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EMNRD Forestry Division Applauds Resolution to Dismiss Mexican Spotted Owl Injunction Applauds Resolution to Dismiss Mexican Spotted Owl Injunction
U.S. District Court judge to consider dissolving MSO Order in coming weeks
SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division applauds today’s announcement by the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) that an out-of-court resolution has been reached regarding the Mexican spotted owl (MSO) injunction in New Mexico and Arizona. The mutual agreement between the plaintiff, WildEarth Guardians, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be reviewed by a U.S. District Court judge in the coming weeks.
“Thankfully, our Forestry Division was able to find some interim solutions to help keep local companies afloat, prevent long-term layoffs, and save jobs,” said Sarah Cottrell Propst, EMNRD Cabinet Secretary. “The relationships born during the MSO injunction are now a solid foundation for New Mexico to build upon to respond to the escalating threat of catastrophic wildfire.”
Meeting twice monthly for a full year, partners from local communities, agencies, and nongovernmental organizations worked together to find alternative projects for 80% of thinning contractors affected by the MSO injunction and to find alternative wood supply for 75% of the wood-products manufacturers and 100% of commercial firewood operators. This unprecedented level of cooperation kept the MSO injunction from devastating New Mexico’s forest sector and restoration economy while the parties negotiated.
“The community of people who work on forest restoration came together like never before while the MSO injunction was in place to make sure that communities had access to firewood, forest workers had jobs, and small sawmills and wood-products manufacturers had a wood supply,” said Laura McCarthy, State Forester, EMNRD Forestry Division.
Once a final ruling is in place, the Forestry Division, the Forest Service, and partners will work together to decide when and where forest restoration projects on the Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln, and Santa Fe National Forests will resume. Restoration projects are a key part of healthy forest management.
Forest thinning in the Zuni Mountains achieved forest restoration goals and generated
wood for local businesses. Courtesy: EMNRD-FD
Log by-products of forest thinning in the Zuni Mountains helped businesses in Milan and
Reserve avoid layoffs while the MSO injunction was in place. Courtesy: EMNRD-FD
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The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provides resource protection and renewable energy resource development services to the public and other state agencies.
