ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance (New Mexico Wild) is pleased to announce the selection of Garrett VeneKlasen as Northern Conservation Director.
“New Mexico is a large state with a one of a kind natural heritage that requires constant vigilance to safeguard, and Garrett is exactly the kind of advocate you want fighting for our special wild places,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild. “Garrett is recognized throughout the state and beyond for his passionate and visionary leadership in conservation and we are thrilled to welcome him to the team. New Mexico’s wilderness, wildlife, and water will be in good hands with Garrett on the job.”
Garrett was a candidate in the Democratic primary for the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands in 2018 and then worked as a political advocacy strategist for Conservation Voters of New Mexico leading up to and during the New Mexico Legislative session. Before running for office, Garrett was Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. He previously served as the Southwest Director of Trout Unlimited’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project (in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado) as well as Trout Unlimited’s New Mexico Public Lands Coordinator. Garrett also founded the New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Garrett has been a tireless champion for the conservation of public lands and native wildlife, fighting for everything from federal and state funding for native wildlife, stricter regulation of off highway vehicles on public lands, higher state water quality standards, stricter regulation on mineral development, to enhanced protection of threatened and endangered species.
Garrett will be leading New Mexico Wild’s efforts on Carson and Santa Fe National Forest issues; advocating for wildlife corridors; opposition to the proposed Tererro mine near Pecos; state policy; protections for the Greater Chaco Landscape; and other place-based conservation initiatives.
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ABOUT THE NEW MEXICO WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance or “New Mexico Wild” is a non-profit 501 (C)(3), independent, homegrown, grassroots, conservation organization dedicated to the protection, restoration and continued respect of New Mexico’s wildlands and Wilderness areas. With staff and thousands of supporters throughout the state, New Mexico Wild is dedicated to the rights and the value of citizen involvement in protecting increasingly rare wild places within public lands. Just as freedom is every American’s birthright so too is Wilderness.
