Project activities under this agreement will focus on hand thinning piling LOP and scatter of juniper herbicide treatment of invasive species and educating the public about the importance of…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) awarded a $120,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Otero Soil & Water Conservation District under the Rangeland Resource Management program (CFDA 15.237) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. The District will deliver rangeland restoration and wildfire risk reduction services across southern New Mexico, with primary activities including hand thinning, piling, lopping, and scattering of juniper; herbicide treatment of invasive species; and public education initiatives. These on-the-ground treatments and outreach efforts support the BLM's multiple-use mission by balancing ecological restoration with community wildfire protection and natural resource conservation.

The award represents the third consecutive Cooperative Agreement between the District and BLM's New Mexico Region and builds on the organization's demonstrated expertise in invasive species management, rangeland rehabilitation, and multi-jurisdictional stakeholder coordination. The District collaborates with the U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies, and local governments to execute landscape-level restoration that improves habitat, prevents erosion, enhances watershed function, and mitigates catastrophic wildfire risk in the region.

Project activities under this agreement will focus on hand thinning piling LOP and scatter of juniper herbicide treatment of invasive species and educating the public about the importance of wildfire risk reduction and the conservation of our vital natural resources while balancing the bureaus multiple use mission.