New Mexico Wild Executive Director Mark Allison today released the following statement in support of new legislation to establish the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness within the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The legislation is sponsored by Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Lujan and Congresswoman Deb Haaland and is a companion to legislation introduced by Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich in January.
“Humans have visited Cerro de la Olla for thousands of years. Today, New Mexicans and others visit this rugged mountain to enjoy solitude and expansive vistas, to camp and hike, for its abundant wildlife, and to appreciate its wild beauty. This bill recognizes the importance of saving this special place for tomorrow’s visitors, human and wildlife alike, that they may have the same opportunities that we are fortunate enough to have today. We thank Assistant Speaker Lujan and Congresswoman Deb Haaland for introducing this bill in the House, which mirrors legislation introduced in the Senate earlier this year. This bill underscores the overwhelming community support for protecting ‘Pot Mountain’ and how deserving it is to be included in any public lands package, should one move this Congress.”
-Mark Allison, Executive Director, New Mexico Wild
