March is Arbor Month in New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE:

Contact: George Ducker

Communications Coordinator

george.ducker@emnrd.nm.gov

505-699-0601

March 4, 2024

March is Arbor Month in New Mexico

Seedlings offered to communities, colleges and universities in the state

Santa Fe, NM – To celebrate Arbor Month and highlight the importance of New Mexico’s urban trees and forests, the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division is providing 50 tree seedlings to communities or higher education institutions interested in holding an Arbor Day Celebration. The second Friday in March is recognized as Arbor Day in the Land of Enchantment. This year it will be March 8, 2024.

“Urban and community forests provide a multitude of critical benefits to residents such as cooling shade, improved mental and physical health, reduced air and noise pollution, and cleaner water,” said Alyssa O'Brien, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager. “Trees even have economic benefits by drawing more visitors to businesses, raising property values and lowering crime rates.”

New Mexico faces warming temperatures and a drier climate that stresses our watersheds and urban forests. Planting new trees in urban areas helps decrease pollutants and beautify our neighborhoods. But it’s important to know just which kinds of trees will thrive in specific places and to plant them correctly.

If you are considering planting a new tree in an urban area, it’s important to select a species that’s efficient in water use and resilient to harsh conditions like pollution, all-day sun or strong winds. Visit the Urban and Community Forestry program’s Climate-Ready Trees website to learn about trees that are adapted to changing conditions throughout our state.

Applications for the Arbor Day Celebration Trees are available here, or email Alyssa O’Brien at

Alyssa.obrien@emnrd.nm.gov .

Link to this press release available

here .

###

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provides resource protection and renewable energy resource development services to the public and other state agencies.

https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/