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Safeguarding Important Hunting Areas Through Legislature

Organ Mountains Desert Peaks Monument Map

  Las Cruces, NM - On this edition of PUENTES, bridges to the community, host Emily Guerra meets with Dońa Ana County Associated Sportsmen President, John Cornell to talk to us about the re-introduction of The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act, which will help protect wilderness areas within the National Monument.

In 2014, President Barack Obama established the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument; but only Congress can designate an official wilderness area through legislation. The proposed legislation introduced by Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich will designate eight wilderness areas over 240,000 acres in Southwestern New Mexico within the National Monument. It will strengthen the wildlife habitat for approximately 306 bird species, and 78 mammal species, as well as protect the watersheds that they depend on. Activities such as hunting, livestock grazing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, firefighting, law enforcement and border security would continue on the wilderness acreage.

To help and to find out more contact John Cornell, President of the Doña Ana County Associated Sportsmen at 575-740-1759; the organization meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the Game & Fish Department, 2715 Northrise Drive, Las Cruces; or visit the Friends of Organ Mountains Desert Peaks at www.organmtnfriends.org.