Blog: Enjoying the Outdoors, December 2018

In honor of the LWCF, we asked some of our HECHO Board Members to share their favorite places that have benefited from the LWCF in this edition of Enjoying the Outdoors. Read on for their great tips on where to visit this holiday season and throughout the year.

Blog: HECHO in National Wildlife Magazine "Working for Wildlife" Section

Early last year, the National Wildlife Federation formed a strategic partnership with HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors). The conservation group provides an effective voice for communities that traditionally have been underrepresented on matters relating to the environment. “HECHO is a national leader on public lands issues, and NWF is proud to have such a powerful partner to advance our collective conservation priorities,” says NWF Regional Executive Director Brian Kurzel.

Blog: Sabinoso Wilderness Area - Open to the Public!

I recently had the honor to speak at an event celebrating the recent opening and expansion of the Sabinoso Wilderness Area to the public. This was the result of years of hard work among Latino public lands advocates, sportsmen and other northern New Mexico stakeholders.

Statement: Local Elected Officials Urge Administration not to Repeal Methane Waste Rule

On April 10 the San Miguel County Board in Northern New Mexico unanimously passed a resolution opposing the BLM’s proposed repeal of the Methane Waste Rule, intended to reduce methane leaking, venting and flaring from oil and gas operations. Introduced by HECHO Board Chair and County Commissioner Rock Ulibarri, the resolution was prompted by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s refusal to hold hearings on the repeal of this important Rule, which would save New Mexico approximately $10 million per year in revenue that could be used for education and other infrastructure.

Press Releases/Statements, Oil & GasadminApril 16, 2018Statement, Advisory Board, Rock Ulibarri, New Mexico, Methane WasteComment

Event Recap: HECHO & Friends Clean Up High Point Canyon for Latino Conservation Week

Last week was Latino Conservation Week, when hundreds of events took place around the country to celebrate and honor Hispanics’ ancestral connections to the outdoors and stewardship of the land. No other event exemplifies this more than the clean-up of High Point canyon in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico. The event was spearheaded by HECHO Advisory Board Chairman Rock Ulibarri, whose family has lived in the Las Vegas area for seven generations, along with HECHO Advisory Board member Kent Salazar, volunteers from Hermit's Peak Watershed Alliance, Casa Cultura, San Miguel County, and more.

Guest BloggerJuly 26, 2017Latino Conservation Week, Rock Ulibarri, Advisory Board, Kent Salazar, Latino Outdoors, Event RecapComment

Blog: Herencia y Querencia for Our Public Lands

We have a very rich history and a very strong connection to the land. Some people see the land as the topography, the boundaries, maybe mineral rights, a place to exploit. We see the land as where my father was born, where the blood from his umbilical cord soaked into this earth. We have a connection to the land. We have herencia and querencia and querencia is a love for the land.

Statement: HECHO Applauds Senate’s Refusal to Overturn Methane Waste Rule Which Protects Public Health, Conservation, and Saves Taxpayers Millions

“We applaud the Senate for recognizing that this common sense rule should stay in place to cut the waste of publicly owned resources and save millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director of HECHO. “We are grateful to the U.S. Senators who voted for taxpayers and who value our public lands.”

Action Alert: Thank New Mexico’s Leaders for Holding Oil and Gas Companies Accountable

HECHO thanks our nation’s leaders for listening to the many voices that supported the finalizing of the methane rule. Read more about the national thank you letter and HECHO's radio ads applauding the finalization of the rule.

Statement: Bernalillo County Passes Resolution Supporting Bureau of Land Management Natural Gas Waste Rule

On October 25, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners resolved to support the Bureau of Land Management’s rule to charge royalties on wasted methane—the primary component of natural gas—on federal and tribal lands. The resolution addresses the serious problem of methane waste, which is impacting state revenues, harming the environment and threatening the health of New Mexicans.

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